Most people living in the United States are able to identify the nation’s capital: Washington D.C. But how well do they know the city that served as the capital of the United States when it was first formed?
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was chosen to be the nation’s capital at its birth and stood in that position at various times up until 1800. The city, sixth largest in the nation, is rich with Revolutionary War–era history and continues to be woven into the culture of the country as a whole. Philly (as it’s called by the locals) has been around since the beginning of our country's history and holds American memories on every street.
The Declaration of Independence, the document upon which the whole nation is built, was signed at Independence Hall in downtown Philly. George Washington sat in the church pews of the city’s Christ Church. Benjamin Franklin was instrumental in the foundation of the city’s library and newspaper. Visiting Philadelphia offers the unique opportunity to sit with the Founding Fathers, see what they saw, and feel the community that cradled their revolutionary ideas.
Moving forward in history, Philadelphia took on a new level of fame when the popular movie Rocky used the city as its setting. Tourists flock to the iconic steps featured in the movie and to the statue of the movie’s namesake—Rocky Balboa—that waits at the top.
Philly has stayed a national hotspot of culture and patriotism moving into present times. The city hosts a team for all four major league US sports (baseball, football, basketball, and hockey), and Philly cheesesteak sandwiches have made such a national impact that cheesesteak restaurants can be found in just about every state.
With history and culture deep in the roots of the city, Philadelphia is well worth the visit.