The history of the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia can be traced back to 1698 at which time the congregation met and worshipped at an old abandoned building which they shared with a group of Presbyterians. From these humble beginnings, the church grew in size and stature, and eventually moved in to the existing church building. This impressive structure was constructed in 1808, and what a magnificent sight it is. Dominated by a large central spire, the church is spacious and richly decorated with rich gilded paint and mould work. A vibrant and welcoming place of worship, the church supports a host of community groups, outreach programs and support groups, apart from its religious activities. All are welcomed with open arms to join the congregation in prayer and worship.
Built in mid-to-late 1600's by Swedish settlers, The Lower Swedish Cabin is a historic log cabin located along the Darby Creek. This iconic structure may be the oldest log cabin in the United States. The cabin has featured in many films during the 1900s. After being restored in 1987, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
A jewel of the Independence National Historic Park, the Liberty Bell spans layers and layers of long-standing history. In 1751, William Penn asked that the new bell being cast for the Pennsylvania Statehouse be engraved with the words, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” When the bell first rang to call citizens to the first reading of the Declaration of Independence, little did it know that it was going to change the course of the country forever. It was later dubbed the 'Liberty Bell' by abolitionists, who adopted the bell as a symbol of their fight for freedom for all Americans. A copper-clad, 2,080-pound (940-kilogram) icon of American independence, The Liberty Bell yet serves as a symbol of pride, inspiration and freedom.
The only monument dedicated to honor the memories of unknown Revolutionary War soldiers was originally used as a Potter's Field, where the poor and indigent were buried. Although Philadelphia is not known as a battleground, this section of Washington Square became the final resting place of thousands of soldiers as the barracks near the Square received the sick, wounded and dying of the war. By 1825 the site was no longer used as a cemetery and in 1954 a memorial honoring George Washington and an Unknown Soldier was erected.
This 1976 Claes Oldenburg sculpture carries the same bit of quirk found in many of his other works about the city. If you take a stroll through Philadelphia, you'll find it is not that odd to find a 20-foot tall, red clothespin in the middle of high activity areas. The Clothespin also provided the background for a scene with Jamie Lee Curtis and Dan Ankroyd in the film "Trading Places." There are other Claes Oldenburg sculptures around town, including the giant broken button on the Penn campus at 36th and Locust Walk.
It's hard to state simply exactly what the Art Alliance does. There are exhibits of contemporary work, such as the Andy Warhol retrospective, but there are also poetry readings, art and travel lectures, play readings, chamber concerts, and the occasional dance concert or performance art installation. The building itself is a magnificent 1906 mansion designed by Charles Klauder of Frank Miles Day & Brothers Architects. On the premises is Opus 251, a quiet restaurant that takes advantage of the garden in back.