The following is a

timeline A timeline is a list of events displayed in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale representing t ...

of the

history History is the systematic study of the past, focusing primarily on the Human history, human past. As an academic discipline, it analyses and interprets evidence to construct narratives about what happened and explain why it happened. Some t ...

of the city of

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a U.S. state, state spanning the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern United States, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes region, Great Lakes regions o ...

17th century

* 1682 – Philadelphia founded as capital of the

English Crown This list of kings and reigning queens of the Kingdom of England begins with Alfred the Great, who initially ruled Wessex, one of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms which later made up modern England. Alfred styled himself king of the Anglo-Sax ...

Province of Pennsylvania The Province of Pennsylvania, also known as the Pennsylvania Colony, was a British North American colony founded by William Penn, who received the land through a grant from Charles II of England in 1681. The name Pennsylvania was derived from ...

William Penn William Penn ( – ) was an English writer, religious thinker, and influential Quakers, Quaker who founded the Province of Pennsylvania during the British colonization of the Americas, British colonial era. An advocate of democracy and religi ...

* 1689 – William Penn Charter School founded * 1691 – Appointment of first

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

, Humphrey Morrey, by Penn

18th century

* 1700 – Swedish Lutheran Gloria Dei Church consecrated. * 1710 – Town Hall built. * 1711 – Trinity Church built * 1719 – ''American Weekly Mercury'' newspaper begins publication. * 1722 – James Logan becomes mayor * 1728 ** ''

Pennsylvania Gazette ''The Pennsylvania Gazette'' was one of the United States' most prominent newspapers from 1728 until 1800. In the years leading up to the American Revolution, the newspaper served as a voice for colonial opposition to Kingdom of Great Britain, ...

'' newspaper begins publication ** Printer

Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin (April 17, 1790) was an American polymath: a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher and Political philosophy, political philosopher.#britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Wood, 2021 Among the m ...

in business. * 1731 –

Library Company of Philadelphia The Library Company of Philadelphia (LCP) is a non-profit organization based on Locust Street in Center City, Philadelphia, Center City Philadelphia. Founded as a library in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, the Library Company of Philadelphia has a ...

established * 1735 – Pennsylvania State House built * 1736 –

Union Fire Company Union Fire Company, sometimes called Franklin's Bucket Brigade, was a volunteer fire department formed in Philadelphia in 1736 with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin. It was the first firefighting organization in Philadelphia, although it was fo ...

formed * 1740 – Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel founded * 1742 ** '' The Pennsylvania Journal'' newspaper begins publication. ** October: Philadelphia Election Riot * 1743 – Philosophical Society founded * 1744 – Christ Church built * 1745 – New Market built. * 1749 – Academy of Philadelphia founded * 1751 ** Street lighting begins. **

Pennsylvania Hospital Pennsylvania Hospital is a Private hospital, private, non-profit, 515-bed teaching hospital located at 800 Spruce Street (Philadelphia), Spruce Street in Center City, Philadelphia, Center City Philadelphia, The hospital was founded on May 11, 17 ...

founded * 1753 –

Bell A bell /ˈbɛl/ () is a directly struck idiophone percussion instrument. Most bells have the shape of a hollow cup that when struck vibrates in a single strong strike tone, with its sides forming an efficient resonator. The strike may be m ...

hung in tower of State House * 1755 –

College of Philadelphia The Academy and College of Philadelphia (1749–1791) was a boys' school and men's college in Philadelphia in the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1749 by a group of local notables that included Benjamin Franklin, the Academy of P ...

chartered * 1757 – Amicable Library Co. founded. * 1766 ** American Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge established. ** Foundation of the city's first permanent theatre, the

Southwark Theatre in Philadelphia Southwark Theatre, was a theatre in Philadelphia, founded in 1766. It played a significant part in the Culture of Philadelphia as well as the United States, being the first permanent theatre in Philadelphia and the first permanent theatre in the U ...

* 1767 ** January 6: ''

Pennsylvania Chronicle The ''Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser'' was an American colonial newspaper founded in 1767 that was published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, prior to the American Revolution. It was founded by William Goddard and his silent busin ...

'' newspaper begins publication ** November: Dickinson's ''

Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania ''Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania'' is a series of essays written by Pennsylvania lawyer and legislator John Dickinson (1732–1808) and published under the pseudonym "A Farmer" from 1767 to 1768. The twelve letters were widely read and rep ...

