History
11 Things You Might Not Know About: The Philadelphia Zoo
Twenty years ago, Philadelphians awoke on Christmas Eve to dreadful news: A fire overnight in the World of Primates building at the Philadelphia Zoo had […]
28 Vintage Photos of Philadelphia During the Holidays
The holiday season always makes me nostalgic for things I’ve never actually had, like that creamy root beer float at the soda fountain in Bedford Falls, or the […]
Bullets and Bigots: Remembering Philadelphia’s 1844 Anti-Catholic Riots
It started with a Bible, of all things. Bishop Francis Kenrick, who, like many of the newest Philadelphians in the mid-1840s, had come to America […]
10 Things You Might Not Know About Philly’s Jewish Quarter
Hanukkah sneaked up on us yesterday — it’s super-early this year — which got us thinking about Jews’ part in the city’s history. There have been Jews […]
10 Things You Never Knew About the Fairmount Park Mansions
A new book by James McClelland, executive director emeritus of the Philadelphia Art Alliance, and Lynn Miller, professor emeritus of political science at Temple University, […]
Nine Things You Never Knew About William Penn
The miracle of modern mail recently landed an enormous new book, The Philadelphia Country House: Architecture and Landscape in Colonial America, on my desk. Really, […]
Drexel Students Recreate a Giant, Terrifying, Revolutionary War-Era Spear
Back during the Revolutionary War, there was a 100-foot spear weighing hundreds of pounds that was stuck to the bottom of the Delaware River, pointing up. Its purpose, according to […]
In 1943, Train Crashed Near Same Spot as Amtrak Derailment
It was Labor Day, 1943. World War II was in full swing, but the mood that holiday weekend was festive. Many soldiers were on leave. […]
Thirty Years Later, MOVE Still Hurts
On May 13, 1985 — 30 years ago today — a city decided to selectively bomb its citizens. On Mother’s Day 1985, residents on a […]
9 Unbelievably True Tales of Philadelphia Mayors
The Philadelphia mayor’s race is in full swing — and something’s missing. It’s not as wild as the last time Philadelphia had a competitive Democratic […]
No, Ira Einhorn Is Not the Founder of Earth Day
Today is Earth Day, which means it’s time once again for an old story to make the rounds. Multiple news sources today have reported that […]
Was the Term “African American” Coined in Philadelphia?
To be honest, we thought the term “African American” was a relatively recent coinage, one of a million hyphenates to spring up in the post-Civil […]
Listings: 11 Area Homes Built Before George Washington Was Born
Whether it’s that whole cherry tree thing, crossing the Delaware River or, you know, being the first president of the newly formed United States of […]