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City Cast Philly

People, places, and scenes from Philadelphia's past.

Siani Colón

Did you know Philadelphia has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day since before the United States officially became a country?

By 1770, just a few years shy of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 

one-third of Pennsylvania’s 350,000 residents

 were Irish. In Philadelphia, many Irish settlers lived along the Delaware River waterfront, in neighborhoods such as Kensington, Port Richmond, and Northern Liberties, 

poorly made vessels known as “coffin ships,”

 as nearly one out of five died on the journey to the port of Philadelphia. To support the wave of newcomers, the 

Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland

, or The Friendly Sons, was founded on March 17, 1771. The group kicked off its mission with a dinner celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, the first documented observance in the city.

the brotherhood included 24 regular and six honorary members

. These were well-to-do men who played significant roles in the American Revolution.

Membership would grow to include figures such as 

. Despite membership being restricted to men of Irish ancestry, George Washington was a member. Washington was granted honorary membership in 1781, eventually elevating his status further when members 

The dinners continued into the 19th century, but the celebrations grew beyond the annual feast and became more political. By the 1830s, the Irish community used their patron saint’s feast day to 

As the Irish population continued to grow, Irish Philadelphians began to splinter and form more aid groups. Amid these changes, the society continued to financially support people facing starvation or exile from Ireland, especially during the Great Famine between 1845 and 1852.

 beyond their countrymen at the turn of the century, with donations being made toward relief efforts for victims of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Spanish-American War.

 in 2016, former Irish ambassador Anne Anderson. The organization still exists today, now known as the 

Friendly Sons and Daughters of Saint Patrick

. It commits to promoting Irish culture, education, and aid. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which it helped start, continues to celebrate Irish heritage in the city over 250 years later under the leadership of the St. Patrick’s Day Observance Association.

Philadelphia’s annual parade celebrating Irish culture just happened on Sunday, a tradition dating back over 200 years.


How St. Patrick’s Day Started in Philly

Philly History

March 8 was International Women’s Day, but we’re celebrating women’s contributions and history all month long. Learn about the women who shaped Philly and the nation at these upcoming tours and talks.

offers several history tours throughout the city, but this one is a feminist take on your typical history lesson. Go beyond your textbook to learn about Philly women’s role in medicine, the arts, and politics. Each tour is offered daily at 11 a.m.

If you prefer to do things on your own time, you can take a 

 along the Philadelphia Women’s History Trail. This tour takes you through 25 sites and historic markers in Philadelphia and its suburbs. Stops include the home of opera singer and activist Marian Anderson and a marker honoring abolitionist Anna E. Dickson.

Philadelphia has thousands of murals splashed on its walls, many created by women, depicting women. Lace up your shoes and take your own tour around the city and 

spot the murals celebrating our city’s women

 is hosting exhibits and talks spotlighting remarkable women throughout American history. Programs include a self-guided women’s history artifact tour, an exploration of four women all named Harriet who confronted slavery, and a trivia game. Can’t make it in person? The museum has virtual programming on March 10 and 24.

Join the Library Company of Philadelphia for a fireside chat on “

The Gendered Republic: Reimagining Identity in the New Nation”

 on March 18. The talk will explore how gender roles shaped the lives of people of all races in early America and their lasting impact on cultures and laws.

Betsy Ross is one of the most famous historical figures in Philadelphia. And while her role in the American Revolution is iconic, she wasn’t the only woman contributing to the war effort. On March 22, Interfaith Philadelphia is 

leading a talk on the other unsung heroes

 during the colonial era. The discussion will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Historic St. George’s United Methodist Church.

Both of Laurel Hill’s cemeteries are the eternal resting places for groundbreaking local figures. Walk the hallowed grounds and learn about the 

 in Bala Cynwyd on March 22 or stay on the east side of the Schuylkill River by visiting the 

Honor the women whose contributions impacted not just Philly, but the nation, on these tours throughout March. 

Where To Celebrate Women’s History Month in Philly

Natalia Aldana

Before it was a full-month celebration, there was Women’s History Week. In 1978, a group of women in Santa Rosa, California, recognized that 

 in academics, so they organized a week in March to celebrate and educate others about women’s contributions in the U.S.

