Philadelphia

Landmarks and monuments in Philadelphia are historic edifices that had a great impact on the newly formed republic back in the latter part of the 18th century. With most having now been restored to their former glory, a tour of the monuments and buildings in Philadelphia can be extremely rewarding.

Philadelphia's City Hall is massive and stands out with the endearing statue of Penn on top, while Carpenter's Hall and Christ Church are works of art. Here are some of the main landmarks and monuments in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Landmarks and Monuments: Benjamin Franklin Bridge - 5th and Vine Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA
Designed by Paul Cret and completed in 1926, the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Philadelphia was then the world's largest single-span suspension bridge. Today this important Philadelphia bridge not only provides transport for cars, trains and pedestrians across the   Delaware River, but it also provides a fantastic and free light show. Created for the bicentennial by a renowned American architect, the light show illuminates the bridge's cables every night.
Philadelphia landmark open: daily - 06:00 to dusk
Philadelphia landmark admission:
Philadelphia's innumerable cultural attractions tend to be very child friendly. Particularly so is the Franklin Institute Science Museum and the Mummer's Museum, both of which have excellent interactive exhibits for children and eye-opening displays for adults.

The Independence Seaport Museum stands on the banks of the Delaware River, next to Penn's Landing, and is another of Philadelphia's top places to interest, while Franklin Court and the National Constitution Center are housed within some rather intriguing buildings

Philadelphia Museums: Franklin Court - 314-322 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA
Tel: +1 215 597 8974
Located underground on the site of Benjamin Franklin's first permanent home in Philadelphia, Franklin Court is a tribute to the great man featuring exhibits on his achievements in science, politics and business. A replica of Franklin's former home has been erected adjacent to the museum and visitors can look inside through its windows, while several nearby houses were also once rented by Franklin and are now used as exhibition halls.
Philadelphia museum open: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Philadelphia museum admission: free

Philadelphia Museums: Franklin Institute Science Museum - Logan Circle, 20th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA
Tel: +1 215 448 1200
Another Franklin institution comes in the form of the outstanding Franklin Institute Science Museum, a huge complex packed to the hilt with clever and educational hands-on exhibits. Highlights include: the largest replica of the human heart in the world, at 15,000 times bigger than life size; the T-33 jet trainer at the Franklin Air Show exhibit; and the Baldwin steam locomotive. Franklin was also an inventor and you can see his famed lightning rod as well as an array of interesting exhibits covering the sciences. Other major displays include the world's largest pinball machine, Shaquille O'Neal's huge sneakers and an IMAX theater.
Philadelphia museum open: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Philadelphia museum admission: charge, discount for children

Philadelphia Museums: Independence Seaport Museum - 211 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA
Tel: +1 215 925 5439
Ideal for maritime buffs, the Seaport Museum has some fantastic hands-on exhibits and nautical artifacts which show how the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers have shaped the city's fortunes. Highlights here include a replica of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, the opportunity to operate a crane to unload giant container ships, the chance to row along the Schuylkill in a scull and to assist in constructing the hull of a ship.
Philadelphia museum open: daily - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 12:00
Philadelphia museum admission: charge

Philadelphia Museums: Mummers Museum - 1100 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), 19147, USA
Tel: +1 215 336 3050
The museum was opened in 1976 and displays a collection of elaborate costumes and musical instruments used in past New Year Mummers Parade celebrations. From May to September, depending on the weather, free outdoor string band concerts are held on Thursday evenings.
Philadelphia museum open: October to April, Wednesday to Saturday - 09:30 to 16:30; May to September, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday - 09:30 to 16:30, Thursday - 09:30 to 21:30
Philadelphia museum admission: charge, discount for senior citizens, students and under 12s. Group rates available

Philadelphia Museums: Mutters Museum - 19 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), 19103, USA
Tel: +1 215 563 3737
Philadelphia's Mutters Museum is a must-see attraction if you have kids. Loaded with over 20,000 stomach-churning objects, exhibitions at Mutters Museum are housed in an eerie 19th-century building in the city center. The spooky décor keeps visitors on edge and exhibits such as the 'Secret Tumor of Grover Cleveland', brains in vintage glass jars and casts of the conjoined twins Chang and Eng, as well as thousands of other niceties, make for an interesting visit.
Philadelphia museum open: daily - 10:00 to 17:00
Philadelphia museum admission: charge, discount for senior citizens, students and under 18s

Philadelphia Museums: Brandywine River Museum - US 1 and Route 100, Chadds Ford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA
Tel: +1 610 388 2700
Housed in an intriguing Civil War-era gristmill, with an interior graced by natural light that seeps in through a series of baffles, filters and blinds, the Brandywine River Museum displays works by the American realist painter, Andrew Wyeth. The museum is located to the southwest of Philadelphia in Chadds Ford and the exhibits here are accompanied by other illustrations and landscape paintings by the likes of Maxfield Parrish and Howard Pyle. The museum overlooks the river and has a garden boasting wildflowers and a nature trail.
Philadelphia museum open: daily - 09:30 to 16:30
Philadelphia museum admission: charge

Philadelphia Museums: National Constitution Center - 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA
Tel: +1 215 923 0004
Designed by a well respected firm, the multi-million dollar National Constitution Center is a huge complex covering the American Revolution and the country's constitutional history through a range of brilliant interactive exhibits. Visitors also have the chance to be a Supreme Court judge on an important case.
Philadelphia museum open: daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Philadelphia museum admission: charge

Philadelphia Landmarks and Monuments: City Hall - Broad and Market Streets, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA Tel: +1 215 686 2840 Once the tallest building in Philadelphia and also the world's tallest masonry-bearing structure, City Hall was completed in 1900. Boasting a huge bronze statue of city planner William Penn atop the structure, the hall offers grand views over the city. Having taken almost 30 years to complete, Philadelphia's City Hall lies at the heart of the original city plan and features the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the Conversation Hall, which can both be seen on a free tour. Look out for some of the stunning interior fixtures, fittings and furnishings, such as the massive marble pillars and mahogany paneling. Philadelphia landmark open: Monday to Friday - 09:30 to 16:15 Philadelphia landmark admission: free Philadelphia Landmarks and Monuments: Powel House - 244 South 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA Tel: +1 215 627 0364 Built in 1765 and later bought by Mayor Samuel Powel, this Georgian home is one of the most beautiful in Philadelphia. Known as the 'Patriot Mayor', Powel was the last mayor of Philadelphia under the British crown and he held the title as the first mayor of the city in the newly independent America. Facing demolition in 1930, Powel House has been restored to its former glory and contains 18th-century Philadelphia furniture and a Santo Domingo mahogany staircase. Important guests were once entertained in the 2nd floor ballroom and today the same room can be rented out for special events. Philadelphia landmark open: Thursday to Saturday - 12:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 13:00 to 17:00 Philadelphia landmark admission: charge, discount for families Philadelphia Landmarks and Monuments: Carpenter's Hall - 320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), USA Tel: +1 215 925 0167 Originally designed by Robert Smith as the guildhall for Philadelphia's burgeoning carpenter community, the Georgian Carpenter's Hall was used by prominent figures as a place to discuss dealings with the crown. Today, all that is left are the Windsor chairs used by the First Continental Congress, some portraits and an exhibit on colonial building methods. Philadelphia's Carpenter's Hall is constructed of Flemish Bond brick, while the gilding and fanlights date from a later period; there is also some ornate woodwork. Philadelphia landmark open: Tuesday to Sunday - 10:00 to 16:00, seasonal variations apply Philadelphia landmark admission: free