PHILLY FUN FACTS PHILLY 101 SIGNATURE PHOTO OPS BY THE NUMBERS We know you’re hard at work during your stay, but here are three Looking for the perfect backdrop for your live shot or a great photo for your • 2nd largest city population on the East Coast Philly basics you should make time to do: article? Here are just a few of the 40+ great views outlined on visitphilly.com/dncpress. Numbers correspond to the photos below • 2nd most populous downtown in the country 1. EXPLORE OUR HISTORY: and to the right. • 4th largest media market in the nation Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States and the country’s frst World Heritage City. Pick up free, timed tickets for Independence Hall, a UNESCO • 5th largest city in the country World Heritage Site, at the Independence Visitor Center (just a block away); 1. SKYLINE AND SCHUYLKILL RIVER – View from South Street Bridge, which th • 45 million people within 200 miles then tour the building where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and connects to Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. South Street near 26 Street the U.S. Constitution was debated, drafted and signed. Across the street at the A CITY OF NATIONAL FIRSTS Liberty Bell Center, admire the mighty cracked icon that served as a symbol 2. INDEPENDENCE HALL – From upper outdoor balcony of the National Constitution Center. Advance notice required; a small fee may be charged on a • First zoo (Philadelphia Zoo), 1874 of freedom for abolitionists. Before, during and after your visit, enjoy Historic Philadelphia’s unusual tours, eminent restaurants, independent boutiques, hip case-by-case basis. 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6600, constitutioncenter.org #2 #3 • First art school and art museum (Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts), 1805 taprooms and green spaces. Between 5th & 6th Streets and Market & • First and oldest hospital (Pennsylvania Hospital), 1751 Chestnut Streets, nps.gov/inde, visitphilly.com/historic 3. BROAD STREET (AVENUE OF THE ARTS) – Standing on the median strip in the center of the street, both north and south of City Hall, topped by William Penn; • First children’s hospital (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), 1855 2. EAT OUR FOOD: especially pretty when the City Hall clock is illuminated in yellow at night. WELCOME TO PHILADELPHIA! • First library (The Library Company of Philadelphia), 1731 Cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, water ice, Amish goodies and loads of other yummy Broad Street from Vine to Spruce Streets • First computer (ENIAC at University of Pennsylvania), 1946 delights await at the historic Reading Terminal Market. It’s a one-stop shop for Dear Media Friend, ethnic eats and Philly classics. 12th & Arch Streets, readingterminalmarket.org 4. RITTENHOUSE SQUARE – Historic, fashionable square flled with offce workers, • First hot air balloon fight in the Americas, 1793 amblers, artists, chess players, musicians, etc. Permit required; potential fee Welcome to the birthplace of the nation! • First World Heritage City in the country, 2015 3. ENJOY OUR AMAZING ART (& RUN OUR STEPS): charged by City of Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation. Designed after Paris’s Champs-Élysées, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway boasts 18th & Walnut Streets, (215) 683-0200 We know you have many stories to fle, and we hope this guide will help DID YOU KNOW? some of the city’s most renowned cultural institutions, outdoor art and beautiful you cover and enjoy the destination itself. In this small but information- • Philadelphia is known as the City of Murals, with 3,800 creations—and counting— gardens: the Barnes Foundation, packed with impressionist, post-impressionist 5. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY & SKYLINE – Site of Rocky’s famous run packed piece, we give you the scoop on: by the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. and early modern art, as well as African art; the Rodin Museum, housing one of atop the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps; long lens compression down Parkway • Philadelphia served as the nation’s capital from 1790 until 1800. the most signifcant collections of the master’s works outside of Paris; and the shows skyline and City Hall. Permit required; fee charged by City of Philadelphia. • Our city’s layout and how to get around must-Instagram Swann Memorial Fountain. The Philadelphia Museum of Art 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 683-0200 • Mother’s Day was frst celebrated in Philadelphia, in 1908. crowns the thoroughfare and houses a masterful collection of 200,000 pieces. And • Must-dos for frst-timers—and everyone • Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest continuously inhabited street in the United States. those steps—they’re the ones that Sylvester Stallone/Rocky ran. Go ahead; you 6. BOATHOUSE ROW – Taken from Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, which also offers #4 • Sensational backdrops for your live shots th th • Philadelphia has more public art than any other city in the country. know you want to. Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 18 & 26 Streets views of Fairmount Water Works and Philadelphia Museum of Art. • Ideas for where to take that morning run • Philadelphia’s City Hall was the tallest occupied building in the world until 1909. It GETTING AROUND: Perhaps most importantly, we provide you with a list of people to contact is still one of the tallest and largest all-masonry buildings in the world. Philadelphia is an extremely walkable city thanks to founder William Penn’s user-friendly if you need more information about any of the topics that are covered • Many cities today have a LOVE sculpture. Philadelphia’s icon—temporarily grid system. Downtown Philadelphia, called Center City, is bordered by the Schuylkill located at Dilworth Park outside of City Hall while JFK Plaza (called “Love Park”) River on the west and the Delaware River on the east. Most streets run north/south inside—and many others that are not. Of course, our online resources are th is being renovated—was the very frst of artist Robert Indiana’s creations. (these are numbered, except for what would be 14 Street, which is Broad Street) or available to you 24/7. Check out a complete list on the back panel. east/west (many of these are named after trees—Chestnut, Walnut, Locust, Spruce, etc.). • Between 1848 and 2012, Philadelphia hosted one-quarter of the major national Enjoy your time in Philadelphia, and come back again soon and often. party conventions. Ways to get around: • On foot (it’s easy!) Best, • SEPTA, Philadelphia’s public transit system • Indego, the city’s bike-share program Meryl Levitz Julie Coker Graham • PHLASH, a visitor-friendly bus with stops at top attractions (use your DNC President & CEO President & CEO media credential for free rides) VISIT PHILADELPHIA® Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Photos by D. Cruz, M. Edlow, M. Fischetti, J. Fusco, R. Kennedy, B. Krist, J. Smith, • Taxis, Uber or Lyft C. Smyth and G. Widman for VISIT PHILADELPHIA® #1 #5 #6 Please Fairmount Park, MEDIA CONTACTS Touch Boathouse Row NEAR VALLEY FORGE Museum Philadelphia Museum of Art Questions About Philadelphia? Perelman Building George Washington and the Continental Army survived a bitter cold winter U.S., CANADIAN & MEXICAN MEDIA INQUIRIES: Shofuso Azalea Garden here in 1777-1778. Do Valley Forge National Historical Park, of course, House & • Cara Schneider, VISIT PHILADELPHIA Garden but also make time for the mall, the zoo, the casino and the sites. Philadelphia P H I L A D E L P H I A C E N T E R C I T Y M A P (215) 206-2034, [email protected] Zoo Philadelphia Museum of Art • VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK – The 3,500-acre birthplace of Fairmount • Lynda Knaggs, VISIT PHILADELPHIA Water Works the U.S. Army, with troop huts, Washington Memorial Chapel, a grand archway and military reenactments—plus 30 miles of trails, trolley tours, ranger-led group tours, (215) 717-7472, [email protected] St en Eakins ard Oval bike tours and rentals. 1400 Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia, valleyforge.org g G rin Sp B Spring Garden St INTERNATIONAL MEDIA INQUIRIES: en jam • KING OF PRUSSIA MALL – Second-largest shopping center in the U.S., with in F • Lucy MacNichol, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau 1 ra Rodin more than 400 retail and dining options—Neiman Marcus, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, nk lin Museum P ar Callowhill St Gucci, Grand Lux Cafe, Bonefsh Grill and so many more. 160 N. Gulph Road, (267) 884-2738, [email protected] kw Barnes ay • Khaila Burke-Green, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Foundation Wood St King of Prussia, simon.com/mall/king-of-prussia Free Library READING TERMINAL MARKET (202) 203-8279, [email protected] Vine St • JOHN JAMES AUDUBON CENTER AT MILL GROVE – First American home Sister Cities Park Winter St & Visitor Center and estate of renowned naturalist, with grounds and trails winding through the CITY OF PHILADELPHIA: Logan Franklin 175-acre Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary—a must-see for bird-watchers and nature Franklin Square Cathedral Square Benjamin Franklin Bridge Institute Basilica • Lauren Hitt s photographers. 1201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, pa.audubon.org k Race St n Moore College Academy of Fireman’s Hall a Museum (215) 686-6210, [email protected] B of Art & Design Natural Café Cret • VALLEY FORGE CASINO RESORT – Table games, slots, plus live music, eight l Sciences of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania l i NEAR THE PA CONVENTION CENTER Cherry St Drexel University Academy of Elfreth’s Alley k Convention Center National U.S. Mint restaurants and bars, including expansive outdoor pool club. 1160 First Avenue, l the Fine Arts African Betsy The Pennsylvania Convention Center is right in the middle of Philadelphia’s y Constitution CHINATOWN Ross Questions About Philadelphia Hosting the Convention? u Comcast American Center King of Prussia, vfcasino.com h Arch St Museum House c Center Love Park Masonic Center City, with plenty to see and do nearby.