Arch Street Meeting House

{Built 1803} - Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia, PA

The Arch St. Meeting House, the oldest meetinghouse of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) still in use in the United States. The meetinghouse grounds were first used as a burial ground in 1701. The land was donated to the Society of Friends by William Penn in 1693. The meetinghouse was built between 1803 and 1805 atop the graveyard and then enlarged in 1811, when the west wing was added to accommodate the Women's Monthly Meeting. The original east wing now houses exhibits on the life of Penn, and the west wing is used for meetings for worship. Charles Brockden Brown (1771--1810), the first American novelist is buried on the grounds of the meetinghouse.

⁴ᴷ Walking Tour of Philadelphia - Center City, Old City, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Chinatown

Google Maps Route:
My Philadelphia Walking Tours Playlist:

I walk in Philadelphia, PA in Center City from South Street & 4th Street, through Society Hill, Old City, Market Street and Chinatown. I visit historical places such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, the Second Bank of the United States, and Benjamin Franklin's grave.

Filmed September 15, 2018

Timestamps
1:27 - 4th Street & Lombard Street
4:47 - 4th Street & Spruce Street
8:40 - 4th Street & Walnut Street
11:00 - Second Bank of the United States
12:50 - Independence Hall (Rear View)
16:23 - Chestnut Street & Independence Mall West (Independence Hall Front View)
19:50 - Liberty Bell View from Exterior Glass
23:40 - Independence Visitor Center
27:00 - Arch Street & Independence Mall East (United States Mint & Benjamin Franklin's Grave)
32:30 - Quaker Meeting House
35:45 - 2nd Street & Arch Street
37:40 - Elfreth's Alley (USA's oldest continuously inhabited residential street)
39:20 - Front Street & Elfreth's Alley
43:30 - Market Street & Front Street
48:40 - Market Street & 4th Street
52:30 - Market Street & 6th Street
56:20 - 8th Street & Market Street
59:06 - Arch Street & 8th Street
1:02:15 - 10th Street & Arch Street (Chinatown Friendship Arch)
1:04:50 - Race Street & 10th Street
1:06:36 - 9th Street & Race Street
1:08:31 - Vine Street & 9th Street

The links below may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive a small commission from your purchases.

Filmed Using
GoPro HERO6 Black @ 4K, 30FPS:
FeiyuTech G6 Gimbal:
FeiyuTech G5 Gimbal:

Camera Equipment I used or have used
GoPro HERO5 Black:
Panasonic G7:
Panasonic LUMIX G Vario Lens, 14-140MM, F3.5-5.6 ASPH:
Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO LENS, 7-14MM, F4.0 ASPH:
Zhiyun Crane V2 Gimbal:
Senal SCS-98 Stereo Microphone:
LowePro Photo Classic 300 AW:
AmazonBasics Medium DSLR Gadget Bag:
Samsung 128GB microSD Card:
Smatree 3pcs Long Aluminum Thumbscrew:
GoPro HERO5/HERO6 Battery with Dual Battery Charger:
Lifelimit Accessories Starter Kit for GoPro:
The CLAW Flexible Tripod:
AmazonBasics Carrying Case for GoPro - Large:
Transcend USB 3.0 Card Reader:
Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Bank:

Philadelphia Walking Tour - Old Town (4k Ultra HD 60fps)

Don't miss our walk in Salt Lake City. Here is the link:

In this 4k ultra hd video, recorded on May 2019, we are going to show the most popular destinations in Historic Old Town Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States of America and second largest city on the East Coast.
Our guided walking tour starts at the National Constitution Center and covers most attractions and historic sites in America's Birthplace, including Independence Hall and Liberty Bell.