'' begins publication ** New Circulating Library in business. * 1769 –

American Philosophical Society The American Philosophical Society (APS) is an American scholarly organization and learned society founded in 1743 in Philadelphia that promotes knowledge in the humanities and natural sciences through research, professional meetings, publicat ...

formed. * 1771 ** Carpenters' Hall in use. ** '' Pennsylvania Packet'' newspaper begins publication ** Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick founded * 1773 – Walnut Street Jail in operation. * 1774 ** First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry organized ** September 5:

First Continental Congress The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates of twelve of the Thirteen Colonies held from September 5 to October 26, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia at the beginning of the American Revolution. The meeting was organized b ...

of the

United Colonies The United Colonies of North-America was the official name as used by the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia for the newly formed proto-state comprising the Thirteen Colonies in 1775 and 1776, before and as independence was declared. ...

begins meeting in Carpenters' Hall * 1775 ** April 14: Pennsylvania Abolition Society founded ** May 10:

Second Continental Congress The Second Continental Congress (1775–1781) was the meetings of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that united in support of the American Revolution and American Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War, which established American independence ...

of the

Thirteen Colonies The Thirteen Colonies were the British colonies on the Atlantic coast of North America which broke away from the British Crown in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and joined to form the United States of America. The Thirteen C ...

begins ** July 6: Second Continental Congress issues '' Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms'' ** Samuel Powel becomes mayor ** The

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

founded in Tun Tavern * 1776 ** January 10:

Thomas Paine Thomas Paine (born Thomas Pain; – In the contemporary record as noted by Conway, Paine's birth date is given as January 29, 1736–37. Common practice was to use a dash or a slash to separate the old-style year from the new-style year. In ...

's ''

Common Sense Common sense () is "knowledge, judgement, and taste which is more or less universal and which is held more or less without reflection or argument". As such, it is often considered to represent the basic level of sound practical judgement or know ...

'' published ** July 4:

United States Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence, formally The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen States of America in the original printing, is the founding document of the United States. On July 4, 1776, it was adopted unanimously by the Second Continen ...

signed in the Pennsylvania State House ** December 12: threat of British occupation of Philadelphia prompts Congress to move to

Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...

Henry Fite House The "Henry Fite House", located on West Baltimore Street (then known as Market Street), between South Sharp and North Liberty Streets, later known as Hopkins Place, in Baltimore, Maryland, was the meeting site of the Second Continental Congress ...

for two months * 1777 ** March 5: Congress returns to Philadelphia ** September 11: British victory at the Battle of Brandywine forces Congress to flee from Philadelphia to Lancaster, and then York. Pro-Revolutionary civilians also flee. ** September 23: British troops occupy Philadelphia, greeted by Loyalist civilians * 1778 ** June 18: British troops abandon Philadelphia in order to defend

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

;

Continental Army The Continental Army was the army of the United Colonies representing the Thirteen Colonies and later the United States during the American Revolutionary War. It was formed on June 14, 1775, by a resolution passed by the Second Continental Co ...

forces retake Philadelphia the same day ** July 2: Congress returns to Philadelphia * 1781 ** March 1:

Congress of the Confederation The Congress of the Confederation, or the Confederation Congress, formally referred to as the United States in Congress Assembled, was the governing body of the United States from March 1, 1781, until March 3, 1789, during the Confederation ...

replaces

** The Religious Society of Free Quakers founded * 1783 ** June 20:

Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 The Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 (also known as the Philadelphia Mutiny) was an anti-government protest by nearly 400 soldiers of the Continental Army in June 1783. The mutiny, and the refusal of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania to stop i ...

** June 22: Congress flees to

Princeton, New Jersey The Municipality of Princeton is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It was established on January 1, 2013, through the consolidation of the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, Borough of Princeton and Pri ...

, due to the Pennsylvania Munity * 1784 **

Charles Willson Peale Charles Willson Peale (April 15, 1741 – February 22, 1827) was an American painter, military officer, scientist, and naturalist. In 1775, inspired by the American Revolution, Peale moved from his native Maryland to Philadelphia, where he set ...

's Philadelphia Museum founded ** Dock Street laid out. * 1785 – Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture instituted * 1786 ** Labor strike by printers. ** Philadelphia Dispensary established. * 1787 ** May–September: U.S. Constitutional Convention held **

College of Physicians A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary school ...

Free African Society The Free African Society (FAS), founded in 1787, was a benevolent organization that held religious services and provided mutual aid for "free Africans and their descendants" in Philadelphia. The Society was founded by Richard Allen and Absalom ...

, and Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons founded * 1790 ** November: George Washington moves into President's House on

High Street High Street is a common street name for the primary business street of a city, town, or village, especially in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. It implies that it is the focal point for business, especially shopping. It is also a metonym fo ...

