Fun Facts for Philadelphia, PA and The Avenue of the Arts

  • Population: 5, 400,000

  • 5th Largest City in the United States.

  • In 1800 Philadelphia was our country’s largest city, a distinction it held until 1830.

  • International reputation for rowing competitions.

  • Pennsylvania was the first state of the 50 U.S. states to list their website URL on a license plate.

  • The world’s first computer, ENICA, was built at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946.

  • The first daily newspaper was published in Philadelphia on September 21, 1784.

  • Fairmont Park in Philadelphia is the largest city-park with 9,200 acres.

  • Philadelphia is the home of the first public library. (1773).

  • First U.S. mint is located in Philadelphia (1782).

  • Home of the first department store to open- Wannamaker’s- (1877)

  • Oldest continuously used theater- Walnut Street Theater (1809)

  • The first University in America, The University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1779.

  • Philadelphia is home to the nations first medical school, first children’s hospital, first cancer hospital, first eye hospital, first nursing school and first dental school.

Movies filmed in Philadelphia

  • The Sixth Sense (1999)

  • Philadelphia (1993)

  • The Age of Innocence (1993)

  • Signs (2002)

  • Unbreakable (2000)

  • 12 Monkeys (1995)

  • National Treasure (2004)

  • Beloved (1998)

  • The Village (2004)

Other Facts and Information

  • Philadelphia Film Festival (www.Phillyfest.com) has information about the Philadelphia film society as well as a list of up-coming film festivals and information about past festivals.

  • The Greater Philadelphia Film Office (www.film.org) features films done in Philadelphia, Philadelphia’s filmmakers, Philadelphia’s film scene and a full calendar of events.
  • Fairmont Park, which is the largest city-park, features a wide variety of activities and culture for just about anyone. Their recent calendar of events includes a used book sale, bird club, aquarium society and garden club. The park also has trails for walking and biking, picnic areas, ball fields, courts, skateboarding, fishing, golf, equestrian, rowing and a recreational center. More information at www.fairmontpark.org.

  • The Independence Hall Association (IHA) founded in 1942.

  • The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, which was founded in 1824, is one of the oldest historical societies in the United States.

  • The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance was founded in 1972 to coordinate historical and cultural activities in Greater Philadelphia institutions.