National Register of Historic Places

Old City Historic District

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Listed
May 4, 1972
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
72000093

About this property

Old City is a neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, near the Delaware River waterfront. It is home to Independence National Historical Park, a dense section of historic landmarks including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the First Bank of the United States, the Second Bank of the United States, and Carpenters' Hall. It also includes historic streets such as Elfreth's Alley, dating back to 1703. Old City is also home to several hotels, with the Independence Park Hotel on Chestnut Street the only hotel listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Old City borders Northern Liberties to the north, Penn's Landing to the east, Society Hill to the south, and Chinatown and Market East to the west.

Location

Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
39.95230, -75.14591

Categories

COMMERCEARCHITECTURERELIGION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Old City Historic District

This page lists Old City Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Arch Street Friends Meeting House
Industrial
0 mi
Girard Group
Industrial
0.1 mi
Christ Church Burial Ground
Pre Contact
0.1 mi
Christ Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
United States Custom House
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Germantown Oct 4 1777
1777Revolutionary War
3.9 mi
Battle of Gloucester (NJ) 1777
1777Revolutionary War
4.3 mi
Fort Mercer siege Oct-Nov 1777
1777Revolutionary War
5.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old City Historic District listed on the National Register?

Old City Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 4, 1972.

What type of historic resource is Old City Historic District?

Old City Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old City Historic District?

The period of significance for Old City Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Old City Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Old City Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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Pennsylvania history

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