** December 6: United States

capital Capital and its variations may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** Capital region, a metropolitan region containing the capital ** List of national capitals * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Econom ...

relocates to Philadelphia from New York City for a period of 10 years as the new national capital is constructed in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

Philadelphia Stock Exchange Philadelphia Stock Exchange (PHLX), now known as Nasdaq PHLX, is the first stock exchange established in the United States and the oldest stock exchange in the nation. The exchange is owned by Nasdaq, which acquired it in 2007 for $652 million, ...

founded ** '' General Advertiser'' newspaper begins publication ** Population: 28,522. * 1791 **

City Hall In local government, a city hall, town hall, civic centre (in the UK or Australia), guildhall, or municipal hall (in the Philippines) is the chief administrative building of a city, town, or other municipality. It usually houses the city o ...

building constructed;

U.S. Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on question ...

convenes. **

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

established * 1792 ** Philadelphia Medical Society incorporated **

Philadelphia Mint The Philadelphia Mint is a branch of the United States Mint in Philadelphia. It was built in 1792 following the Coinage Act of 1792, in order to establish a national identity and the needs of commerce in the United States, and is the first and ...

building constructed. ** Construction started for the new President's House on Ninth Street. * 1793 – Yellow Fever Epidemic * 1794 ** Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Society for the Information and Assistance of Emigrants, and Byberry Library established * 1798 – Bank of the United States opens. * 1800 – United States

relocates from Philadelphia to

19th century

* 1801 ** Chamber of Commerce established. ** St. Augustine Church built. ** '' The Port Folio'' magazine begins publication. * 1802 **

starts classes in the President's House at its Ninth Street Campus. * 1805 ** Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts founded. ** Arch Street Friends Meeting House built. * 1806 – U.S. Supreme Court decides '' Commonwealth v. Pullis'', criminalizing labor strikes. * 1807 – First African Presbyterian Church founded. * 1809 – First African Baptist Church founded. * 1810 ** Columbian Garden opens on Market Street. ** Population: 53,722. * 1811 – Girard Bank founded. * 1812 ** Colossus Bridge built near city. **Wooden pipes installed to carry water through the city. ** Pennsylvania's capital moved to

Harrisburg Harrisburg ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat, seat of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County. With a population of 50, ...

. * 1813 – ''

Analectic Magazine The ''Analectic Magazine'' (1813–1820) was published in Philadelphia by Moses Thomas, and later, by James Maxwell. Washington Irving served as editor 1813-1814. The magazine was described as "comprising original reviews, biography, analytic ...

'' begins publication. * 1814 – Athenaeum of Philadelphia founded. * 1816 –

African Methodist Episcopal Church The African Methodist Episcopal Church, usually called the AME Church or AME, is a Methodist denomination based in the United States. It adheres to Wesleyan theology, Wesleyan–Arminian theology and has a connexionalism, connexional polity. It ...

(denomination) and Philadelphia Saving Fund Society founded. * 1817 – Academy of Natural Sciences incorporated. * 1820 – Apprentices' Library Company founded. * 1821 – Mercantile Library Company and Philadelphia College of Pharmacy established. * 1822 ** Chestnut Street Theatre built. ** Volunteer Corps of Light Infantry and Southwark Library established. * 1824 **

Historical Society of Pennsylvania The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is a historic research facility headquartered on Locust Street in Center City Philadelphia. It is a repository for millions of historic items ranging across rare books, scholarly monographs, family chron ...

and Franklin Institute and American Sunday School Union established. * 1825 -

Erie Canal The Erie Canal is a historic canal in upstate New York that runs east–west between the Hudson River and Lake Erie. Completed in 1825, the canal was the first navigability, navigable waterway connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes, ...

opened. * 1826 – ''The Casket'' magazine begins publication. * 1827 – Pennsylvania Horticultural Society established. * 1828 – ''Register of Pennsylvania'' begins publication. * 1829 ** '' Pennsylvania Inquirer'' newspaper begins publication. **

Eastern State Penitentiary The Eastern State Penitentiary (ESP) is a former American prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located in the Fairmount, Philadelphia, Fairmount section of the city, and was operational from 1829 until 1971. The penitentiary refined the r ...

built. * 1830 – Population: 80,462. ** September: first national colored convention at Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, Philadelphia * 1831 ** June: first annual Convention of the People of Color at the Wesleyan Church, Philadelphia **

Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works (BLW) was an American manufacturer of railway locomotives from 1825 to 1951. Originally located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it moved to nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania, Eddystone in the early 20th century. The com ...

and Philadelphia Glee Association established. * 1833 ** August: third annual Convention for the Improvement of the Free People of Color, Philadelphia ** December:

American Anti-Slavery Society The American Anti-Slavery Society (AASS) was an Abolitionism in the United States, abolitionist society in the United States. AASS formed in 1833 in response to the nullification crisis and the failures of existing anti-slavery organizations, ...

organized. * 1834 – Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad and Merchants' Exchange Building constructed. * 1835 – June: 1835 Philadelphia general strike. * 1836 – '' Public Ledger'' newspaper begins publication. * 1837 ** Institute for Colored Youth founded. ** ''Ladies' Garland'' magazine and ''

Burton's Gentleman's Magazine ''Burton's Gentleman's Magazine and American Monthly Review'' (sometimes ''...and Monthly American Review'' or, more simply, ''Burton's Magazine''), was a literary publication published in Philadelphia from 1837 to 1840. Its founder was William ...

