Bringing It All Together

Historic Philadelphia Group Presents:

Famous Firsts in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is famous for its historical firsts, from the founding of our country, to the first public school in the colonies, to the first public library. Many other significant “firsts” occurred in Philadelphia’s history such as the creation of America’s first zoo, first botanical gardens, and first hospital. These places are occasionally overlooked, but add to the significance and history of this great city.

America’s First Zoo

The sign welcoming visitors into the Philadelphia Zoo proclaims its historic significance.

Observing rare and exotic animals had always been a popular activity in early America. In Philadelphia, Dr. William Camac, along with other prominent Philadelphians, developed the plans for the country’s first zoo. The zoo would be a place for all people to come and enjoy the interesting wildlife such as African elephants and other peculiar creatures. The zoo has played a prominent role in several facets of Pennsylvania’s history due to its location. On zoo property lies the house of John Penn, the grandson of William Penn, Pennsylvania’s founder. According to the zoo website, “[Penn’s home] the Solitude is considered to be Philadelphia's most precise and elegant expression of neoclassical style." (About America’s). In addition, the historic gates that lead into the zoo and the zoo’s geographical location have not changed since its opening in 1874. The zoo’s effect on Philadelphia has been especially strong through its conservation and education efforts. It stands as a historical landmark of Philadelphia and is an example of the city’s monumental firsts (“About America’s”).

Important Dates and Achievements at the Zoo:

Zoological Society of Philadelphia established	March 21, 1859
Philadelphia Zoo grand opening	July 1, 1874
First successful birth of an echidna in North America	April 1983
First successful birth of a giant river otter in North America	March 2004

(“Major Events”)

Bartram’s Botanical Gardens

John Bartram's house, first built in 1731, is also a historic landmark.

Another “first” of note was the creation of Bartram’s Botanical Gardens in Southwest Philadelphia. John Bartram, a well-known philosopher, scientist and botanist, founded the garden in 1728. He was one of the several famous “thinkers” in Philadelphia at the time. Bartram believed that the preservation of plants and the documentation of the fauna of the new world were extremely important. He established the garden to display the various plants he collected on his travels and is even credited with saving the Franklinia alatamaha tree from extinction. The botanical garden was the first of its kind and has attracted many visitors to see the beauty of the rare plants and flowers. Bartram’s efforts have added to Philadelphia’s rich history of conservation of nature. In order to ensure that this beautiful place remained a part of the city, the City of Philadelphia bought the property in 1891 in order to preserve it a public park and historical site (“Historic Bartram’s Garden”).

America’s first capital city is full of historical firsts. Featuring groundbreaking attractions such as America’s first zoo and the beautiful botanical gardens, the “City of Brotherly Love” has pioneered many of the things that make “America the Beautiful” what it is today.

Pennsylvania Hospital

The main building of the Pennsylvania Hospital, which sports a statue of William Penn at the center.

The Pennsylvania Hospital, which is located in Old City, was the very first hospital in both the Philadelphia and the nation. It was founded in 1751, a joint effort by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond (“History of Pennsylvania Hospital”). The Hospital served as a center of care for both colonial and British troops during the American Revolution. In 1997 the Pennsylvania Hospital merged with the University of Pennsylvania health care system. Still a functioning hospital facility, the Pennsylvania Hospital celebrated its 250^th on May 11, 2001, which makes it the longest running hospital in the United States (“History of Pennsylvania Hospital”).

Sources:

About America’s first zoo. (2010) Retrieved April 5, 2010, from

http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/about/AboutZoo.htm.

Historic Bartram’s Garden. (2000) Retrieved from

http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_bartram.htm

History of Pennsylvania Hospital: Historical Timeline. (2010) Retrieved April 12, 2010, from

http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/timeline/

Major events in zoo history. (2010) Retrieved April 5, 2010, from

http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/about/AboutZoo/150-Years/Major-Events-In-Zoo-History.htm.

Written by Leann Ziobro and Olive Sheehan

Edited by Andrew P Crowley

All photos credited to Wikimedia Commons:

Zoo Photo

Garden Photo

Hospital Photo

Philadelphia: The City of Ghostly Love

Philadelphia has stood as an important city in America since the inception of the country; it was even the first capitol of the United States. It is impossible to deny that the city is incredibly rich in history, as it was home to many of the founding fathers and provided the setting for the signing of several important documents, including the Declaration of Independence. Although the aforementioned aspects are the most well-known and traditionally historical facts about Philadelphia, another area that most people are unaware of exists. Ghosts and legends bring the past alive and carry Philadelphia’s history to the present.

The City Tavern

The City Tavern: offering food and the chills.

The City Tavern was built in 1773, and quickly became a favorite hangout for many of the founding fathers (Freedom’s corner). It was so popular that it served as the meeting place for the first Continental Congress and the first Independence Day celebration was held at the tavern on July 4, 1777. Unfortunately, the tavern was partially destroyed by a fire in 1834. Although the building was restored and the City Tavern continues to be a popular restaurant in Old City to this day, certain aspects of the tavern have not been the same since the fire: including the acquisition of a ghost. The tavern was holding a wedding the day of the fire. All the men remained on the main floor of the tavern while the entire bridal party utilized the second floor of the building, eventually becoming trapped. The groom was not able to rescue his bride, and she died in the fire along with the other women. To this day, guests and workers have reported seeing the spirit of the bride searching for her husband.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The tomb of the unknown soldier, especially ghostly at night.

Washington Square, one of the five public parks laid out by William Penn, was used as a burial yard for strangers from 1704-1794 (Delco ghosts). By 1778, it became the burial ground to thousands of soldiers who died in Philadelphia, and in 1954 a monument was erected to honor George Washington and an unknown soldier (US history, 1995). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the only monument that is dedicated to the unknown soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The soldiers, however, are not left to rest in peace. The square is said to be haunted by a woman named Leah who patrolled the grounds to ward off grave robbers (Delco ghosts).

Independence Hall

Independence Hall boasts some alleged sightings of the ghosts of Founding Fathers.

Independence Hall is a significant aspect of the National Historic Park (Haunted houses, 2006). It was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Second Continental Congress met. The building has been restored to its original appearance as much as possible, right down to the furniture. Since the founding fathers spent so much time here making important decisions for the country, it is no surprise that some of them continue return centuries later. The apparitions of Ben Franklin and Benedict Arnold have both been seen in Independence Hall. Some say that Ben struggles to find his eternal resting place, so he haunts many of his favorite places in Philadelphia in an attempt to find it. The theory about Benedict Arnold, however, is that he is reliving his troubles at Independence Hall, having died a bitter and resentful man. He was, after all, banished from America for his infamous treason.

Conclusion

Regardless of whether or not the ghost stories are true, they are as much a part of Philadelphia’s history as the concrete facts. The ghosts each play a key role in the history of the places in which they are said to inhabit. The ghost stories themselves also change throughout history, adding an entirely new dimension to historical Philadelphia.


Photo Credit: Ana Miller
Writing: Kelly Till
Editing: Ana Miller

Works Cited

Delco ghosts. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2010 from Washington square: http://www.delcoghosts.com/ wash_square.html.

Freedom’s corner haunts and history. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2010 from: http://sites.google.com/ site/ hauntsandhistory/ freedom'scornerhaunts&history2.

Haunted houses. (2006). Retrieved March 29, 2010 from Independence hall: http://www.hauntedhouses.com/ states/ pa/ independence_hall.cfm.

US history. (1995). Retrieved March 29, 2010 from Independence hall association, Tomb of the unknown soldier: http://www.ushistory.org/ tour/ tour_tomb.htm.