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The encyclopedic guide to the City of Brotherly Love — neighborhoods, restaurants, history, landmarks, and the people and places that make Philadelphia unique.
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Rittenhouse Square is one of Philadelphia's five original squares laid out by William Penn in his 1682 plan for the city. Located in Center City, it has evolved from colonial-era "Goosetown" farmland into one of America's most prestigious urban addresses.[1] The square is surrounded by acclaimed restaurants including Parc, Friday Saturday Sunday, and Rouge, world-class cultural institutions like the Curtis Institute of Music and Rosenbach Museum, and elegant residential buildings. Named for astronomer David Rittenhouse, the park hosts a weekly farmers market and remains the heart of Philadelphia's most walkable neighborhood.
In the News
- The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) rolls out its new bus network redesign program, aiming to streamline routes and decrease wait times across the Center City district.[2]
- Construction continues on the $329 million Penn's Landing park capping Interstate 95, a major infrastructure project designed to reconnect historic Old City with the Delaware River waterfront.[3]
- The Philadelphia Museum of Art announces expanded weekend gallery hours and inaugurates a new series of community events focusing on local contemporary artists.[4]
- Seasonal street festivals, including the Fishtown Kensington Derby and Arts Festival and the 2nd Street Festival in Northern Liberties, conclude with record-breaking regional attendance.[5]
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Did You Know?
- ...that Germantown was founded in 1683 and issued the first anti-slavery protest in American history five years later?[6]
- ...that Manayunk takes its name from a Lenape word meaning "where we go to drink"?
- ...that Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most expensive building in America and briefly housed notorious mobster Al Capone?
- ...that Mount Airy became a national model for successful residential racial integration in the 1950s and 1960s?
- ...that the cheesesteak was purportedly invented at Pat's King of Steaks in South Philadelphia in 1930?
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Did You Know?
- ...that the Philadelphia Museum of Art's famous 72 stone steps were immortalized in the 1976 film Rocky?
- ...that Philadelphia City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States and features over 250 exterior sculptures designed by Alexander Milne Calder?
- ...that the Mütter Museum contains a collection of medical oddities, including slides of Albert Einstein's brain and the shared liver of Chang and Eng Bunker?
- ...that Elfreth's Alley in Old City is widely recognized as the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in America?
- ...that Philadelphia was the first city in the United States to have a lending library and a hospital, both founded by Benjamin Franklin?
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On This Day: July 27
- 1776 — The Declaration of Independence is read publicly for the first time by Colonel John Nixon outside Independence Hall.
- 1777 — The first Fourth of July celebration takes place in Philadelphia, featuring fireworks, toasts, and the ringing of city bells.
- 1933 — The Franklin Institute relocates to its current home on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Picture of the Month
Nighttime illuminates Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River
Boathouse Row illuminated at night along the east bank of the Schuylkill River. The historic site consists of 15 boathouses housing local rowing clubs and remains a National Historic Landmark.
Recently Updated
- Germantown — Historic 1683 neighborhood
- Chestnut Hill — Upscale Northwest shopping
- Manayunk — Main Street dining & towpath recreation
- Fishtown — Trendy restaurants and arts venues
- Rittenhouse Square — Center City's premier park
- Fairmount — Art Museum neighborhood
- University City — Penn & Drexel campus hub
- Passyunk Square — East Passyunk dining district
Explore Philadelphia
Neighborhoods
Center City: Rittenhouse Square · Old City · Society Hill · Chinatown
South Philly: Passyunk Square · Bella Vista · Queen Village · Point Breeze
River Wards: Fishtown · Northern Liberties · Kensington · Port Richmond
South Philly: Passyunk Square · Bella Vista · Queen Village · Point Breeze
River Wards: Fishtown · Northern Liberties · Kensington · Port Richmond
West Philly: University City · Cedar Park · Cobbs Creek
North Philly: Fairmount · Brewerytown · Temple Area
Northwest: Chestnut Hill · Germantown · Manayunk · Mount Airy
North Philly: Fairmount · Brewerytown · Temple Area
Northwest: Chestnut Hill · Germantown · Manayunk · Mount Airy
Welcome to Philadelphia.Wiki
Philadelphia.Wiki is a community-built encyclopedia dedicated to documenting the history, neighborhoods, culture, and architecture of the City of Brotherly Love. We need your help to grow!
- ↑ "Rittenhouse Square", Visit Philadelphia, 2023.
- ↑ "SEPTA Unveils Final Bus Revolution Network", The Philadelphia Inquirer, 2023.
- ↑ "Penn's Landing Park Cap Project", PhillyVoice, 2023.
- ↑ "Museum Announces Expanded Hours", PMA Press Room, 2023.
- ↑ "Philadelphia Street Festivals Draw Record Crowds", WHYY News, 2023.
- ↑ "Historic Germantown", Historic Germantown, 2023.