'' begin publication. * 1842 ** Lombard Street Riot. ** Augustinian College of Vilanova founded near city. * 1844 – May–July: Philadelphia Nativist Riots. * 1845 – American Literary Union organized. * 1848 ** Philadelphia School of Design for Women founded. ** Girard College opens. ** St. Augustine Church rebuilt. * 1850 – Population: 121,376 * 1852 – AME ''Christian Recorder'' newspaper begins publicatio

ref name=LOC /> * 1854 ** October:

National Women's Rights Convention The National Women's Rights Convention was an annual series of meetings that increased the visibility of the early women's rights movement in the United States. First held in 1850 in Worcester, Massachusetts, the National Women's Rights Conventio ...

held. ** City expands to encompass all of

Philadelphia County Philadelphia County is the most populous of the 67 counties of Pennsylvania and the 24th-most populous county in the nation. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 1,603,797. It is coextensive with Philadelphia, the nation's ...

, including: Aramingo Borough, Belmont District, Blockley Township, Bridesburg Borough, Bristol Township, Byberry Township, Delaware Township, Frankford Borough, Germantown Borough, Germantown Township, Kensington District, Kingsessing Township, Lower Dublin Township, Manayunk Borough, Moreland Township, Moyamensing District, Northern Liberties District, Northern Liberties Township, Oxford Township, Passyunk Township, Penn District, Penn Township, Philadelphia City, Roxborough Township, Richmond District, Southwark District, Spring Garden District, West Philadelphia Borough, and Whitehall Borough. ** YMCA Philadelphia and Western Library Association of Philadelphia founded. * 1855 – Girard Avenue Bridge built. * 1856 ** April 12: The 1856 Philadelphia tornado occurred. ** June:

Republican National Convention The Republican National Convention (RNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1856 by the Republican Party in the United States. They are administered by the Republican National Committee. The goal o ...

held * 1857 ** Academy of Music building constructed ** Library & Reading Room Assoc. founded. * 1858 – Mütter Museum established * 1860 ** June 9: Japanese embassy arrives. ** Philadelphia Sketch Club organized. ** Population: 565,529. ** McGillin's Olde Ale House opened on Drury Street. McGillin's is the oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia and one of the oldest in the country. * 1862 ** Photographic Society of Philadelphia and

Union League of Philadelphia The Union League of Philadelphia is a private club founded in 1862 by the Old Philadelphians as a patriotic society to support the policies of Abraham Lincoln. As of 2022, the club has over 4,000 members. Its main building was built in 1865 a ...

founded. ** William Cramp & Sons shipbuilders in business. * 1864 ** Pennsylvania Equal Rights League headquartered in city. ** '' Philadelphia Photographer'' magazine begins publication. ** Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul built. ** June: Sanitary Fair held. * 1865 ** Benjamin Guggenheim was an American businessman who was born in Philadelphia and died aboard when the ship sank in the

North Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...

. His body was never recovered. * 1866 ** August: National Union Convention held. ** Birely, Hillman & Streaker (shipbuilders) and Green's Hotel in business. ** Chestnut Street Bridge opens. * 1868 – Strawbridge & Clothier in business. * 1869 **

Knights of Labor The Knights of Labor (K of L), officially the Noble and Holy Order of the Knights of Labor, was the largest American labor movement of the 19th century, claiming for a time nearly one million members. It operated in the United States as well in ...

established. ** N.W. Ayer in business. * 1870 – Population: 674,022. * 1873 ** Philadelphia Fire Department established. ** Masonic Temple built. ** Dutrieuille caterers in business. * 1874 –

Philadelphia Zoo The Philadelphia Zoo is a zoo located in the Centennial District of Philadelphia on the west bank of the Schuylkill River. It was the first true zoo in the United States; it was chartered by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on March 21, 1859 ...

opens. * 1876 ** May 10: Centennial International Exhibition opens. ** Workingmen's Party of America founded in Philadelphia. * 1877 –

Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art The Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art (PMSIA), also referred to as the School of Applied Art, was a museum and teaching institution which later split into the Philadelphia Museum of Art and University of the Arts. It was chartered b ...

opens. * 1878 – October 24: Storm. * 1882 ** Philadelphia Association of Textile Manufacturers formed. ** October - Celebration of the bi-centennial of the landing of

