1936 – 1999

Wilt Chamberlain

American basketball player (1936–1999)

volleyball playerbasketball playerbasketball coachcoachscreenwriter

Born

1936-08-21, Philadelphia

Died

1999-10-12

Birthplace state

Pennsylvania

Biography

Wilt Chamberlain was born in Philadelphia in 1936 and died in 1999. A basketball player who stood 7 feet 1 inch tall, he played center in the NBA for 14 seasons and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1978. He was elected to the NBA's 35th, 50th, and 75th anniversary teams.

Occupation

Wilt Chamberlain is recorded as a volleyball player, a basketball player, a basketball coach, a coach, a screenwriter and a actor, born in Pennsylvania (1936–1999).

Connections to Pennsylvania

Wilt Chamberlain was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1936. Explore other notable figures from Pennsylvania, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Pennsylvania›Pennsylvaniahistory ›Historic sites in Pennsylvania›

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Philadelphia

Wilt Chamberlain came from Philadelphia. A full Aubrey report on Philadelphia pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

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.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Philadelphia report

Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Pennsylvania

Other historical figures born in Pennsylvania, ranked by historical prominence.

Joe Biden

46th President of the United States (2021–2025)

Noam Chomsky

American linguist and activist (born 1928)

Andy Warhol

American artist, film director, and producer (1928–1987)

James Buchanan

president of the United States from 1857 to 1861

Grace Kelly

American actress and Princess consort of Monaco (1929–1982)

Kobe Bryant

American basketball player (1978–2020)

Louisa May Alcott

American novelist (1832–1888)

Frequently asked about Wilt Chamberlain

Who was Wilt Chamberlain?

Wilt Chamberlain was American basketball player (1936–1999), born in Pennsylvania (1936 – 1999).

When and where was Wilt Chamberlain born?

Wilt Chamberlain was born on 1936-08-21 in Philadelphia.

When did Wilt Chamberlain die?

Wilt died on 1999-10-12.

What was Wilt Chamberlain known for?

Wilt Chamberlain is recorded as a volleyball player, a basketball player, a basketball coach, a coach, a screenwriter and a actor.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report