52 Weeks of FirstsThe United States got its name in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall In September 1776, more than a year after the Revolutionary War began, the Second Continental Congress named the country.Elizabeth Wellington Philadelphia’s Carpenters Hall is where the seeds for American independence were sownElizabeth Wellington The Constitution turns 239 this month. It was signed in Philadelphia at Independence Hall.Elizabeth Wellington The Slinky became a toy craze in 1945 and has sold millions of pieces. It all started in Philadelphia.Elizabeth Wellington A 19th century Philadelphia lamp maker took the world’s first selfie and turned the city into a hub of portrait photography Elizabeth Wellington AdvertisementPhiladelphia, home of the first U.S. Mint, is where the country’s first and last pennies were madeIn 1793, the U.S. Mint pressed the first pennies. Three moves around the city and 232 years later, it stopped making copper cents.Elizabeth Wellington Philadelphia Historic District’s ‘firstivals’ have drawn super fans who have traveled from the nation’s first circus to its first zoo The 52 Weeks of Firsts series celebrates events that happened in the city before anywhere else. The zoo is part of a series showcasing the city's history and cultural significance. Brett Sholtis A 19th-century doctor and Philadelphia socialite wanted to build a zoo in his city. Even the Civil War couldn’t stop him.William Camac convinced the city and his friends to invest in America's first zoo. that opened July 1, 1874. 227,000 visitors arrived in its first eight months.Elizabeth Wellington The first complete dinosaur skeleton on view to the public made its debut at Philly’s Academy of Natural Sciences“Before then, people didn’t understand what dinosaurs really were, how they really looked,” said the Academy's curator of artifacts and senior fellow emeritus.Elizabeth Wellington 19th century Philadelphia was a finance and science hub. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts made it a cultural touchstone.Founded in 1805, PAFA hasn't had a perfect history, but has always been a progressive institution. It has helped define what it means to be an American artist. Elizabeth Wellington A group of Philadelphia men decided to get fit and started a ballclub in 1833. Here’s how they paved the way for the Phillies.Townball became Base Ball, then Baseball. It all goes back to North Philadelphia.Elizabeth Wellington Alexander Hamilton believed in Philadelphia’s prosperity and insisted the Federal Bank be headquartered in the cityThe city is home to America's first national bank, which was established in 1791. But the Federal Reserve story remained unwritten for more than 100 years.Elizabeth Wellington Parts of Fairmount Park were not only the site of America’s first paper mill, but also the country’s first company townRittenhouseTown, which thrived for more than a century, was the site of the paper mill that was the only source of paper in America for more than 40 years. 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. The Second Continental Congress authorized the the formation of the Continental Army in Independence Hall in 1775.Elizabeth Wellington Historians may be divided over whether Betsy Ross designed the first American flag. But there’s no denying her early feminism.She was one of the colonies' premier flag makers with clients who included George Washington. Her story does not end there. Elizabeth Wellington How a steam-powered canoe ride along the Schuylkill and Delaware River inspired the American boating industry In spite of George Washington throwing his support behind his competitors, John Fitch built a steamboat business that, despite going bankrupt, l remains a landmark first.Elizabeth Wellington Philadelphia’s 1876 World’s Fair set the stage for this year’s 250th shindigThe 1876 World's Fair set the stage for Philadelphia to earn the late 19th-century moniker of "Workshop of the World." 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 See more storiesAdvertisement
The United States got its name in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall In September 1776, more than a year after the Revolutionary War began, the Second Continental Congress named the country.Elizabeth Wellington
The United States got its name in Philadelphia’s Independence Hall In September 1776, more than a year after the Revolutionary War began, the Second Continental Congress named the country.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia’s Carpenters Hall is where the seeds for American independence were sownElizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia’s Carpenters Hall is where the seeds for American independence were sownElizabeth Wellington
The Constitution turns 239 this month. It was signed in Philadelphia at Independence Hall.Elizabeth Wellington
The Constitution turns 239 this month. It was signed in Philadelphia at Independence Hall.Elizabeth Wellington
The Slinky became a toy craze in 1945 and has sold millions of pieces. It all started in Philadelphia.Elizabeth Wellington
The Slinky became a toy craze in 1945 and has sold millions of pieces. It all started in Philadelphia.Elizabeth Wellington
A 19th century Philadelphia lamp maker took the world’s first selfie and turned the city into a hub of portrait photography Elizabeth Wellington
A 19th century Philadelphia lamp maker took the world’s first selfie and turned the city into a hub of portrait photography Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia, home of the first U.S. Mint, is where the country’s first and last pennies were madeIn 1793, the U.S. Mint pressed the first pennies. Three moves around the city and 232 years later, it stopped making copper cents.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia, home of the first U.S. Mint, is where the country’s first and last pennies were madeIn 1793, the U.S. Mint pressed the first pennies. Three moves around the city and 232 years later, it stopped making copper cents.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia Historic District’s ‘firstivals’ have drawn super fans who have traveled from the nation’s first circus to its first zoo The 52 Weeks of Firsts series celebrates events that happened in the city before anywhere else. The zoo is part of a series showcasing the city's history and cultural significance. Brett Sholtis