Video Timeline Links:
00:55 - National Constitution Center
08:17 - Independence Visitor Center
12:31 - The Liberty Bell Center
14:25 - Independence Hall
16:30 - Independence Square
20:16 - Washington Square
28:57The Signer Statue
34:18- The Todd House
42:06 - The Merchants' Exchange
45:59 - Carpenters’ Hall
50:28 - Franklin Court
55:55 - Christ Church
01:01:35 - Elfreth’s Alley
01:07:44 - Betsy Ross House
01:11:20 - Arch Street Friends Meeting House
01:14:10 - Christ Church Burial Ground
01:23:22 - The Bourse Building
01:29:14 - Atwater Kent Museum
01:30:20 - Declaration House (Graff House)
01:33:37 - The African American Museum

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Our visit to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Philly The city of brotherly love!

Philadelphia, which is Greek for brotherly love (from Philos, love or friendship, and Delphos, brother) Founded by William Penn, Penn As a Quaker, Penn had experienced religious persecution and wanted his colony to be a place where anyone could worship freely.
With centuries of culture and personality built up, the breathing city of Philadelphia exemplifies “brotherly or sisterly love” in its own fashion. Its sports fans are known to be the most loyal and passionate in the business, while it’s often a tough love, it’s a love for sure. The music in Philadelphia is one of a kind, and it’s developed historically standout sounds in the hip-hop and indie rock spaces. On top of it all, Philly is a city that shares its cheesesteaks, art museums, festivals, and personalities with all of its visitors, just like a sibling you grew up alongside.

Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and, at the time of the American Revolution, was the largest and most important city in America. Founded by William Penn as a place of religious tolerance, its spirit infused the early steps towards independence.

The first European settlers on the site were Swedes, who established a community at the mouth of the Schuykill not later than 1643. England, however, established its control over the entire region, and in 1681, King Charles II made William Penn a grant of land that became Pennsylvania.

An advance group was sent that year, and Penn followed in 1682. They established Philadelphia in the southeast corner of the colony, following a plan for the town's development. Philadephia's guiding principle was tolerance towards all faiths. Philadelphia attracted people from all over Europe, with such Quakers as Penn especially well represented. The city developed a thriving trade with the West Indies and soon became the largest and most important city in the colonies. It received its city charter in 1701.

Philadelphia's most famous citizen in the 18th century was Benjamin Franklin, widely considered to be one of that century's foremost scientists, in addition to one of the guiding lights of the Revolution. The First and Second Continental congresses were held in Philadelphia, and the city served as the nation's unofficial capital throughout the War of Independence, except for the period between September 26, 1777, and June 18, 1778, when it was held by the British. Following the war, the convention that produced the Constitution (text) was held in Philadelphia.

By the time of the first census in 1790, New York had passed Philadelphia in size. During the first half of the 19th century, important suburbs grew up around Philadelphia, including Kensington, Moyamensing, Northern Liberties, Southwark, and Spring Garden, which ranked among the country's top 100 places in the national census.

By mid-century, Philadelphia had dropped to fourth place in population. In 1854, the Pennsylvania legislature redrew the boundaries of Philadelphia to include the entire county, which boosted the city's population back to second. It held that position until overtaken by Chicago in the census of 1890.

In 1876, Philadelphia hosted one of the country's first international expositions, to commemorate the centennial of the Declaration of Independence. Held at Fairmont Park from May 10 to November 10, the exposition displayed industries from 50 countries.

Philadelphia, cradle of America's dream of freedom, is home to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution (narrative), great documents that cried out, “Let Freedom Ring, like the Liberty Bell. Amidst the ordinary citizens of Philadelphia, gathered in the humble Carpenter's Hall on Chestnut Street, the Colonial Fathers gave voice and life to those freedoms at the First Continental Congress.
Many historic sites in Philadelphia have been restored or rebuilt to help preserve the nation’s heritage as a free people. Providing fitting homage to these places, a place of hallowed ground was sanctified, the Independence National Historical Park. On these grounds is Independence Hall, where the Declaration and the Constitution reside. The home of Betsy Ross still stands on Arch Street.