During the week of March 8, over a hundred women participated in essay contests, distributed curriculum materials at local schools, and held a parade. The event's success soon inspired women’s groups nationwide to hold similar events.

In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week. Seven years later, Congress designated March as Women’s History Month.

The group from Santa Rosa, now known as the 

, selected the week of March 8 to correspond with 

, officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977.

 of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first Women’s Day on Feb. 28, 1909, honored the first anniversary of the garment worker’s strikes that saw thousands of women take to Manhattan’s streets. That strike was timed to honor another garment worker’s rally from March 1857. On March 3, 1913, thousands of 

 marched in Washington, D.C., to fight for a woman’s right to vote.

In 1911, inspired by the day of recognition held in the U.S., more than a million people rallied in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland to hold the first International Women’s Day rally. On March 8, 1917, 

many women went on strike during the Russian Revolution

, which many believe led to the selection of March 8 as the international day.

Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future

How do you honor Women’s History Month in Philly?

International events, such as International Women's Day, may be why we celebrate women's history in March in Philadelphia.

Why Women’s History Month is Celebrated in March

Why We Celebrate Women’s History in March

yearlong celebration of the nation’s founding

 is in full swing, culminating in major events this summer. While special attention is paid to Old City, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and signed, other Philadelphia neighborhoods played a special role in securing democracy.

Germantown may not have been officially part of Philadelphia in 1776, but its role in the American Revolution and beyond is crucial to understanding the history of our city and country. 

, a consortium of 20 independent cultural and historical organizations in North and Northwest Philadelphia, is making sure the neighborhood isn’t forgotten amid semiquincentennial festivities.

“A lot of people think of visiting historic sites, and they think of Independence Park or the Museum of the American Revolution,” said Tuomi Forrest, executive director of Historic Germantown. The locations in Germantown “are smaller, but the breadth of history and culture and its authenticity is something you won't experience anywhere else in the region or the country.”

The sites include museums that were once the private homes of families in the 18th century or earlier, historic cemeteries, and an arboretum, all educating about a stretch of history after European settlement.

“On one hand, you can visit a place like 

, and you can see literally the bullet holes and scars in the building from the Battle of Germantown and see the furnishings of the family,” Forrest said. “And you could go down the block and see a place like the 

, which is a newly created museum, and see original documents and photographs from the Black Arts Movement and the Black Power Movement from just a few decades ago. And you’re really getting that breadth of history.”

In just one neighborhood you can visit a 

, where teenage Sally Wister wrote a first-hand account of growing up during the Revolution.

To help Philadelphians and visitors alike experience all that Germantown has to offer, the cultural sites will host expanded programming this year.

, diving into topics such as 20th-century architecture, the Great Migration, and Germantown’s gardens. Public tours and activities will also be available on Second Saturdays as well as evening Firefly Hours. Visitors can collect stamps at each location in booklets for a chance to win prizes.

As it warms up, several festivals will take over Germantown’s streets and parks, including the 

The semiquincentennial and the neighborhood’s slate of events come at a time when 

specific facets of American history are under attack

. “No one is backing down from what I would call a very active attempt to suppress history from the federal level,” Forrest said. “All our sites are really aware of what's happening and are intentionally creating exhibits and programs that counter that narrative.”

The excitement won’t end in 2026. Next year will be a big year for the neighborhood as 2027 marks 250 years since the 

. In October 1777, American patriots fought to recapture Philadelphia from British occupation by catching troops by surprise with an attack on Germantown, where the British army had an outpost.

Mills, Creeks, & Foundations - Exploring the Lost Landscapes of the Lower Winghocking Creek

Where To Learn About Philly’s History of Slavery & Abolition

This Northwest Philadelphia neighborhood may not have been part of the city during the American Revolution, but it left a major impact on the legacy of our city and country.

