Vanessa spent the better part of a weekend researching all these spots, checking links, getting directions, and otherwise being #1. Below is an extensive list that she put together of museums, skate spots, historic Philadelphia, neighborhoods, and architecture. We have also tried to add some places of interest for children, and we'll try to find a couple of parks to add as well. In the meantime, start threatening to leave them in the jail if they misbehave (the jail and some other stuff is listed under other places of interest).
Museums
Philadelphia Museum of Art
26th St. and Ben Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
215.763.8100
Website
Founded in 1876, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is most recognizable for its neo-classical exterior and the front steps sprinted by Sylvester Stallone in the movie, Rocky. The museum has an extensive collection of 20th-century art, including works by Van Gogh, Braque, Matisse, and, most notably, Marcel Duchamp. Also of note is the large collection of Medieval and Renaissance art (including a fantastic collection of armor), and works by local artists, such as Thomas Eakins, who used the nearby Schuylkill River for many of his studies.
The Barnes Foundation
300 North Latch's Lane
Merion, PA 19066
610.667.0290; reservations required
Website
At the turn-of-the-century, Dr. Albert Barnes amassed one of the world's greatest private collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Fauvist art. In his will, Dr. Barnes stipulated that the art, curated by him, remain together in his home outside Philadelphia. There, you'll find 181 works by Renoir, 60 by Matisse, and 69 by Cézanne, as well as paintings by Picasso, Seurat, Rousseau, Monet, and Manet.
The Mütter Museum
19 S. 22nd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.563.5757
Website
Part of the larger College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the Mütter Museum houses over 20,000 of medical oddities, including fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens, medical instruments, anatomical and pathological models, items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians, and medical illustrations.
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
118 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
215.972.7600
Website
Renowned as the nation's first art museum and school of fine arts, the PA Academy of Fine Arts is housed in a National Historic Landmark Building designed by Frank Furness and George W. Hewitt. The school's museum has a permanent collection, as well as special exhibitions.
Please Touch Museum
210 North 21st St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.963.0667
Website
Specifically designed for children 7 years and younger, the Please Touch Museum is one of the country's best children's museums. The exhibits are interactive, hands-on, and self-directed., encouraging adults and children to learn and explore together.
Franklin Institute of Science
222 N. 20th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.448.1200
Website
Ideal for children, the science museum includes exhibits such as Space Command, the Train Factory, the Weather Center, Electricity & Electronics, the Changing Earth, Grossology: Science of the Human Body, and Bioscience (including a giant Human Heart you can walk through).
Woodmere Art Museum
9201 Germantown Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215.247.0476
Website
Located in Chestnut Hill, the Woodmere art collection is housed in a 19th-century stone Victorian mansion on a six-acre estate. The permanent collection concentrates on the art and artists of the Philadelphia area, including works by Benjamin West and N.C. Wyeth.
Skate Spots
FDR Skatepark
20th and Pattison Avenue
(Skatepark is located off Broad Street, directly under the I-95 freeway)
South Philadelphia
Website
FDR Skatepark is city-owned, skater-built, free public park under a freeway overpass in South Philly. It includes 16,000 square feet of concrete with banks, bowls, huge walls, small walls, street-type stuff, a mini-ramp, and a full-blown vert ramp.
Directions from Chestnut Hill: Take Lincoln Drive to I-76 East. Take the PA-611/Broad Street exit toward I-95. Turn right onto S. Broad St. Turn right onto Right onto Pattison Avenue. Turn left at the first traffic light (you'll a sign for the FDR Golf Club). Turn right at the stop sign. Stay on this road until you're riding right alongside the overpass. You'll see the mini-ramp and the vert ramp on your right, and the backside of the Bunker Wall.
Public Transit: Take the Broad Street Subway and get off at the last stop (STADIUM). Once above ground, look for the highway overpass and head up Broad Street towards it. You'll find a steep entry/exit from the park. Go down the drive and stay left. The park is about 200 yards ahead on the left.