. * 1883 –

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

baseball team formed. * 1884 ** Starr Centre founded. ** Post Office opens on 9th Street * 1887 – September: U.S. Constitution centennial. * 1890 ** Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church built. ** Population: 1,046,964. ** Frankford Camera Club organized. * 1891 **December 17:

Drexel University Drexel University is a private university, private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony Joseph Drexel, Anthony J. Drexel, a financier ...

is founded. **

Free Library of Philadelphia The Free Library of Philadelphia is the public library system that serves the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is the 16th-largest public library system in the United States. The Free Library of Philadelphia is a non-Mayoral agency of the ...

and Geographical Club of Philadelphia established. * 1892 ** Electric trolley begins operating. ** Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania founded. * 1893 **

Reading Terminal The Reading Terminal ( ) is a complex of buildings that includes the former Reading Company main railroad station, station located in the Market East, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Market East section of Center City, Philadelphia, Center City in ...

station opens. ** Wilstach Gallery opens in West Fairmount Park. * 1897 – American Negro Historical Society and Berean Manual Training and Industrial School established. * 1898 – October: Peace Jubilee held. * 1899 –

Penn Museum The Penn Museum is an archaeology and anthropology museum at the University of Pennsylvania. It is located on Penn's campus in the University City, Philadelphia, University City neighborhood of Philadelphia, at the intersection of 33rd and Sout ...

building constructed. * 1900 ** June:

1900 Republican National Convention The 1900 Republican National Convention was held June 19 to June 21 in the Exposition Auditorium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Exposition Auditorium was located south of the University of Pennsylvania, and the later Convention Hall was co ...

held. **

Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription concerts, n ...

founded. ** North American Building constructed. ** Population: 1,293,697.

20th century

* 1901 Philadelphia Mummers are inaugurated * Philadelphia Athletics are formed * Philadelphia City Hall built * 1902 ** Automat eatery in business. ** Corn Exchange National Bank building constructed. * 1903 – Textile strike. * 1905 – City Club of Philadelphia chartered. * 1907 ** Broad Street Subway begins operation. ** March 7: Market Street Subway begins operation. * 1908 - Celebration of the 225th anniversary of the foundation of the city. * 1909 – Bureau of Municipal Research established. * 1910 *

Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, they became the Oakland ...

win

World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...

over

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...

** Philadelphia general strike (1910) ** Population: 1,549,008. * 1911 Philadelphia Athletes win World Series over New York Giants * 1913 Philadelphia Athletics win World Series over New York Giants * 1914 – Empress Theater and Christian Street

YMCA YMCA, sometimes regionally called the Y, is a worldwide youth organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland, with more than 64 million beneficiaries in 120 countries. It has nearly 90,000 staff, some 920,000 volunteers and 12,000 branches w ...

open. * 1915 ** Martin Nodell was born in Philadelphia. ** South 9th Street Italian Market chartered * 1917 – American Stores Company in business. * 1918 ** September 19: The Spanish Flu hits through the Philadelphia Navy Yard from sailors returning from Europe ** September 28: Liberty Loan Parade leads to explosion of influenza ** October:

Spanish flu The 1918–1920 flu pandemic, also known as the Great Influenza epidemic or by the common misnomer Spanish flu, was an exceptionally deadly global influenza pandemic caused by the H1N1 subtype of the influenza A virus. The earliest docum ...

explodes in Philadelphia killing 12,000 and sickening over 48,000 * 1919 ** July: Racial unrest. ** Aero Service Corporation in business. * 1920 ** Colored Dunbar Theatre built (approximate date). ** Population: 1,823,779. * 1921 – Municipal piers built on Delaware River. * 1923 – Philadelphia trolley bus (trackless trolley) system opens. * 1924 – Curtis Institute of Music established. * 1925 – ''

Philadelphia Daily News ''Philadelphia Daily News'' is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper is owned by The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC, which also owns ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', a daily newspaper in Philadelphia. The ''Dail ...

'' begins publication. * 1926 ** Roosevelt Theatre and Benjamin Franklin Bridge to

Camden, New Jersey Camden is a City (New Jersey), city in Camden County, New Jersey, Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is part of the Delaware Valley metropolitan region. The city was incorporated on February 13, 1828.Snyder, John P''The Story of ...

