About Philadelphia

History

Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn, an English Quaker. King Charles II of England granted him a parcel of land that included 1,280 acres between the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. Penn’s chief surveyor, Captain Thomas Holmes, devised a grid pattern for the city that included five public squares, all of which remain, to realize Penn’s dream of a “green countrie towne.” Due to its excellent location on the Atlantic Coast and accessible port facilities, Philadelphia grew rapidly in the 18th century until it was the second-largest English-speaking city in the world. As the cultural center of the New World, Philadelphia was called “the Athens of the Americas.”

Philadelphia’s history from 1774 to 1800 is inextricably linked to that of the American Revolution and the young Nation. In Independence National Historical Park, “America’s most historic square mile,” visitors can see two of the Nation’s most precious monuments to freedom—the Liberty Bell, symbol of the Nation’s freedom, and Independence Hall, the birthplace of the Nation, where a group of dissatisfied colonists adopted Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. And right here in Philadelphia in 1787 was written the Constitution of the United States. Philadelphia was the Nation’s capital from 1791 to 1800.

During the 19th century the city grew, annexing parts of the countryside, including Fairmont Park. In the huge park are a dozen 18th- and 19th-century mansions, the Nation’s first zoo, and the Victorian-era Boathouse Row.

Philadelphia also has a strong maritime heritage. Along the Delaware River are the USS Olympia, Admiral Dewey’s flagship from the Spanish-American War, the USS Becuna submarine, and the Gazela of Philadelphia, a fishing vessel that’s more than a century old.

Today, with a population of approximately 1.6 million, Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city in the United States and the second-largest on the East Coast. The city’s recent renaissance in the last decade has brought national attention.

Temperature

March in Philadelphia can be a temperamental time of the year, with the high temperature in the 50s, and the low temperature near 30 degrees. This city is a walking city no matter what the temperature, so make sure to bring your gloves and scarf, and your umbrella just in case of rain!

Additional Information on Philadelphia

• Philadelphia is known as the “City of Neighborhoods,” as it has more than 150 communities and areas of interest. From the waterfront and historic parks to the Avenue of the Arts and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway museums, there is a wide assortment of treasures and attractions.
• With a diverse mixture of cuisine that stretches across the globe and an abundance of quaint restaurants and sidewalk cafes (more than 200 in Center City), Philadelphia has cultivated a renowned dining scene, full of distinct flavors and profound cultural influences. There’s a special restaurant for every palate. Center City is home to some of the most desirable dining rooms in the Nation.
• Philadelphia’s Avenue for the Arts, the city’s premier arts district, extends for more than 3 miles through the heart of the city and includes more than 20 major educational and performing arts facilities. Visitors can enjoy opera, ballet, jazz and orchestral music, classic drama, and music theater by all types of groups, including internationally recognized artists such as the Philadelphia Orchestra.
• Center City remains the central shopping district with more than 2,100 retailers, including department stores, boutiques, art galleries, museum shops, and malls. The city has an assortment of shopping districts including Old City, Antique Row, Jeweler’s Row, South Street, Rittenhouse Square, Main Street (Manayunk), and Chestnut Hill.

For more information on Philadelphia, please go to http://www.gophila.com.

Home | Agenda | Registration | Exhibit | Travel | Hotel About Philadelphia | NEHEP Partnership | Contact Information Ninth Annual Eye Health Education Conference | March 11 - 14, 2009 | Philadelphia, PA