8 Historical Places You Didn’t Know Existed in Philly

Philadelphia is the cornerstone of American History. Rich in culture, everyone knows Philly is home to the Liberty Bell, the Constitution, and one of the largest art museums in the country. Although these places are great for tourists, you have definitely visited each on school field trips countless times. Here are eight historic places Philly has to offer that you didn’t even know about and need to plan a trip to asap.

John Coltrane’s House

 
 
 
From 1952-58, music legend John Coltrane called Brewerytown home.  Located at 1511 N. 33rd St., many music experts attributed Coltrane’s musical success to his time in Philly.  The rich jazz and sould vibe at the time helped shape and develop Coltrane’s sound.

Fireman’s Hall Museum

 
 
Visitors can come see artifacts, pictures, and tools from Philadelphia’s expansive firefighting history in this restored firehouse in Old City. Besides being a museum, the Fireman’s Hall also hosts public programs, including one that helps prevent fires.
 

Dream Garden

 
 
 
 
 
 
Located just a block from Independence Hall, the Dream Garden is a 49-foot mosaic that is created of over 100,000 pieces of glass. The beautiful landscape masterpiece was created in the early 20th century and can now be viewed for FREE in the Curtis Center lobby.
 

Pizza Museum

 
 
 
 
Accredited by the Guinness Book of World Records, Pizza Brain in Fishtown is much more than a typical pizza joint. Officially known as the world’s first pizza museum, visitors can come eat their favorite food while perusing the world’s largest collection of pizza memorabilia.

America’s Oldest Street- Elfreth’s Alley

 
 
 
 
Still standing after three centuries, Elfreth’s Alley still has the original cobblestone that the founding fathers walked on. Visit this quaint street in between Arch and Race Streets in Old City.

Wagner Free Institute of Sciences

Image via tripadvisor.com

This institute believe it or not began in 1855 and houses mounted animals, fossils, rocks & minerals, dinosaur bones, insects, and the first American saber-toothed tiger.  This meticulously organized museum has one of the widest variety of items on display.  However this place is not for the faint of heart.  Other exhibits here include human skeletons, skulls and skin samples of species from around the world. So if you are looking for a true science museum with a wide assortment of items to gawk at, we definitely recommend this place.
 

The Philadelphia Insectarium

 
Boasting a lot of firsts, Philadelphia is also home to the first AND largest insectarium in the nation! Known as the only all-bug museum in the city, visitors can munch on chocolate-covered mealworms and barbecued baby beetles while perusing the live insect exhibits and insect habitats.

Edgar Allan Poe House

 
Located on the backstreets of Northern Liberties just off of Spring Garden, you’ll find the home of the world famous poet Edgar Allan Poe.  Often overshadowed by the uber popular historical sites, The Edgar Allan Poe House hoever is a must see for fans of American literature.  Edgar Allan lived in Philly from 1837 to 1844 and published 31 stories.  Probably his most famous piece “The Raven” was one of those masterpieces with Philly roots.  During his time in Philly it was documented that it was the happiest time of his life.