Love Park
JFK Plaza (15th and Arch Streets) in Center City, Philadelphia.
Defunct (but historic) skate spot.
360 Skate Spot
1150 Easton Road
Willow Grove, PA 19090
215.657.4140
Website
Indoor skate park with 22,000 sq-ft skating area. Large street section, mini street section. Vert section includes 4'/6' mini and a 12' vert ramp. Pad and helmets required.
Historic Philadelphia
National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street
Independence Mall
Philadelphia, PA
215.409.6600
Website
Opened on July 4th, 2003, this new museum is part of the
recently replanned Independence National Historic Park Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall. The museum was created by an
act of Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the
Constitution's history and its relevance in people's daily lives. It
contains an exhibition space with over 100 interactive exhibits, a theater
in the round where visitors can watch a 17-minute multimedia presentation on
the story of the Constitution, and a Signers' Hall with life-size statues of
the 42 Delegates (39 who signed the Constitution, plus 3 dissenters).
Built: 2003
Designed By: Henry N. Cobb (Pei Cobb Freed & Partners)
Independence Hall
Chestnut St., between 5th and 6th Sts.
Philadelphia, PA
800.967.2283
Website
Walk the Federal-style Hall and see where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Constitution drafted. Visitors are admitted free of charge, by tour only.
Built: 1732-1756
Liberty Bell Center
6th Street, between Market and Chestnut Sts.
Philadelphia, PA
Website
Crowds line up for hours to get a glimpse of this 2,000-lb. copper instrument, located in a glass pavilion, crack and all. No touching or ringing, but plenty of history. The bell was first rung for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
City Hall
Broad and Market Streets
Philadelphia, PA
215.686.2840
This Second Empire French building is made completely of concrete and stone and is the largest in the world that does not rely on steel support. The statue of William Penn, which sits on top of the building, was designed by Alexander Milne Calder.
Built: 1871-1909
Designed By: John McArthur
First Bank of the United States
Third St., between Chestnut and Walnut Sts.
Philadelphia, PA
Website
Built while Philadelphia was still the nation's capital, this Neo-Classical building is the oldest bank building in the United States. The bank was conceived by Alexander Hamilton to handle the colossal war debt and to create a standard form of currency.
Built: 1795-1797
Designed By: Samuel Blodgett and James Windrim
Elfreth's Alley
2nd St between Arch and Race Sts.
Philadelphia, PA
215.574.0560.
Website
The oldest continuously residential block in the country, with some houses dating back to the early 18th century. House Number 126 is a museum exhibiting artifacts dating back to 1728.
Betsy Ross House
239 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA
215.686.1252
Website
Built in 1740, the two-story, Georgian-style house was once home to the adored sewer of the first American flag. The house is now a museum, featuring crafts and decorations of the period.
Other Places of Interest
Eastern State Penitentiary
22nd St. & Fairmount Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
215.236.3300
Website
This Gothic-style, 19th-century landmark was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world. Former inmates include bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone. Tour vaulted cellblocks, central rotunda, and death row.
Built: 1822-1836
Designed By: John Haviland
United States Mint
5th and Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA
215.408.0114
Website
The Philadelphia Mint is the largest in the world, with the capacity to produce 1.8 million coins an hour. The United States' first mint was erected in 1792, just two blocks from the present site. Self-guided tours include a visit to the factory, several exhibits, and a store where you can buy freshly minted coins. Check with the mint for their next scheduled sale.
Boathouse Row
Kelly Drive, along the Schuylkill River
Website
Boathouse row is comprised of 10 rowing clubs that make up the Schuylkill Navy, an association of boating clubs founded in 1858. The view of the boathouses (which are lit up spectacularly at night) from the east side of the river is a famous Philadelphia site.
The Philadelphia Zoo
34th St. and Girard Ave.