, open. ** May 31: Sesquicentennial Exposition opens. * 1927 ** Philadelphia Municipal Airport dedicated. ** Parkway Central Library opens. * 1928 ** Forrest Theatre and Boyd Theatre open. **

Philadelphia Museum of Art The Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) is an List of art museums#North America, art museum originally chartered in 1876 for the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. The main museum building was completed in 1928 on Fairmount, a hill located at ...

building constructed. * 1929 * Philadelphia Athletics win World Series over Chicago Cubs ** Uptown Theater opens. ** Rodin Museum dedicated. * 1930 – Population: 1,950,961. * Pat’s King of Steaks opens. Inventor/originator of cheese steaks * Philadelphia Athletics win World Series over St Louis Cardinals * 1931 ** Municipal Auditorium opens. ** Girard Trust Building constructed **

Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks The Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks (aka Landmarks) founded in 1931, maintains and preserves four historic house museums in the region around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These are: * Grumblethorpe * Hill–Physick–Keith ...

founded * 1932 ** Philadelphia Saving Fund Society Building constructed. ** Market Street Bridge rebuilt * 1933 ** Pennsylvania Station–30th Street opens. **

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

, a

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

team, founded * 1935 – United States Post Office-Main Branch built * 1936 –

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 18 ...

held. * 1937 – Philadelphia Housing Authority established. * 1938 – Jack and Jill (organization) founded. * 1940 **

Philadelphia Transportation Company The Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) was the main public transit operator in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1940 to 1968. A private company, PTC was the successor to the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company (PRT), in operation since ...

begins operation, replacing the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company ** Population: 1,931,334. ** Philadelphia International Airport opens * 1941 – Philadelphia History Museum dedicated * 1943 – September 6: Frankford Junction train wreck * 1944 – August: Philadelphia transit strike of 1944 * 1945 – Philadelphia Northeast Airport opens. * 1946 ** University of Pennsylvania's

ENIAC ENIAC (; Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer) was the first Computer programming, programmable, Electronics, electronic, general-purpose digital computer, completed in 1945. Other computers had some of these features, but ENIAC was ...

computer introduced. ** Links women's club founded. * 1948 – June: 1948 Republican National Convention held. * Philadelphia Eagles win first championship (pre superbowl) over Chicago Cardinals * 1949 – Philadelphia Textile Institute established. * Philadelphia Eagles win second championship (pre superbowl) over LA Rams * 1950 ** Philadelphia Civic Grand Opera Company active. ** Population: 2,071,605. * 1952 – Philadelphia City Archives established. * American Bandstand premiers with host Bob Horn * 1954 Philadelphia Athletics move to Kansas City * 1955 – Philadelphia Historical Commission and Foreign Policy Research Institute established. * Syracuse Nationals (76ers) win NBA championship over Fort Wayne Pistons * 1956 – Independence National Historical Park established * 1958 ** Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company active ** Japanese House and Garden installed in West Fairmount Park ** Robert Nix becomes U.S. representative for Pennsylvania's 4th congressional district. * Philadelphia Eagles win 3rd championship (pre superbowl) over Green Bay Packers * 1962 Wilt Chamberlain of the Warriors scores 100 points against New York Knicks * 1963 – Syracuse Nationals move to Philadelphia and become the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...

* 1964 ** August: 1964 Philadelphia race riot. ** Society Hill Towers built ** Sister city relationship established with

Florence Florence ( ; ) is the capital city of the Italy, Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 362,353 inhabitants, and 989,460 in Metropolitan City of Florence, its metropolitan province as of 2025. Florence ...

, Italy. * 1965 * Mike Douglas show airs from Philadelphia. ** JFK Plaza constructed. ** Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and Society Hill Civic Association formed. * 1966 – Sister city relationship established with

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

, Israel. * 1967 * 76ers win 2nd NBA championship over San Francisco Warriors ** Temple University's Urban Archives (of Philadelphia) established. **

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

NHL team founded. * 1968 **

SEPTA SEPTA, the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, is a regional public transportation authority that operates bus, rapid transit, commuter rail, light rail, and electric trolleybus services for nearly four million people througho ...

takes over the

** Philadelphia Boys Choir founded. * 1970 ** September: Revolutionary People's Constitutional Convention held in city. ** Le Bec-Fin restaurant in business. ** Population: 1,948,609. * 1971 – Mariposa Food Co-op established. * 1972 ** Frank Rizzo becomes mayor. **

One Meridian Plaza One Meridian Plaza, formerly known as the Fidelity Mutual Life Building, Three Girard Plaza and Three Mellon Bank Center, was a 38- story high-rise office building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The tower was designed by Vincent ...

built. * 1973 Atoms win NASL championship over Dallas Tornadoes * 1974 ** Philadelphia Green launched. ** Philadelphia Flyers win 1st Stanley cup over Boston Bruins * 1975 Philadelphia Flyers win 2nd Stanley cup over Buffalo Sabers ** August:

1975 Philadelphia Refinery Fire A refinery owned by Gulf Oil Corporation in Philadelphia, located at Girard Point on the Schuylkill River in South Philadelphia, caught fire on Sunday, August 17, 1975. This incident grew into an 11-alarm fire, not brought under control until 24 ...

