52 Weeks of FirstsFour years before the 1969 Stonewall Riots, LGBTQ activists gathered at Independence HallPhiladelphia's Remembrance Marches predated Stonewall and were one of the earliest instances of queer people demanding equal rights in the workplace.Elizabeth Wellington Philadelphia is the birthplace of the nation. It’s also where the U.S. Army was founded. Elizabeth Wellington Historians may be divided over whether Betsy Ross designed the first American flag. But there’s no denying her early feminism.Elizabeth Wellington How a steam-powered canoe ride along the Schuylkill and Delaware River inspired the American boating industry Elizabeth Wellington Philadelphia’s 1876 World’s Fair set the stage for this year’s 250th shindigElizabeth Wellington AdvertisementPhiladelphia gave America its first hospital and, therefore, all its hospital TV dramasWith Ben Franklin's approval, Thomas Bond spearheaded the opening of Pennsylvania Hospital. Its first building opened in 1756.Elizabeth Wellington A lot has been said about the Philadelphian who founded Mother’s Day. A historian now wants to set the record straightAnna Jarvis founded the holiday in honor of her own mother and is often remembered for the emotional spiral she underwent because of the commercialization of the day.Elizabeth Wellington Philadelphia birthed the country’s first piano and the world’s first sousaphone, which was made for a musician as popular as Taylor SwiftThe first American-made piano was built in what is now Northern Liberties. Then, 120 years later, the first sousaphone was constructed in a Washington Square shop for John Phillip Sousa.Elizabeth Wellington The U.S. Postal Service is among the many things we can thank Ben Franklin forAs Philadelphia's postmaster and then postmaster general of the colonies, Franklin turned mail delivery into a 24-hour operation and used it as a means to spread the word of the American Revolution.Elizabeth Wellington Yes, John Bartram founded America’s first botanical garden. He also created the first subscription box for gardeners.Considered America's first botanist, he dedicated his life to studying plants. He also started an extremely expensive seed subscription venture.Elizabeth Wellington Years before Market Street became a bustling shopping district, it was home to America’s first circusCenturies before Cirque du Soleil, it was in Philadelphians where John Bill Ricketts rode two horses at a time, rode them backward, and then stood up to juggle. Elizabeth Wellington No matter what Harvard claims, Penn’s Franklin Field is the oldest collegiate stadium being used for footballOn April 20, 1895, Franklin Field opened at 33rd and Spruce with the first Penn Relays. It wasn't just a a sports venue but a meeting place for Philadelphia's high society.Elizabeth Wellington The nation’s first medical school took shape in the nation’s birthplace, Philadelphia What started with two doctors wanting to provide quality medical knowledge has now led to Philadelphia being home to numerous medical innovations, including the first maternity ward.Elizabeth Wellington A 19th-century Philadelphia patent lawyer did, in fact, start the fire Meet Joshua Pusey, the father of the matchbook, who sued another Pa. man Charles Bowman, the father of the matchbook as we know it. Elizabeth Wellington Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania gave us pelvic exams, nursing schools, and Philadelphia’s first Black MDIn the spring of 1851, eight women were the first graduates of the school’s three-year program. Students paid $10 — roughly $417 in today’s money — per class. Elizabeth Wellington Do you buy a poinsettia to celebrate the holiday season? There is a very Philly history to that. Many such exotic plants made their American debut at the Philadelphia Flower Show, an attraction that dates back to 1829.Elizabeth Wellington How Germantown became the building block of the abolitionist movementA petition drawn up in the house of an early Quaker settler was the first step in the direction of allyship between Quakers and Black people. Elizabeth Wellington Yes, there are older Chinatown gates in the country. But Philadelphia’s is the real deal.The 88-ton, 40-foot tall ornate Chinatown entry way at 10th and Arch Streets is yet another historical Philly first. Here's why.Elizabeth Wellington In 1775, 24 men met in a Philadelphia tavern. That meeting led to ending slavery in America. What is now the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society was founded by Quaker leaders who wanted to make it unlawful to sell Black people into slavery on free soil.Elizabeth Wellington A formerly enslaved man was thrown out of an Old City church. He then founded America’s first African Methodist Episcopal church.Mother Bethel is the oldest independent Christian denomination founded by Black people and it was founded at 6th and Lombard Streets as a reaction to white supremacy.Elizabeth Wellington See more storiesAdvertisement