Philadelphia also is one of America's leading cultural centers. The University of Philadelphia, established in 1740, occupies a 120-acre campus in West Philadelphia. The Academy of Natural Science, the oldest institution of its kind in America, was founded in 1805. The Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoological garden in the nation, houses 1,600 rare and exotic animals. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, founded in 1876, displays some of the world's finest Impressionist art. Philadelphia's own Washington Monument stands in front of the art museum as if to guard the collections within.


Music: november



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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, North America

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the second largest city on the East Coast of the United States, and the fifth-most-populous city in the United States. It is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, and it is the only consolidated city-county in Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 1,526,006, growing to 1,547,607 in 2012 by Census estimates. Philadelphia is the economic and cultural center of the Delaware Valley, home to over 6 million people and the country's sixth-largest metropolitan area. Within the Delaware Valley, the Philadelphia metropolitan division consists of five counties in Pennsylvania and has a population of 4,008,994. Popular nicknames for Philadelphia are Philly and The City of Brotherly Love, the latter of which comes from the literal meaning of the city's name in Greek, Modern Greek: brotherly love, compounded from philos loving, and adelphos. In 1682, William Penn founded the city to serve as capital of Pennsylvania Colony. By the 1750s, Philadelphia had surpassed Boston to become the largest city and busiest port in British America, and second in the British Empire, behind London. During the American Revolution, Philadelphia played an instrumental role as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787. Philadelphia was one of the nation's capitals during the Revolutionary War, and the city served as the temporary U.S. capital while Washington, D.C., was under construction. During the 19th century, Philadelphia became a major industrial center and railroad hub that grew from an influx of European immigrants. It became a prime destination for African Americans during the Great Migration and surpassed two million occupants by 1950. The city is the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania, and is home to the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and several Fortune 500 companies. Philadelphia is known for its arts and culture. The cheesesteak and soft pretzel are emblematic of Philadelphia cuisine, which is shaped by the city's ethnic mix. The city has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city, and Philadelphia's Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped urban park in the world. Gentrification of Philadelphia's neighborhoods continues into the 21st century and the city has reversed its decades-long trend of population loss. The city is the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania and is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies. The Philadelphia skyline is growing, with several nationally prominent skyscrapers. It is also known for its arts, culture, and history, which attracted over 39 million domestic tourists in 2013. The city has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city, and Philadelphia's Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped urban park in the world. The 67 National Historic Landmarks in the city helped account for the $10 billion generated by tourism. Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps, and is also the home of many US firsts, including the first library (1731), first hospital (1751) and medical school (1765), first Capitol (1777), first stock exchange (1790), first zoo (1874), and first business school (1881). Philadelphia's central city was created in the 17th century following the plan by William Penn's surveyor Thomas Holme. Center City is structured with long straight streets running east-west and north-south forming a grid pattern. The original city plan was designed to allow for easy travel and to keep residences separated by open space that would help prevent the spread of fire. The Delaware River and Schuylkill Rivers served as early boundaries between which the city's early street plan was kept within. In addition, Penn planned the creation of five public parks in the city which were renamed in 1824 (in parenthesis): Centre Square, North East Publick Square (Franklin Square), Northwest Square (Logan Square), Southwest Square (Rittenhouse Square), and Southeast Square (Washington Square). Philadelphia's neighborhoods are divided into large sections—North, Northeast, Northwest, West, South and Southwest Philadelphia all of which surround Center City, which corresponds closely with the city's limits before consolidation in 1854. Each of these large areas contains numerous neighborhoods, some of whose boundaries derive from the boroughs, townships, and other communities that made up Philadelphia County before their absorption into the city. The City Planning Commission, tasked with guiding growth and development of the city, has divided the city into 18 planning districts as part of the Philadelphia2035 physical development plan. Much of the city's 1980 zoning code was overhauled from 2007-2012 as part of a joint effort between Major John F. Street and Michael Nutter.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia

Independence Hall in Philadelphia



Independence Hall is the building where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. It is now the centerpiece of the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The building was completed in 1753 as the colonial legislature (later Pennsylvania State House) for the Province of Pennsylvania and was used in that capacity until the state capital moved to Lancaster in 1799. It became the principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1783 and was the site of the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787.

