History Of Philadelphia
Founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker
- Penn named Philadelphia, meaning "City of Brotherly Love" in Greek, to reflect his views toward religious tolerance.
- Due to its excellent location on the Atlantic Coast and accessible port facilities, Philadelphia grew rapidly in the 18th century until it was the second largest English-speaking city in the world.
- Called the "Athens of the Americas," it was the cultural center of the New World.
Philadelphia - America's Birthplace
- From 1774 to 1800, Philadelphia was linked to the American Revolution.
- Independence National Historical Park, "America's most historic square mile," has two of the U.S.A.'s most famous monuments to freedom: the Liberty Bell, symbol of the nation's freedom, and Independence Hall, the birthplace of the nation, where a group of dissatisfied colonists adopted Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
- Philadelphia was the U.S.A.'s capital from 1790 to 1800.
Philadelphia : A City of American "Firsts"
- Includes: first art school and art museum (Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts), hospital (Pennsylvania Hospital), botanical garden (Historic Bartram's Garden), zoo (Philadelphia Zoo), stock exchange, commercial bank, university (University of Pennsylvania), computer (ENIAC), modern skyscraper in the U.S.A. (formerly the PSFS building, now the Loews Philadelphia hotel), and the first American convention (the Constitutional Convention in 1787).
Philadelphia Today
- Vibrant city with world-class museums, restaurants, hotels, exciting nightlife, cultural and entertainment venues.
- Combines Old World architecture with modern buildings.
- Businesses include biotechnology, health care, pharmaceutical, higher education, and finance.