Philadelphia Historic District’s ‘firstivals’ have drawn super fans who have traveled from the nation’s first circus to its first zoo The 52 Weeks of Firsts series celebrates events that happened in the city before anywhere else. The zoo is part of a series showcasing the city's history and cultural significance. Brett Sholtis
A 19th-century doctor and Philadelphia socialite wanted to build a zoo in his city. Even the Civil War couldn’t stop him.William Camac convinced the city and his friends to invest in America's first zoo. that opened July 1, 1874. 227,000 visitors arrived in its first eight months.Elizabeth Wellington
A 19th-century doctor and Philadelphia socialite wanted to build a zoo in his city. Even the Civil War couldn’t stop him.William Camac convinced the city and his friends to invest in America's first zoo. that opened July 1, 1874. 227,000 visitors arrived in its first eight months.Elizabeth Wellington
The first complete dinosaur skeleton on view to the public made its debut at Philly’s Academy of Natural Sciences“Before then, people didn’t understand what dinosaurs really were, how they really looked,” said the Academy's curator of artifacts and senior fellow emeritus.Elizabeth Wellington
The first complete dinosaur skeleton on view to the public made its debut at Philly’s Academy of Natural Sciences“Before then, people didn’t understand what dinosaurs really were, how they really looked,” said the Academy's curator of artifacts and senior fellow emeritus.Elizabeth Wellington
19th century Philadelphia was a finance and science hub. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts made it a cultural touchstone.Founded in 1805, PAFA hasn't had a perfect history, but has always been a progressive institution. It has helped define what it means to be an American artist. Elizabeth Wellington
19th century Philadelphia was a finance and science hub. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts made it a cultural touchstone.Founded in 1805, PAFA hasn't had a perfect history, but has always been a progressive institution. It has helped define what it means to be an American artist. Elizabeth Wellington
A group of Philadelphia men decided to get fit and started a ballclub in 1833. Here’s how they paved the way for the Phillies.Townball became Base Ball, then Baseball. It all goes back to North Philadelphia.Elizabeth Wellington
A group of Philadelphia men decided to get fit and started a ballclub in 1833. Here’s how they paved the way for the Phillies.Townball became Base Ball, then Baseball. It all goes back to North Philadelphia.Elizabeth Wellington
Alexander Hamilton believed in Philadelphia’s prosperity and insisted the Federal Bank be headquartered in the cityThe city is home to America's first national bank, which was established in 1791. But the Federal Reserve story remained unwritten for more than 100 years.Elizabeth Wellington
Alexander Hamilton believed in Philadelphia’s prosperity and insisted the Federal Bank be headquartered in the cityThe city is home to America's first national bank, which was established in 1791. But the Federal Reserve story remained unwritten for more than 100 years.Elizabeth Wellington
Parts of Fairmount Park were not only the site of America’s first paper mill, but also the country’s first company townRittenhouseTown, which thrived for more than a century, was the site of the paper mill that was the only source of paper in America for more than 40 years. Elizabeth Wellington
Parts of Fairmount Park were not only the site of America’s first paper mill, but also the country’s first company townRittenhouseTown, which thrived for more than a century, was the site of the paper mill that was the only source of paper in America for more than 40 years. 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
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. The Second Continental Congress authorized the the formation of the Continental Army in Independence Hall in 1775.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia is the birthplace of the nation. It’s also where the U.S. Army was founded. The Second Continental Congress authorized the the formation of the Continental Army in Independence Hall in 1775.Elizabeth Wellington
Historians may be divided over whether Betsy Ross designed the first American flag. But there’s no denying her early feminism.She was one of the colonies' premier flag makers with clients who included George Washington. Her story does not end there. Elizabeth Wellington
Historians may be divided over whether Betsy Ross designed the first American flag. But there’s no denying her early feminism.She was one of the colonies' premier flag makers with clients who included George Washington. Her story does not end there. Elizabeth Wellington
How a steam-powered canoe ride along the Schuylkill and Delaware River inspired the American boating industry In spite of George Washington throwing his support behind his competitors, John Fitch built a steamboat business that, despite going bankrupt, l remains a landmark first.Elizabeth Wellington
How a steam-powered canoe ride along the Schuylkill and Delaware River inspired the American boating industry In spite of George Washington throwing his support behind his competitors, John Fitch built a steamboat business that, despite going bankrupt, l remains a landmark first.Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia’s 1876 World’s Fair set the stage for this year’s 250th shindigThe 1876 World's Fair set the stage for Philadelphia to earn the late 19th-century moniker of "Workshop of the World." Elizabeth Wellington
Philadelphia’s 1876 World’s Fair set the stage for this year’s 250th shindigThe 1876 World's Fair set the stage for Philadelphia to earn the late 19th-century moniker of "Workshop of the World." 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