Historic Germantown Teaches About Germantown’s Role in Colonial and Contemporary History 

To Learn About the Founding of the U.S., Go to Philadelphia’s Germantown

Before Philadelphia began sending its trash to Chester, prompting the 

 the city burned its waste in its own neighborhoods and shipped off the ashes far and wide.

By 1941, Philadelphia operated two reduction plants, the 

 in Juniata Park and the City Reduction Plant near the Delaware River. The plants would extract grease and nutrients from food waste for fertilizer and burn the rest, according to the 2016 book “

From Workshop to Waste Magnet: Environmental Inequality in the Philadelphia Region

Not only was this an expensive process, costing the city $100,000 a year, but unpleasant odors permeated. Yet Philadelphia's dumps weren't ideal, either, due to fires and pests. So the city built and opened several more incinerators in the 1950s: the Bartram Incinerator, the East Central Incinerator, the Southeast Incinerator, the Northeast Incinerator, and the Northwest Incinerator.

By the 1960s, residents in neighborhoods such as Roxborough began to 

complain about pollutants from nearby facilities

, prompting the closure of several incinerators and upgrades to the East Central Incinerator along the Delaware River.

Philly no longer wanted to deal with its own waste

. With just two incinerators in operation, trash and its ashes were piling up in the city. Attempts to find somewhere else to dispose of the waste were met with a resounding “no.” Residents in South Philly killed an attempt to build a trash-to-steam plant in Philadelphia’s Navy Yard in 1985.

By that point, New Jersey’s Gloucester County barred outsiders from using its landfill. Philly had been sending about 40% of its trash there until 1984. So without New Jersey to rely on, 600 tons of trash were then sent to Baltimore daily. Eventually, the Monumental City got sick of us, too, and ended its contract with the city.

In fact, the whole eastern seaboard was tired of it. Facilities in Ohio, Virginia, and South Carolina also 

, with officials in South Carolina going as far as sending their own waste back to us.

Philadelphia’s trash problem became an international scandal in 1986 when the Haitian government discovered that the Khian Sea, a cargo ship, 

dumped 4,000 tons of Philadelphia’s trash ash on its beaches

With the city losing options for waste disposal and the increasing hazards, Philadelphia closed its remaining incinerators in 1988. Today, 

the city sends 37% of its waste to incinerators

, with most going to a facility in Chester that converts it into energy to power homes. The rest ends up in landfills outside of Philly. 

Philly has been making our trash someone else’s problem for decades.

Remember When Philly Burned Trash in Its Own Neighborhoods?

The city of Philadelphia is suing the Department of the Interior and the acting director of the National Park Service after workers removed several panels at Independence National Historical Park detailing the history of slavery. The removal was in accordance with the highly criticized “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” executive order signed by President Trump, which flagged for elimination any materials on federal land deemed to disparage the country. 

But several other sites continue to educate the public about Philly’s connection to slavery and the abolitionist movement that fought against it. Here’s where to start.

 houses authentic artifacts serving as physical reminders of the harsh realities of the slave trade — from shackles and whips to tags and auction signs. You can visit LWFSM 

. The museum’s traveling exhibit is also available for your school or organization.

Home to three generations of an abolitionist Quaker family, the 

 served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The Johnsons provided refuge for those needing shelter as they made their way to freedom. Abolitionists such as William Still held meetings at the site.

 were bequeathed by George Fox, founder of Quakerism, for “a stable, a Meetinghouse, and burial place.” Historic Fair Hill’s cemetery serves as the final resting place for several abolitionists, including Robert Purvis, founder of the Vigilant Society, and Harriet Purvis, founder of the Philadelphia Female Anti-Slavery Society. Visitors can attend 

 to learn more about the Underground Railroad and abolitionists.

The Underground Railroad did not only involve traveling by land. AAMP explores the use of waterways in the traveling exhibition “

Sailing to Freedom: Maritime Dimensions of the Underground Railroad

.” Museum guests can explore how enslaved African Americans used their seafaring skills along the Atlantic Coast to escape to freedom. The exhibit is currently on view until April 26.