. ** Opera Company of Philadelphia formed. * 1976 ** African American Museum in Philadelphia and National Museum of American Jewish History established. ** Gray's Ferry Bridge opens. ** Sister city relationship established with

Toruń Toruń is a city on the Vistula River in north-central Poland and a World Heritage Sites of Poland, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its population was 196,935 as of December 2021. Previously, it was the capital of the Toruń Voivodeship (1975–199 ...

, Poland. * January 9 the filming of Rocky begins * July 4 the Bicentennial * Mummers Museum opens up * 1977 – The Gallery at Market East shopping mall opens. * 1980 ** Population: 1,688,210. ** March 21: Angelo Bruno assassinated outside his home. The murder was orchestrated by his consigliere, Antonio Caponigro, who was unhappy with Bruno's conservative leadership style and had been led to believe that, if he attempted a coup, he would have the support of the

Genovese crime family The Genovese crime family (), also sometimes referred to as the Westside, is an Italian Americans, Italian American American Mafia, Mafia crime family and one of the "Five Families" that dominate organized crime activities in New York City and Ne ...

. That April, Caponigro visited New York City, apparently under the assumption he was about to be confirmed as boss. Instead, he was tortured and murdered. ** Sister city relationship established with

Tianjin Tianjin is a direct-administered municipality in North China, northern China on the shore of the Bohai Sea. It is one of the National Central City, nine national central cities, with a total population of 13,866,009 inhabitants at the time of the ...

, China. ** Philadelphia Phillies win the World Series. * 1981 – '' Philadelphia City Paper'' begins publication. * 1983 – SEPTA Regional Rail begins operating. * Philadelphia 76ers win 3rd NBA championship over Lakers * 1984 * Philadelphia Stars of USFL win USFL championship over Arizona Wranglers ** Market East Station (now Jefferson Station) and Center City Commuter Connection open. ** Ashram established by Prakashanand Saraswati. ** Sister city relationship established with

Incheon Incheon is a city located in northwestern South Korea, bordering Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to the east. Inhabited since the Neolithic, Incheon was home to just 4,700 people when it became an international port in 1883. As of February 2020, ...

, South Korea. * 1985 – The MOVE bombing in West Philadelphia kills 11 people and destroys about 60 homes. * 1986 ** Sister city relationship established with

Douala Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and its economic capital. It is also the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Region (Cameroon), Littoral Region. It was home to Central Africa's largest port, now being replaced by Kribi port. It has the country ...

, Cameroon. * 1987 **

One Liberty Place Liberty Place is a skyscraper complex in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The complex is composed of a 61-story, skyscraper called One Liberty Place, a 58-story, skyscraper called Two Liberty Place, a two-story shopping mall called ...

built. **

The Roots (band) The Roots are an American hip hop band formed in 1987 by singer Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy F ...

formed. * 1989 – Dock Street Brewing Company pub in business. * 1990 – Population: 1,585,577. * 1992 ** First Friday begins in Old Town. ** Sister city relationship established with

Nizhny Novgorod Nizhny Novgorod ( ; rus, links=no, Нижний Новгород, a=Ru-Nizhny Novgorod.ogg, p=ˈnʲiʐnʲɪj ˈnovɡərət, t=Lower Newtown; colloquially shortened to Nizhny) is a city and the administrative centre of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast an ...

, Russia. ** Ed Rendell becomes mayor of Philadelphia. * 1993 –

Pennsylvania Convention Center The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a multi-use public facility in the Market East, Philadelphia, Market East section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, designed to accommodate conventions, exhibitions, conferences and other events. The L-shaped ...

opens. * 1995 –

Chaka Fattah Chaka Fattah (born Arthur Wesley Davenport; November 21, 1956) is an American politician who served as a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, U.S. House for from 1995 to 2016. The d ...

becomes Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district representative. * 1996 ** City website online (approximate date). ** Wilma Theater and CoreStates Center (arena) open. * 1997 – October 25: National Million Woman March held in city. * 1998 – Bob Brady becomes Pennsylvania's 1st congressional district representative. * 2000 ** May 18: Philadelphia Pier 34 collapse. ** December 28: Lex Street massacre. ** John F. Street becomes mayor. ** Republican National Convention held in Philadelphia. ** Population: 1,517,550.

21st century

* 2001 – Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts opens. * 2003 –

Lincoln Financial Field Lincoln Financial Field is an American football stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the home stadium of the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) and the Temple Owls football team of Temple University ...

opens. * 2004 ** Iraq Veterans Against the War headquartered in Philadelphia. ** Citizens Bank Park opens. * 2005 – ** July 2:

Live 8 Live 8 was a string of benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and South Africa. They were timed to precede the G8 conference and summit held at the Gleneagles Hotel in Auchterarder, Scotland, from 6–8 July 2005 ...