Philadelphia, PA
215.243.1100
Website
The 125-year-old zoo is the nation's oldest. It also houses the country's first colony of Naked Mole Rats. Take a ride in the Zoo Balloon (a hot-air balloon which raises and sinks throughout the day) to get the best view of the 42-acre, Victorian-styled grounds.
The Morris Arboretum
100 Northwestern Ave., between Germantown and Stenton Aves.
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215.247.5777
Website
This 92-acre Victorian landscape garden features flowerscapes, formal rose gardens, a swan pond, and a fernery, as well as many of Philadelphia's oldest, rarest, and largest trees.
Districts & Neighborhoods
Chestnut Hill
Website
Website
Located at the city's northwest boundary, Chestnut Hill is a picturesque neighborhood with tree-lined avenues, cobblestone streets, and trolley cars. Germantown Avenue, the town's main street, is lined with over 200 boutique shops, art galleries, antique stores, cafes, and restaurants. Designated a National Historic District, Chestnut Hill contains more than 100 architecturally significant residences, and all stores, including national chains, are required to maintain the neighborhood's architectural integrity. Among the town's eclectic architectural styles are early Italianate Victorian, Queen Anne, 18th-century farmhouse, carriage house, row house, and early modern.
Rittenhouse Square
Website
Located between Walnut, Rittenhouse, 18th, and 19th Streets, Rittenhouse Square is one of five squares that make up Philadelphia's original, park-based municipal development. The square's entrances, central plaza, and fountain were designed in 1913 by the architect Paul Cret, who was one of the main designers of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Although many of the private homes have been converted into apartments today, to live near or on the Square is still a mark of prestige.
South Street
The area referred to as South Street starts near Penn's Landing at Front Street and stretches along South Street to about 11th Street. The "East Village" of Philadelphia, South Street is the city's hipper, trendier area, offering a variety of shops and restaurants, as well as good people watching. Home to Jim's Steaks (serving Philly cheese-steaks since 1939).
Old City
Website
One of the country's most historic districts, comprising Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Elfreth's Alley.
Parkway/Museum District
Stretching from City Hall to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is flanked by some of the city's most acclaimed institutions. The Parkway is also the location of numerous festivals and events throughout the year, including Fourth of July fireworks. Logan Circle, one of the public squares in the city's original design, is home to the magnificent Swann Fountain.
Penn's Landing
Website
The location where William Penn landed when he came to America aboard the ship Welcome in 1682, Penn's Landing stretches along the Delaware River for about 10 blocks from Vine Street to South Street. Today, Penn's Landing is a tree-lined, riverfront promenade, with walkways, an amphitheater, World Sculpture Garden, and Portuguese tall ship built in 1883.
Fairmount Park
215.685.0000
Website
With approximately 8,900 acres, Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped city park in the world. The park includes both recreational facilities and cultural and historic landmarks, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Japanese House and Garden, the Water Works, and numerous famous sculptures. Also found here are 18th- and 19th-century colonial homes, once the abodes of prominent Philadelphians. Many of the homes are open for tours.
South Philadelphia
In addition to being home of the city's expansive professional Sports Complex, South Philadelphia is probably best known for the open-air Italian Market, outstanding Italian restaurants, and being home of the Philly cheese-steak.
Architecture
Center City:
Frank Furness: PA Academy of Fine Arts
Robert Venturi: Philadelphia Orchestra Hall
Louis I. Kahn: Richards Medical Center at University of Penn.; Philadelphia College of Art
Howe and Lescaze: PSFS Building in Center City
William Strickland: 2nd Bank of the U.S. in Center City
John Haviland: Eastern State Penitentiary
Rafael Viñoly: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
I.M. Pei: Society Hill Towers
Chestnut Hill:
Samuel Sloan
G.W. & W.D. Hewitt
Wilson Eyre
Mellor Meigs and Howe
Horace Traumbauer
Louis I. Kahn: Esherick House
Robert Venturi: Vanna Venturi House
Frank Furness: Gravers Lane Train Station