A convention held in Independence Hall in 1915, presided over by former US president William Howard Taft, marked the formal announcement of the formation of the League to Enforce Peace, which led to the League of Nations and eventually the United Nations. The building is part of Independence National Historical Park and is listed as a World Heritage Site.

Philadelphia 2011

A 2-hour drive from New York is historic Philadelphia, which I had visited many times in the past but this time, for the first time, with my lawyer-son and wife and their 2 daughters. Upon arrival, we were lucky to get a nice parking spot at Walnut Street, a block away from Independence Hall.

At Independence Square, we posed beside Robert Morris's monument and the State House. The State House or, as it is popularly known, Independence Hall, was begun in 1732 and considered finished by 1756 as the Pennsylvania State House. In front of the entrance itself is a familiar statue of Washington erected in 1869. Philadelphia schoolchildren, beginning in 1860, gave their pennies to pay for it. We were about to line up here when we were told to get the tickets at the Visitors Center. So off to the Center, passing by Liberty Bell (where we saw a real loooong queue).

At the Independence Visitor Center, we found out that all the tickets to the Independence Hall have run out, and we would have to wait until 5pm when tickets would not be required to visit the Hall. So we decided to make our own walking tour from the Town Hall to Carpenters Hall, to Christ Church, Betsy Ross House, the Quakers Meeting House, and the Row Houses (Todd House and Bishop White House).

Not very far from where we parked, on the corner of 4th and Walnut Streets stands the Todd House, home of Dolly Madison. It was built in 1775 and occupied from 1791 to 1793 by John Todd, Jr., and his wife, Dolly Payne. After Todd's death in the yellow fever epidemic of 1793, she married James Madison, a young Virginia politician who was to become the fourth US President.

Carpenters' Hall was open (free admission) and the exhibits were quite interesting. Here we learned that it also served as the headquarters of the First Bank of the United States in 1791. Others to occupy the venerable rooms include: the Bank of the State of Pennsylvania, United States Custom House, Franklin Institute, Society of Friends, the United States Law Office, the Apprentice's Free Library, the Second Bank of the United States, and the Philadelphia Auction Market. We posed for souvenir photos at John Jay's corner and a the lovely fireplace.

For lunch, we had the original Philly steak sandwiches and Hank's Root Beer at a place near the end of Market Street. And right after lunch, we found our way to Christ Church, known as The Nation's Church because of the famous Revolutionary-era leaders who worshiped here. Christ Church was founded in 1695 during the reign of William and Mary, it was built between 1727 and 1754 when George II was king. It was the first parish of the Church of England (Anglican) in Pennsylvania. It is also the birthplace of the American Episcopal Church. Christ Church, one of America's most historic shrines and as such Philadelphians have always revered it.

Christ Church Burial Ground is one of America's most important Colonial and Revolution-era graveyards, with 1,400 markers on two beautiful acres right in the heart of historic Philadelphia. Located three blocks from the Church, and just across the street from the Visitors' Center, the Burial Ground is the final resting place for some of our most prominent leaders including Benjamin Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Betsy Ross worshiped here and, perhaps, its most important single feature is the font at which William Penn was baptized. It was sent to Christ Church in 1697 from London by All Hallow's Church, Barking-by-the-Tower. The chandelier brought from England in 1744 is still in use as is the wineglass pulpit, made in Philadelphia by John Folwell in 1770. Inside the church memorial tablets line the walls and slabs marking family vaults are beneath our feet.