This historic mansion in West Fairmount Park, once home to abolitionist Judge Richard Peters, is now the 

. Visitors can go on a self-guided tour, explore historical artifacts, and learn about the mansion’s history.

 that shine a light on the history of Black resilience and resistance in Philadelphia. Tour options include the Original Black History Tour through sites in Old City; the 7th Ward Black History Tour of an area that was once home to the largest Black population in the city; the 1838 Black Metropolis Tour, which explores the Free Black population before the 1860s; Healing Legacies: Black Medical History Tour, which spotlights both groundbreaking work and unethical medical practices; and the Revolutionary Philadelphia Tour, guiding you through 1776.

As the city fights to restore the slavery memorial in our historic district, here are other local sites and tours working to preserve history. 

Where To Learn About Philly’s History of Slavery and Abolition

You’re familiar with the Boston Tea Party, but did you know a similar event happened in Philadelphia?

 threw a shipment of East India Company tea into Boston Harbor in protest of the 

. The Townshend Acts had imposed taxes on goods imported to the American colonies, sparking anger from colonists fed up with taxation without representation. And the Tea Act was an effort by the British government to bail out the failing East India Company by creating a monopoly on the sale of tea in the colonies.

The colonists’ response in destroying the tea was viewed by the British government as an act of treason, and the incident was a turning point in the American Revolution.

But before Boston patriots tossed the tea, Philadelphia was already setting the stage for protest. On Oct. 16, 1773, prominent Philadelphians such as Benjamin Rush and Thomas Mifflin gathered at Independence Hall to create the 

. This document detailed eight grievances against the British government, rejecting the imposition of taxes and stating that anyone supporting the East India Company in any way was “an enemy to his country.”

 with Samuel Adams crediting the Philadelphia Resolutions: “The sense of the town cannot be better expressed on this occasion” than “by our worthy brethren the citizens of Philadelphia.” When all colonies except Massachusetts were able to convince the tea company’s local representatives to resign or return the tea to England, the issue escalated and resulted in the famous Boston Tea Party, in which 342 chests of tea were discarded.

A few days later, Philadelphians protested the arrival of the tea to their city. On Christmas Day, 1773, a ship named “Polly” was the first of seven that docked in Chester with Philadelphia’s shipment of tea. 

Philadelphians intercepted Captain Samuel Ayers

, who helmed the ship, warning him not to unload his cargo. He was escorted into Philadelphia, where a committee gave him another warning.

Although the interaction was non-violent, likely due to the city’s Quaker influence, Philadelphians did prepare for the ship’s arrival by printing 

The captain seemed to have understood the message clearly and sailed back to England with the tea.

While you might spend your Christmas Day warming up with tea, Philadelphians in 1773 were planning to get rid of it. 

How Philly Revolutionaries Protested Against the Tea Act

This Week 252 Years Ago, Philadelphia Had Its Own ‘Tea Party’

While “Gonna Fly Now” from “Rocky” and "Yo Home to Bel-Air" from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” are songs that are synonymous with Philadelphia, the sound of Philly is much more than just these two tracks.

Did you know that “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” was written by a Philadelphian? How about the fact that Sister Rosetta Tharpe, the “Godmother of Rock 'n’ Roll,” lived in North Philly?

“The Philadelphia Music Book: Sounds of a City” shines a light on Philly’s deep musical history and its contributions to the world of sound. The 400-page book is the brainchild of Larry Magid, legendary local producer, concert promoter, and co-founder of the Electric Factory. With research from 13 writers, it’s chock-full of stories about everyone from the musicians and songwriters to the business leaders and disc jockeys who make up the city's musical legacy.

“It's important for as many Philadelphians [as possible] to understand what has come out of this city and what the city offers,” Magid said. “...it's a book of hope as well as a book of expression, where we show that a lot of the great musicians that have come out of this city came from meager backgrounds.”

The book transports the reader through time, flashing back to the early years of colonial Philadelphia through the 19th century, before catching up to the modern day. One of these early contributors to the burgeoning American music scene was Benjamin Carr, known as the “Father of Philadelphia Music” and regarded as one of the best-known songwriters from America's early years.

