Long before 1775, when the first musket shot was fired in Lexington, the seeds of the American Revolution had taken root in Philadelphia. Today, Philadelphia’s Historic District, home of iconic Independence Hall and dozens more 18th-century landmarks, offers visitors firsthand experiences of the United States’ early days. In the heart of the district, the remarkable, two-year-old Museum of the American Revolution uses rare artifacts and interactive exhibits to recreate the drama and the details of the country’s dramatic birth. Visitors who want to go beyond the district can discover more rich Revolutionary War history in the Philadelphia countryside’s significant battlefields, historic homes and parks. Here are Philadelphia’s and its environs’ essential Revolutionary War sites.
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Onlookers admire Carpenters' Hall, the site where representatives from 12 colonies gathered in 1774 for the First Continental Congress.
Credit: photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
One block south of Independence Hall, Society Hill is an 18th-century neighborhood of cobblestone paths and busy streets, colonial and modern buildings, history made—and in the making. The compact, mostly residential blocks comprise one of Philadelphia’s most desirable addresses—not unlike in the days when the U.S. was becoming a nation, when residents included Samuel Powel, Philadelphia’s first mayor after independence was declared, future first lady Dolley Todd Madison and Revolutionary War hero Thaddeus Kosciuszko, among other luminaries.
Society Hill’s combination of history, modernity and convenience makes it a must-visit, and its standout restaurants, attractions and shops make it a great spot to spend a quiet day exploring. Fewer than two miles from Philadelphia City Hall, Society Hill stretches between the Delaware River and 7th Street and Walnut and Lombard Streets. Wheelchair-accessible SEPTA bus routes east along Pine and South Streets, and south along 4th and 8th Streets—all stop upon demand at cross streets.
Philadelphia’s Headhouse District
Credit: photo by R. Kennedy for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®
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