History

1976 bicentennial philadelphia

Philly's 1976 bicentennial was a 'super-sized Welcome America' in the middle of a 'bleak decade'

Philly's 1926 world's fair for America's 150th anniversary was the 'flop heard 'round the world'

Liberty Bell replica 1926 day

For the centennial in 1876, Philly hosted a world's fair that was a showcase of American innovation

1876 centennial

For America's 50th birthday, Philly began appreciating its revolutionary roots

1826 Philadelphia

Ahead of the semiquincentennial, here's a look back on life in Philly in 1776

Philadelphia 1776 2026 celebration.jpg

Barn collapses at Bucks County property once owned by musical theater icon Oscar Hammerstein II

Barn collapse hammerstein

African American Museum exhibit to tell story of Ona Judge, who escaped from enslavement by George Washington

Ona juge exhibit.jpg

President's House gets $25,000 grant for mobile display and documentary on preservation efforts

President's house preservation documentary

Valley Forge National Historical Park will celebrate America’s 250th with a three-day event

Valley Forge Park Huts

Preservationist pushes for Hercules Posey, George Washington's celebrity chef, to get Pa. historical marker

Hercules Posey President's House

City unveils 20 walking tours to explore art, culture and food of neighborhoods

Neighborhood Jawnts

Philadelphia 250

First Mother’s Day celebration was held in Philly 118 years ago

Anna Jarvis Mother's Day

Massive collection of Ben Franklin items to hit the auction block — after being displayed in Philly this week

Ben Franklin Auction

Weitzman Museum shines a light on tiny Caribbean island that helped fuel the American Revolution

Weitzman Museum 250 exhibit

Purported photos of Billy the Kid, possibly taken in Philly in the 1860s, are up for auction

Billy the kid photos

New York museum acquires rare Philly railcar from 1960s 'Almond Joys' fleet

SEPTA Almond Joy 1

Chester Springs mill is grinding flour with wheat stones that date back to 1747

Mill at Anselma

State awards $2.3 million grant to restore West Fairmount Park's 19th century fountain

Fairmount Park Fountain

Two museums are looking back on the entire history of American art through political teapots and a 'death cart'

No Stamp Act teapot

Benjamin Franklin memorial invites visitors to vote on the institutions he founded

Franklin Grave Coins

Philadelphia 250

Franklin Field, the country's oldest collegiate stadium, has been at the forefront of innovation for 130 years

Franklin Field 1926

Check out these 17 exhibits at Philly museums that honor America's 250th birthday

The Declaration's Journey

Stenton Museum event will honor formerly enslaved Black woman who secured her freedom in 1776

Dinah Day

As Artemis II embarks on lunar mission, here's a look back at Philly's moonwalker

Pete Conrad Philadelphia

How a dozen men broke out of Eastern State Penitentiary through a tunnel in 1945

Eastern State Penitentiary escape

Trailer for documentary on SS United States shows ship's journey down the Delaware River

ss united states doc trailer

What was it like to be a patient in the past? This Mütter Museum workshop invites you to find out

medicalartifactsmuttermain

Dog discovers 10,000-year-old walrus fossil at Jersey Shore

Walrus Femur Main

Bartram’s Garden exposes its ‘fraught’ history amid federal push to take down slavery exhibits

Bartram's Garden Harvey memorial garden

USS Philadelphia, the oldest surviving warship in U.S., wasn't built in the city. So how did it get its name?

Gunboat Philadelphia

Philadelphia 250

175 years ago, the world's first medical college for women graduated its inaugural class in Philly

Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania

Villanova history professor explains shifts of U.S.-Iran relations from Eisenhower to Trump

Eisenhower Shah Iran

Philadelphia 250

Old City's reenactors charm tourists with tidbits of American history. But first they undergo a weekslong training course

Benstitute actor training

Philly could earn up to $4 back for every $1 spent on 2026 events, controller says

Summer 2026 tourism investment

Pennsylvania Hospital's storied history dates back 275 years. Now, it's the subject of an upcoming museum

Pennsylvania Hospital Museum

Maritime museum at Jersey Shore heavily damaged by burst pipe

NJ Maritime History

Trump administration to appeal ruling to restore President's House slavery exhibit

president's house appeal

Parker vows, 'We will not allow anyone to erase our history,' following President's House lawsuit ruling

Cherelle Parker slavery exhibit

How Jesse Jackson became a lightning rod in the contentious 1983 Philly mayoral race

Jesse Jackson Rizzo

Slavery exhibit at President's House must be restored by Trump administration, judge orders

Presidents House Opinion

‘Workshop of the World’ to debut at the Science History Institute

SHI - Workshop of the World

Removal of slavery exhibit at President's House erases story of Ona Judge's escape from George Washington

presidents house enslaved

How Philadelphia became the sweet spot for America's iconic holiday candies

philly chocolate history

Page 1 of 21 next

Just In

Must Read

Apple Cinemas scraps plans to reopen Riverview movie theater

Apple Cinemas Philly

Could a four-day work week help reduce obesity rates? It's a question America may want to consider

Obesity Work Week

Netflix unveils main cast for 'The God of the Woods'

God of Woods Netflix

The Franklin Institute will kick off summer with a dance party on its front steps

TFI Summer Block Party

5 Sixers thoughts: Another candidate to replace Daryl Morey, Jared McCain keeps surging and more

Olshey 5.16.26