Editing Delaware Waterfront (section)

== Historical Development ==

The Delaware River waterfront served as Philadelphia's economic engine from the city's founding through the mid-twentieth century. The port's docks and wharves handled cargo that made Philadelphia a major commercial center; shipyards built vessels for commerce and war; and industrial facilities processed materials arriving by water. This working waterfront generated activity that supported the city's economy but created conditions inhospitable to residential or recreational use. The waterfront's industrial character intensified during the nineteenth century as railroads, factories, and warehouses occupied every available site.<ref name="vitiello">{{cite book |last=Vitiello |first=Domenic |title=Engineering the Waterfront: Philadelphia and the Delaware River |year=2018 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |location=Philadelphia}}</ref>

The twentieth century brought decline to much of this industrial activity, as containerization transformed shipping and manufacturing relocated to lower-cost locations. Piers fell into disrepair, factories closed, and the waterfront increasingly appeared as vacant or underutilized land. Interstate 95, constructed during the 1960s, created a physical barrier between the city and the river, with its elevated structure blocking views and limiting access. The waterfront that had defined Philadelphia's identity became disconnected from the city it had served.<ref name="gallery"/>