“I knew a bit about the classical world, but not nearly enough,” Magid said. “The amazing amount of jazz musicians that have had national and international impact that have come from here, lived here…I can't imagine many cities in the world having as many great jazz musicians as [those] that have come from Philadelphia."

These musical artists include Butch Ballard, a local jazz legend from Frankford who engaged in civic activism when he wasn't performing; Dizzy Gillespie, a trumpet player who co-developed the genre known as bebop; and Nina Simone, whose 

controversial rejection from the Curtis Institute

 led her down a path that may have been the jumping-off point for her successful career.

It's clear to Magid that Philadelphia’s musical legacy is marked by breaking new ground, which is why he isn’t worried about Philly’s place in the ever-evolving music scene.

“We're always going to have a voice in popular music, whatever form that takes,” Magid said. “If jazz makes a comeback, we're right there. Classical and opera as well, because we have these great institutions like the Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia. I think it's unlimited who we're going to give to the world.”

To learn more about Philly’s music history, you can purchase 

“The Philadelphia Music Book: Sounds of a City”

. If you want to hear from Magid directly, he's speaking at an 

A new book that collects the history of hundreds of songwriters, singers, instrumentalists, and producers is a portrait of Philadelphia’s contributions to the arts.

“The Philadelphia Music Book” Preserves Philly’s Musical History

The Philadelphians Who Shaped America’s Music Scene

There are a few dates that come to mind when one thinks of Philly. The first is (obviously) July 4, 1776, when the Founding Fathers adopted the Declaration of Independence. Another date is Feb. 15, better known as 215 Day, referencing our most recognizable area code. But there’s one more date that's just as important.

In 1681, English Quaker William Penn was given newly acquired land by King Charles II as a debt repayment to Penn’s late father. On Oct. 27, 1682, Penn 

, Delaware. This was the same year he founded Philadelphia, Bucks, and Chester counties, wanting to create a sanctuary for fellow Quakers and other Europeans persecuted for their religious beliefs in their home countries.

Upon his arrival, Penn met Chief Tamanend, establishing relations between the Quakers and the Lenape. Penn would enter into 

 with the Lenape, gaining ownership of the land. But peace would crumble upon his death and the Lenape would later lose more of their land through the 

Philadelphia was much smaller back then compared to how it is today, as seen in surveyor general Thomas Holme’s 

. The city was a simple grid pattern bordered by the Delaware River to the east, the Schuylkill River to the west, what is now Vine Street to the north, and what is 

 to the south. Our well-known corridors Broad Street and Market Street (formerly known as High Street) were also included in this original grid.

 The city’s design allowed room for residential gardens and 

 known today as Franklin, Logan, Rittenhouse, Washington, and Penn. Although their development into proper parks took years, these spaces were selling points to potential settlers. The grid pattern and greenery set a precedent for what urban planning in Philadelphia and 

While most Philadelphians stayed within the bounds of William Penn’s original plan, the city would eventually grow beyond these boundaries. Philadelphia would incorporate its surrounding suburbs through the 

, with the city’s edges beginning to take on the distinct shapes we recognize today. 

 such as Passyunk, Roxborough, and Northern Liberties are recognizable by the 

Since its founding, Philadelphia has been at the center of democracy and innovation. The city’s contributions to the country include the first hospital, university, public lending library, abolitionist society, and 

Philly Favorites

What do you love about Philly?

Philadelphia predates the country by nearly 100 years.

When Was Philadelphia Founded?

Philadelphia’s South Street corridor has long been a central location for the arts, dating back to 1767. Its Southwark Theatre, once on the corner of today’s South and Leithgow Streets, was the 

And in the area where fans now line up outside the 

 for a listening party, there once stood two theaters that served as a hub for Black artistry, attracting crowds as far back as the early 1900s. And they were all owned by one man.

John Trusty Gibson was born in Baltimore in 1878. While there he 

studied at Morgan College Preparatory School

 (now Morgan State University). After he left in 1890 in pursuit of economic opportunities, he 

Although his theaters are no longer standing, John T. Gibson was a strong contributor to South Street’s arts scene. 