Four years before the 1969 Stonewall Riots, LGBTQ activists gathered at Independence HallPhiladelphia's Remembrance Marches predated Stonewall and were one of the earliest instances of queer people demanding equal rights in the workplace.Elizabeth Wellington
Four years before the 1969 Stonewall Riots, LGBTQ activists gathered at Independence HallPhiladelphia's Remembrance Marches predated Stonewall and were one of the earliest instances of queer people demanding equal rights in the workplace.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia is the birthplace of the nation. It’s also where the U.S. Army was founded. Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia is the birthplace of the nation. It’s also where the U.S. Army was founded. Elizabeth Wellington
Historians may be divided over whether Betsy Ross designed the first American flag. But there’s no denying her early feminism.Elizabeth Wellington
Historians may be divided over whether Betsy Ross designed the first American flag. But there’s no denying her early feminism.Elizabeth Wellington
How a steam-powered canoe ride along the Schuylkill and Delaware River inspired the American boating industry Elizabeth Wellington
How a steam-powered canoe ride along the Schuylkill and Delaware River inspired the American boating industry Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia gave America its first hospital and, therefore, all its hospital TV dramasWith Ben Franklin's approval, Thomas Bond spearheaded the opening of Pennsylvania Hospital. Its first building opened in 1756.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia gave America its first hospital and, therefore, all its hospital TV dramasWith Ben Franklin's approval, Thomas Bond spearheaded the opening of Pennsylvania Hospital. Its first building opened in 1756.Elizabeth Wellington
A lot has been said about the Philadelphian who founded Mother’s Day. A historian now wants to set the record straightAnna Jarvis founded the holiday in honor of her own mother and is often remembered for the emotional spiral she underwent because of the commercialization of the day.Elizabeth Wellington
A lot has been said about the Philadelphian who founded Mother’s Day. A historian now wants to set the record straightAnna Jarvis founded the holiday in honor of her own mother and is often remembered for the emotional spiral she underwent because of the commercialization of the day.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia birthed the country’s first piano and the world’s first sousaphone, which was made for a musician as popular as Taylor SwiftThe first American-made piano was built in what is now Northern Liberties. Then, 120 years later, the first sousaphone was constructed in a Washington Square shop for John Phillip Sousa.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia birthed the country’s first piano and the world’s first sousaphone, which was made for a musician as popular as Taylor SwiftThe first American-made piano was built in what is now Northern Liberties. Then, 120 years later, the first sousaphone was constructed in a Washington Square shop for John Phillip Sousa.Elizabeth Wellington
The U.S. Postal Service is among the many things we can thank Ben Franklin forAs Philadelphia's postmaster and then postmaster general of the colonies, Franklin turned mail delivery into a 24-hour operation and used it as a means to spread the word of the American Revolution.Elizabeth Wellington
The U.S. Postal Service is among the many things we can thank Ben Franklin forAs Philadelphia's postmaster and then postmaster general of the colonies, Franklin turned mail delivery into a 24-hour operation and used it as a means to spread the word of the American Revolution.Elizabeth Wellington
Yes, John Bartram founded America’s first botanical garden. He also created the first subscription box for gardeners.Considered America's first botanist, he dedicated his life to studying plants. He also started an extremely expensive seed subscription venture.Elizabeth Wellington
Yes, John Bartram founded America’s first botanical garden. He also created the first subscription box for gardeners.Considered America's first botanist, he dedicated his life to studying plants. He also started an extremely expensive seed subscription venture.Elizabeth Wellington
Years before Market Street became a bustling shopping district, it was home to America’s first circusCenturies before Cirque du Soleil, it was in Philadelphians where John Bill Ricketts rode two horses at a time, rode them backward, and then stood up to juggle. Elizabeth Wellington
Years before Market Street became a bustling shopping district, it was home to America’s first circusCenturies before Cirque du Soleil, it was in Philadelphians where John Bill Ricketts rode two horses at a time, rode them backward, and then stood up to juggle. Elizabeth Wellington