From Christ Church, we walked so many blocks to get to Betsy Ross House, where we watched performers clad in 18th century period costumes. On the way to the Quakers Meeting House, we passed by James Peniston's statue and posed briefly for a photoshoot.

On Arch Street, midway between 3rd and 4th, we passed by the Friends Meeting House, the main part erected in 1804, the west wing in 1811. The oldest Friends Meeting House still in use in Philadelphia and the largest in the world, it is the site of the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, held every spring. But at the time of our visit, it was closed!

Finally, we drove to the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site at 7th Street, about 7 blocks north, and listened to a narration of his Tell Tale Heart. And this is where our one-day trip to Philadelphia ended.

Implosion at 13th & Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA

National Building imploded for Convention Center expansion

Franklin Court - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

- Created at TripWow by TravelPod Attractions (a TripAdvisor™ company)

Franklin Court Philadelphia
With levels above and below ground, the complex houses a theater and museum devoted to Franklin's life and inventions.
Read more at:

Travel blogs from Franklin Court:
- ... Needing time for our drive to DC, we selected Ben Franklin Court as our last stop in Philly ...
- ... After I visited Franklin Court, the former home of Benjamin Franklin ...
Read these blogs and more at:

Photos from:
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Photos in this video:
- Printing Press at Franklin Court by Corben from a blog titled Day 9 - Historic Philadelphia
- G - Franklin Court Museum by Mikeyinpdx from a blog titled Philadelphia sites
- H - Franklin Court Museum by Mikeyinpdx from a blog titled Philadelphia sites
- Benjamin Franklin Court by Andrew_leesia from a blog titled Home of US founding fathers & Philly Cheese
- Ben Franklin Court by Inourshoes from a blog titled On the road to Philly - the City of Brotherly Love
- Franklin Court by Andrew_leesia from a blog titled Home of US founding fathers & Philly Cheese
- Franklin Court by Kinkajou25 from a blog titled Philly

Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, PA

PHILADELPHIA - WikiVidi Documentary

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the sixth-most populous city in the United States, with an estimated population of 1,567,872 and more than 6 million in the seventh-largest metropolitan statistical area, . Philadelphia is the economic and cultural anchor of the Delaware Valleya region located in the Northeastern United States at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers with 7.2 million people residing in the eighth-largest combined statistical area in the United States. In 1682, William Penn, an English Quaker, founded the city to serve as capital of the Pennsylvania Colony. Philadelphia played an instrumental role in the American Revolution as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787. Several other key Philadelphia events during the Revolution include the First and Second Continental Congress, the preservation of the Liberty Bell, ...


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00:04:02: History
00:17:19: Topography
00:18:43: City planning
00:21:46: Architecture
00:25:26: Climate
00:29:05: Demographics
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00:43:11: Languages
00:44:04: Dialect
00:45:06: Economy
00:48:29: Culture
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00:56:38: Marijuana
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01:01:18: Olympic bidding
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01:03:30: Law and government
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01:15:29: Primary and secondary education
01:18:18: Higher education
01:19:59: Newspapers
01:21:37: Radio and television
01:25:27: Transportation
01:27:10: Airports
01:28:08: Roads
01:31:31: Bus service
01:32:33: Rail
01:34:41: Walkability
01:34:54: Utilities
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Old City Philadelphia

Old City (sometimes misspelled Olde City) is a neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, in the area near the Delaware River where William Penn and the Quakers first settled. To tourists, it is best known as the site of Elfreth's Alley, the Betsy Ross House, and many of Philadelphia's other historic sites.

