Germantown

Germantown

Type	Neighborhood
Location	Northwest Philadelphia
ZIP code(s)	19144
Established	1683
Named for	German immigrant founders
Boundaries	Complex; roughly Wissahickon Creek to Stenton Avenue
Adjacent	Mount Airy, Chestnut Hill, East Falls, Nicetown-Tioga
Major streets	Germantown Avenue, Chelten Avenue, Wayne Avenue
Transit	SEPTA Regional Rail (Chelten Avenue, Germantown stations), Bus Routes
Landmarks	Cliveden, Germantown White House, Johnson House

Germantown is a historic neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia, founded in 1683 by German immigrants. It's one of the oldest settlements in Pennsylvania. The neighborhood overflows with colonial and Revolutionary War history. Cliveden, site of the Battle of Germantown, and dozens of historic houses dot the landscape. Germantown Avenue, one of America's oldest roads, runs down the middle of it all.

Today, Germantown struggles with economic challenges that plague many Philadelphia neighborhoods. That's the reality. But the neighborhood's remarkable collection of historic sites and active community organizations give it real identity. For history enthusiasts and people working on revitalization, it's becoming a destination again.

History

Founding

On October 6, 1683, thirteen families from Krefeld, Germany arrived and started what became Germantown. Francis Daniel Pastorius led them. They purchased 5,700 acres from William Penn and built the first permanent German settlement in the American colonies.

Colonial Era

The community prospered. Farmers, craftsmen, and merchants thrived here. Germantown Avenue, originally called Main Street, became the backbone connecting the settlement to Philadelphia.

In 1688, something remarkable happened. Germantown Quakers issued the Germantown Petition Against Slavery, the first formal protest against slavery in the American colonies. This landmark document preceded any other organized anti-slavery statement in America.

Revolutionary War

Germantown mattered during the Revolutionary War in several ways.

Battle of Germantown (October 4, 1777): George Washington's forces attacked British troops occupying the neighborhood. The Americans lost the battle, that's true. But the sheer audacity of the assault boosted morale dramatically and helped convince France to join the American side.

The battle left marks on the landscape:

• Cliveden - British soldiers turned it into a stronghold
• The Germantown White House (Deshler-Morris House) - Washington later stayed here as President

19th and 20th Centuries

Wealthy Philadelphians discovered Germantown as a summer escape. Grand estates sprouted along Germantown Avenue. Philadelphia annexed the neighborhood in 1854.

The late twentieth century wasn't kind. Industry left. Population dropped. Germantown declined visibly. But lately, revitalization efforts are gaining traction.

Historic Sites

The neighborhood contains an extraordinary concentration of historic buildings. Seriously impressive.

Cliveden

Cliveden (c. 1767) was built as a summer home for Pennsylvania Chief Justice Benjamin Chew. During the Battle of Germantown, British soldiers fortified the house and used it as a stronghold. The stone walls still show bullet marks from American musket fire.

• National Historic Landmark
• Open for tours
• Hosts Revolutionary War reenactments

Germantown White House

President George Washington used the Deshler-Morris House as his summer residence in 1793-94 during Philadelphia's yellow fever epidemic.

• National Park Service site
• Tours available

Johnson House

Built around 1768, the Johnson House served as a documented stop on the Underground Railroad.

• Historic site and museum
• Explores abolition in Germantown

Stenton

Stenton (1730) belonged to James Logan, William Penn's secretary and a major colonial intellectual figure.

• National Historic Landmark
• Georgian architecture worth seeing

Other Historic Sites

• Grumblethorpe (1744) - Colonial wine merchant's home
• Wyck - Historic house and garden
• Vernon House - Meeting site during Revolutionary times
• Germantown Historical Society - Museum and archives

Germantown Avenue

Germantown Avenue ranks among America's oldest roads. It runs from Center City through Northwest Philadelphia.

• Began as a Native American path
• Historic buildings line the street
• Commercial corridor with local businesses
• Connects multiple neighborhoods

Arts and Culture

Cultural Institutions

• Germantown Historical Society - Archives and museum
• Awbury Arboretum — 55-acre urban nature preserve
• Theatre Horizon - Regional theater

Arts Community

Artists have found a home here. The community's got energy.

• Artist studios scattered throughout
• Community arts organizations running programs
• Annual arts festivals bringing people together

Getting There

Public Transit

• SEPTA Regional Rail: Chestnut Hill West Line stops at Chelten Avenue and Germantown
• SEPTA Bus Routes: 23 runs the length of Germantown Avenue, plus 53, 65, and H

Driving

• Germantown Avenue from Center City
• Lincoln Drive from East Falls
• Wissahickon Avenue from Manayunk or Roxborough

Living in Germantown

Housing

• Historic stone houses with character
• Victorian-era homes
• Rowhouses common throughout
• Some apartment buildings
• Prices run lower than nearby Chestnut Hill or Mount Airy

Demographics

Who lives here? The mix keeps changing.

• Long-term residents with deep roots
• Newcomers drawn by affordability and history
• Artists and preservationists
• Different income levels living side by side

Challenges

The neighborhood still struggles:

• Empty storefronts along commercial corridors
• Buildings needing maintenance
• Crime remains a concern in some areas
• Economic investment is needed

Revitalization

People are working to turn things around:

• Historic preservation getting attention
• Community development corporations active
• Small business support programs
• Arts and culture bringing life to the streets

Parks and Open Space

• Awbury Arboretum — 55-acre urban nature preserve and historic estate
• Vernon Park — Historic neighborhood park along Germantown Avenue
• Cliveden Park — Open space adjacent to the historic Cliveden estate
• Chew Playground — Recreation center with pool and sports facilities
• Carpenter's Woods — Natural area along border with Mount Airy
• Wissahickon Valley Park — Extensive trail system along western border

See Also

• Chestnut Hill
• Mount Airy
• Northwest Philadelphia
• Battle of Germantown
• Awbury Arboretum
• Vernon Park
• Wissahickon Valley Park