No matter what Harvard claims, Penn’s Franklin Field is the oldest collegiate stadium being used for footballOn April 20, 1895, Franklin Field opened at 33rd and Spruce with the first Penn Relays. It wasn't just a a sports venue but a meeting place for Philadelphia's high society.Elizabeth Wellington
No matter what Harvard claims, Penn’s Franklin Field is the oldest collegiate stadium being used for footballOn April 20, 1895, Franklin Field opened at 33rd and Spruce with the first Penn Relays. It wasn't just a a sports venue but a meeting place for Philadelphia's high society.Elizabeth Wellington
The nation’s first medical school took shape in the nation’s birthplace, Philadelphia What started with two doctors wanting to provide quality medical knowledge has now led to Philadelphia being home to numerous medical innovations, including the first maternity ward.Elizabeth Wellington
The nation’s first medical school took shape in the nation’s birthplace, Philadelphia What started with two doctors wanting to provide quality medical knowledge has now led to Philadelphia being home to numerous medical innovations, including the first maternity ward.Elizabeth Wellington
A 19th-century Philadelphia patent lawyer did, in fact, start the fire Meet Joshua Pusey, the father of the matchbook, who sued another Pa. man Charles Bowman, the father of the matchbook as we know it. Elizabeth Wellington
A 19th-century Philadelphia patent lawyer did, in fact, start the fire Meet Joshua Pusey, the father of the matchbook, who sued another Pa. man Charles Bowman, the father of the matchbook as we know it. Elizabeth Wellington
Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania gave us pelvic exams, nursing schools, and Philadelphia’s first Black MDIn the spring of 1851, eight women were the first graduates of the school’s three-year program. Students paid $10 — roughly $417 in today’s money — per class. Elizabeth Wellington
Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania gave us pelvic exams, nursing schools, and Philadelphia’s first Black MDIn the spring of 1851, eight women were the first graduates of the school’s three-year program. Students paid $10 — roughly $417 in today’s money — per class. Elizabeth Wellington
Do you buy a poinsettia to celebrate the holiday season? There is a very Philly history to that. Many such exotic plants made their American debut at the Philadelphia Flower Show, an attraction that dates back to 1829.Elizabeth Wellington
Do you buy a poinsettia to celebrate the holiday season? There is a very Philly history to that. Many such exotic plants made their American debut at the Philadelphia Flower Show, an attraction that dates back to 1829.Elizabeth Wellington
How Germantown became the building block of the abolitionist movementA petition drawn up in the house of an early Quaker settler was the first step in the direction of allyship between Quakers and Black people. Elizabeth Wellington
How Germantown became the building block of the abolitionist movementA petition drawn up in the house of an early Quaker settler was the first step in the direction of allyship between Quakers and Black people. Elizabeth Wellington
Yes, there are older Chinatown gates in the country. But Philadelphia’s is the real deal.The 88-ton, 40-foot tall ornate Chinatown entry way at 10th and Arch Streets is yet another historical Philly first. Here's why.Elizabeth Wellington
Yes, there are older Chinatown gates in the country. But Philadelphia’s is the real deal.The 88-ton, 40-foot tall ornate Chinatown entry way at 10th and Arch Streets is yet another historical Philly first. Here's why.Elizabeth Wellington
In 1775, 24 men met in a Philadelphia tavern. That meeting led to ending slavery in America. What is now the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society was founded by Quaker leaders who wanted to make it unlawful to sell Black people into slavery on free soil.Elizabeth Wellington
In 1775, 24 men met in a Philadelphia tavern. That meeting led to ending slavery in America. What is now the Pennsylvania Abolitionist Society was founded by Quaker leaders who wanted to make it unlawful to sell Black people into slavery on free soil.Elizabeth Wellington
A formerly enslaved man was thrown out of an Old City church. He then founded America’s first African Methodist Episcopal church.Mother Bethel is the oldest independent Christian denomination founded by Black people and it was founded at 6th and Lombard Streets as a reaction to white supremacy.Elizabeth Wellington
A formerly enslaved man was thrown out of an Old City church. He then founded America’s first African Methodist Episcopal church.Mother Bethel is the oldest independent Christian denomination founded by Black people and it was founded at 6th and Lombard Streets as a reaction to white supremacy.Elizabeth Wellington