1599 Walton Road, Blue Bell PA

Upon arriving at the gated entrance of this estate home you immediately begin to feel a sense of grandeur. You are welcomed by an inviting porte-cochere and paver walkway that is adorned by beautiful landscaping and a fountain. The walkway leads you to a handsome fa~ade of this custom-built home with stunning stone and brick details. Enter the home into a grand 2-story foyer with a sweeping staircase. On the first floor you will find a lovely living room with a stone fireplace, a large dining room and a study with custom built-ins. The gourmet island kitchen offers a Viking 6 burner range with griddle, side-by-side Subzero refrigerator and freezer, 2 Thermador dishwashers, a butler pantry with a Marvel dual zone wine refrigerator and walk-in pantry with custom shelving. The open floor plan offers a continuous flow throughout the kitchen, breakfast room and spacious family room with fireplace. There is a first floor master bedroom suite with a fireplace, master bathroom with 2 separate vanities, a Jacuzzi, spa shower, and a large walk-in closet with custom shelving. There is also a bonus room in the master suite that is currently used as a fitness room. At the opposite end of the first floor there is a guest suite with a private full bathroom and a sitting area with a fireplace, perfect for an in-law or au pair suite. There are hardwood floors throughout the majority of the first floor and second floor common space, and there is also a second, back staircase. Upstairs you will find 3 additional bedrooms that are all en suite with walk-in closets and an open loft area that leads to an outdoor deck. The walk-out lower level is finished with full bathroom and offers an abundance of space for a media room, wine cellar, and billiard entertainment area. Enjoy relaxing or entertaining out back with custom paver patio area with exquisite spiral brick columns that are truly unique, a covered porch and outdoor fireplace. Siting on over 2.5 acres, the backyard has plenty of room for a pool, sport court ? the possibilities are endless! The home also offers energy efficient 12 HVAC zones, a water softener with UV filter, an irrigation system, central vacuum, crown molding, wainscoting and 4-car garage parking. Convenient location with nearby restaurants, shopping, parks and access to major routes and Wings Field. Sought after Wissahickon school district!

Le Meridien Philly room tour

I just returned from Philadelphia and stayed at the Le Meridien Philadelphia ( It's a great hotel, located on Arch Street directly across from City Hall. The building was originally a YMCA, designed by the great Horace Trumbauer and built in 1912. The hotel has 202 stylish rooms and suites and offers24 hour room service. The hotel's restaurant Amuse and Le Bar at Amuse are great options for meals or for meeting for a drink.

The hotel is stylish and luxurious, while retaining period details. Service is excellent with no detail overlooked. Read my review here:

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725 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA

Center City ground floor retail space available in historic Philadelphia Blue Print building with landmark facade.

Watch: Tourists stumble over Philly’s Revolutionary Era history

Sure, we all know the United States was founded in Philadelphia, but how much do visitors to our Historic District actually know about the characters and icons of the American Revolution?

After spending a day quizzing tourists, it seems the answer is...not so much. We’ve got a handle on the most obvious of details (mostly), like what year the Declaration of Independence was signed, but other facts are stumpers. And really, if you were asked where Ben Franklin was born, could you come up with the right city?

Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now renamed Independence Hall), the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack (today the Whitechapel Bell Foundry) in 1752, and was cast with the lettering (part of Leviticus 25:10) Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof. It originally cracked when first rung after arrival in Philadelphia, and was twice recast by local workmen John Pass and John Stow, whose last names appear on the bell. In its early years, the Liberty Bell was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens to public meetings and proclamations.
No immediate announcement was made of the Second Continental Congress's vote for independence, and thus the bell could not have rung on July 4, 1776, at least not for any reason related to that vote. Bells were rung to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776, and while there is no contemporary account of the Liberty Bell ringing, most historians believe it was one of the bells rung. After American independence was secured, it fell into relative obscurity for some years. In the 1830s, the bell was adopted as a symbol by abolitionist societies, who dubbed it the Liberty Bell. It acquired its distinctive large crack sometime in the early 19th century—a widespread story claims it cracked while ringing after the death of Chief Justice John Marshall in 1835.