, a worldwide concert takes places on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Over 600 thousand people attended. ** July 4: Philadelphia Freedom Concert held. ** September 4: SEPTA gains its first heritage trolley line, route 15. The route is operated by rebuilt street cars from the late 40's * 2008 * Philadelphia Soul win their first ArenaBowl Championship over San Jose Saber Cats **

Michael Nutter Michael Anthony Nutter (born June 29, 1957) is an American politician who served as the 98th Mayor of Philadelphia from 2008 to 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, he is also a former member of the Philadelphia City Council from the 4th di ...

becomes mayor. **

Comcast Center Comcast Center, also known as the Comcast Tower, is a skyscraper at 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Center City, Philadelphia, Center City Philadelphia. The 58-story, tower is the List of tallest buildings in Philadelphia, second-tallest bui ...

built. ** The

defeat the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

to win the 2008 World Series. * 2010 – Population: 1,526,006; metro 5,965,343. * 2011 ** October: Occupy Philadelphia begins. ** Population: 1,536,471; metro 5,992,414. * 2012 ** City open data and government transparency order enacted. ** Barnes Foundation relocates to the

Parkway A parkway is a landscaped thoroughfare. The term is particularly used for a roadway in a park or connecting to a park from which trucks and other heavy vehicles are excluded. Over the years, many different types of roads have been labeled p ...

. * 2013 ** June 5: Building collapse in Center City. * 2015 ** May 12: 2015 Philadelphia train derailment. ** August 4: HitchBOT dies and beheaded in here. ** September: Pope Francis' visit to the United States, concluding with the visit to Philadelphia, for the 2015 World Meeting of Families. * 2016 * Philadelphia Soul win their 2nd ArenaBowl championship over Arizona Rattlers ** January 4: Jim Kenney becomes mayor of Philadelphia. ** July:

2016 Democratic National Convention The 2016 Democratic National Convention was a presidential nominating convention, held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from July 25 to 28, 2016. The convention gathered delegates of the Democratic Party, the maj ...

held in city. * 2017 Philadelphia Soul win their 3rd ArenaBowl Championship over Tampa Bay Storm * 2018 ** February 4: The

defeat the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...

41–33 to win Super Bowl LII, their first Super Bowl win. ** July 2018: Comcast Innovation and Technology Center opens. * 2019 ** September 19: The Fashion District Philadelphia opens at the site of The Gallery at Market East. * 2020 ** March 2020: Philadelphia was hardest-hit by

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, which put few thousands of residents out of work, and shifted others to work at home. ** October 26: Walter Wallace, a black man in Philadelphia is killed by police and rioting starts on the day of his death. * 2021 ** January 20:

Joe Biden Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...

becomes the first

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

from the Greater Philadelphia Area ** October 13: Woman raped on

train, perceived delayed response by bystanders sparks debate. * 2022 ** January 5: Thirteen people die and two others are injured in a fire at a converted apartment complex in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia. ** June 5: A mass

shooting Shooting is the act or process of discharging a projectile from a ranged weapon (such as a gun, bow, crossbow, slingshot, or blowpipe). Even the acts of launching flame, artillery, darts, harpoons, grenades, rockets, and guided missile ...

occurs on South street which results in the deaths of 3 and injury of 11. * 2023 ** June 11: Portion of the I-95 highway collapses due to a tanker crash and fire in the Tacony neighborhood of Philadelphia, shutting down interstate traffic in both directions. Governor Shapiro declares State of Emergency to secure funds to rebuild the overpass. * 2025 ** January 31: Med Jets Flight 056, a Learjet 55 operated by Jet Rescue Air Ambulance, crashed shortly after takeoff from Northeast Philadelphia Airport, resulting in seven fatalities and 19 injuries. The aircraft was en route to Tijuana International Airport, with a planned stop at Springfield–Branson National Airport.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

External links

* * (online database of maps and photos, searchable by time period) * , c. 1777–1943
Items related to Philadelphia
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Digital Public Library of America The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is a US project aimed at providing public access to digital holdings in order to create a large-scale public digital library. It officially launched on April 18, 2013, after two-and-a-half years of dev ...

)
Items related to Philadelphia
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Europeana Europeana is a web portal created by the European Union containing digitised cultural heritage collections of more than 3,000 institutions across Europe. It includes records of over 50 million cultural and scientific artefacts, brought togethe ...

) {{Philadelphia Philadelphia-related lists

Years in Pennsylvania

17th century

18th century

19th century

20th century

21st century

See also

References

Bibliography

External links