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Major Development Project in Center City Philadelphia

Philadelphia, February 18, 2014 -- Mayor Michael A. Nutter formally announced the selection of the Peebles Corporation and P&A Associates as the developers of a new $85 million 199 room Kimpton Hotel to be built at 1801 Vine Street. Located along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway just one block from the new Barnes Foundation, the availability of this key site provides a rare opportunity to revitalize an important historic building and to create a unique, new destination along Philadelphia's most prominent thoroughfare.

We are delighted to announce this major economic development project that will create more than 600 construction and permanent jobs in Philadelphia, said Mayor Nutter, who made the announcement during a press conference at City Hall. The addition of a new Kimpton Hotel along the Ben Franklin Parkway will be a great addition to that historic boulevard. This investment demonstrates the continued momentum of our city's hospitality and tourism industry.

The 247,000-square-foot building at 1801 Vine Street was completed in 1941 and has served as home to the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania since that time. The building is currently listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, and the planned redevelopment will incorporate its important historic elements, including the preservation and maintenance of its 37 historic interior murals. The Family Division will relocate to a new facility which is under construction at 15th and Arch Streets later this year.

The new hotel will feature 199 guest rooms, 16,000 square feet of spa and fitness space, 14,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and 5,800 square feet for a restaurant and bar. The redevelopment of this property will significantly enhance the Parkway Museums District, generate new tax revenues, and continue the momentum of new commercial and institutional development activity along Vine Street. The hotel will serve Philadelphia's growing leisure, business, and convention markets, in particular supporting the major arts and culture attractions along the Parkway such as the Barnes Foundation, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and the Free Library of Philadelphia. It will also be the first minority-owned hotel development of its size in Center City Philadelphia.

The Peebles Corporation is the country's largest African-American real estate development company with a multi-billion dollar development portfolio of luxury hotels, high-rise residential and Class A commercial properties and developments throughout the United States. The company is a diversified real estate developer with a wide range of uses located in major international cities such as New York, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

We are proud to have been selected by the City of Philadelphia for the development of this national landmark and look forward to working with our partners at P&A and the team at Kimpton in the genesis of Philadelphia's newest hotel, said R. Donahue Peebles, Chairman and CEO of The Peebles Corporation. I am enthusiastic to have the opportunity to work with Mayor Nutter and the City of Philadelphia to revolutionize this iconic property into one of the premier hotels in the country and an economic engine that provides business and career opportunities to the residents and businesses of Philadelphia. We are also committed to ensuring this development sets a new standard for the inclusion of minority business opportunities in Philadelphia. McKissack & McKissack, America's oldest minority owned construction company will lead this effort during the construction phase.

The Peebles Corporation and P&A Associates were selected from three finalist proposals in a public and competitive selection process. Their proposal was selected based on a series of criteria that included: a superior proposal from a highly experienced national and local development team; a best-in-class hotel operating partner; a sensitive approach to the historic preservation of this iconic building's interiors and exterior façade; strong inclusion of minority participation in the ownership and development of the project; and the most feasible overall operating and financing plan. The development team will acquire 1801 Vine Street for $4.5 million.

TODD HOUSE Philadelphia Walking Tour

Built in 1775 by John Dilworth, Todd House has been restored to its 1790s appearance, when its best-known resident, Dolley Payne Todd (1768-1849), lived here. She lost her husband, the Quaker lawyer John Todd, to the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. Dolley later married James Madison, who became the fourth president. Her time as a hostess in the White House was quite a contrast to her years in this simple home. There's an 18th-century garden next to Todd House. Get free tickets at the visitor center for one-hour tours that include the Bishop White House.

20171119 Philadelphia Constitution Center (c) SJ Dodgson peacescientists org MVI 0836

Philadelphia Constitution Center has a room filled with signers of the Constitution rendered in bronze, the height, weight and appearance as close as the artists could tell. George Washington is the tallest. The Center is across Independence Mall from Independence Hall in old city Philadelphia. I love walking through Independence Mall to get to Arch St Meeting at 4th and Arch St, which houses the biggest Quaker meeting room I have ever seen.


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