Pennsylvania attractions

The Philadelphia Zoo is perfect for families with kids looking for a break from the historical sites, though it has some historical significance as well—it was the nation’s first zoo. It’s home to over 1,300 different animals, many of them rare and endangered, and renowned for successfully breeding animals that are difficult to breed in captivity.

Located in downtown Philadelphia, the John F. Kennedy Plaza is better known as LOVE Park, after Robert Indiana’s iconic LOVE sculpture in the center of the park. Newly redesigned, with expanded green spaces, improved seating and pathways, and a programmable fountain, LOVE Park is a popular destination with locals and visitors alike.

In the early days of the nation, Philadelphia served as the capital of the United States, and the Philadelphia mansion at 6th and Market streets was the first President’s House. Here George Washington served his entire presidency, and John Adams served three years, until June of 1800 when he moved to the newly completed White House in the District of Columbia. Today, much of the original house is gone—only the side walls and foundation remain. Visitors can walk through the historic site, exploring the footprint of the building. There’s also a a commemorative exhibition called "The President's House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation" located on the grounds.

Philadelphia is home to plenty of old-school American history, and the roots of its local music scene run deep, too. Travelers in search of an elegant establishment showcasing some of the best international talent will find it all at the Academy of Music.This unassuming building in the heart of Philadelphia is actually the nation’s oldest continually operational opera house. Its stunning interior houses a 5,000-pound chandelier and is modeled after Milan’s La Scala Opera House. In addition to being a destination for travelers seeking live, classical entertainment, the Academy of Music is a worthy stop for history buffs as well. The National Historic Landmark is the site where President Ulysses S. Grant was nominated for his second term and it’s the site where Martha Graham first performed “The Rite of Spring”. Visitors who arrive during the month of January can watch the Philadelphia Orchestra perform their anniversary concert, which has occurred each year for more than a century.

Located on Philadelphia’s historic Independence Mall, the National Constitution Center is dedicated to honoring and exploring the United States Constitution, which (ratified in 1788) is the supreme law of the nation. The sprawling, tech-savvy museum brings the Constitution to life via interactive exhibits and dramatic presentations.

Old City Hall was used by the first US Supreme Court from 1791 to 1800, when Philadelphia was briefly the nation’s capital. After the federal government moved to Washington DC, the building was occupied by Philadelphia’s city hall and mayor’s office. Today it’s maintained as a historic site, and visitors can see the restored courtroom.

One of Philadelphia’s oldest and most popular destinations for food lovers, Reading Terminal Market has catered to hungry visitors since the 1860s. Just steps from Jefferson Station and the Philadelphia Convention Center, the market hosts dozens of stalls, from hot food vendors to gift shops and Pennsylvania Dutch baked goods sellers.

Old City is a neighborhood in Central City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for its antiquated charm and many historic sites important to the birth of the United States. Wander down its narrow cobblestone streets and you'll feel like you're stepping through a time warp into 18th-century colonial America.

At the center of Pittsburgh just across from its downtown, Station Square is one of the city’s most popular shopping, dining, and entertainment centers. Station Square is also the location from which visitors can take the historic Monongahela Incline, one of two funiculars headed up the hill to Mount Washington.Over 25 different restaurants call the square home, with a variety of cuisines served. The area also maintains an active nightlife with options for dancing and happy hours and a seasonal fireworks show. The amphitheater holds many festivals, concerts, and events year-round, with other smaller venues such as comedy clubs and sports bars adding to the fun. Station Square is a center of transportation for the city, including the Gateway Clipper Fleet of riverboats. A mile-long walking path along the river tells the history of Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage. The Station Square itself was built into the former Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Rail Station.

An extension of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Rodin Museum houses the largest collection of works by French sculptor Auguste Rodin outside of Paris. Inside you’ll find more than 140 sculptures, including bronze casts of The Gates of Hell and The Thinker. Many of Rodin’s sculptures are displayed outdoors in the surrounding gardens.

Carpenters’ Hall is an important structure, both historically and architecturally speaking. Built for and still owned by America’s oldest craft guild, the site was added to the list of National Historic Landmarks in 1970. The guild was founded in 1724 and opened its first meeting location her on Chestnut Street, just a few hundred feet from Benjamin Franklin’s home.The site has welcomed a number of dignitaries throughout its history, including President Václav Havel from the Czech Republic, U.S. President George W. Bush, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. In addition to the important meetings held here, the structure itself is worthy of a mention. It’s a beautiful example of Georgian architecture, represented by the building’s usage of Flemish bond brick pattern, cupola and windows.

This popular Philadelphia neighborhood known as Logan Circle, ironically also goes by the name Logan Square. One of the five key “squares” identified by William Penn in his original city design, it was named after one of the City of Brotherly Love’s most famous mayors.Travelers to this destination will find plenty of history, architecture and Americana on the bustling streets, in addition to a large portion of the city’s central business district. Enjoy a self-led walking tour that includes the Arch Street Presbyterian Church, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, the Wesley Building and the Francis McIlvain House, in addition to numerous other iconic structures and the central Swann Memorial Fountain.

Sandwiched between Columbus Boulevard and the Delaware River on the east side of Philadelphia, Penn's Landing is skinny in shape but important in stature. The waterfront area served as the 1682 landing spot for William Penn, founder of the Pennsylvania colony, making it a must-see spot for any American history buff.

The largest park in Philadelphia—and one of the biggest swaths of urban green space in the country—Fairmount Park is also home to public artworks, museums, and historic highlights. With east and west sections divided by the Schuylkill River, Fairmount Park stretches across 2,052 acres (830 hectares).

America’s founding father established their original government in Philadelphia after the winning the Revolutionary War, and among their goals to help build the nation was creating a single currency and found national bank. Today that bank still stands, and can be found on Independence Mall. Alexander Hamilton created the First Bank of the United States, and the Roman-style of the building was intentionally imposing. The building was completed in 1795, and it served as the nation’s first bank until 1811. Today the building is a National Historic Landmark; however, visitors can only explore the bank from the outside, as it is not open to the public.

The final resting place of American founding father Benjamin Franklin can be found in the northwest corner of the Christ Church Burial Ground, which houses the graves of many other prominent Philadelphians and founding fathers, including four other signatories to the Declaration of Independence. Franklin’s grave is shared with his wife Deborah, and the simple stone merely says their names and the year 1790, the date of his death. The actual Christ Church is about three blocks to the east, a five-minute walk, and it’s also an important piece of American history, as the first Protestant Episcopal Church in the U.S., and the worshipping place of many people who help establish the nation.

Discover the story of the nation’s founding at the Museum of the American Revolution. Located in the historic center of Philadelphia, the museum uses exhibit galleries, object theater, and recreated scenes to take visitors on a journey from the beginning of the conflict in the 1760s through to the creation of the nation.

Aside from being one of the most visited neighborhoods in Pittsburgh, Mt. Washington offers some of the best views of the city skyline, having been named one of the most beautiful vistas in America. Rows of charming homes and Shiloh Street, the main district of shops, bars, restaurants, and boutiques also draw many to the area. Several of the restaurants offer an upscale ambiance with incredible views of the city and the three surrounding countryside and rivers. It is one of the premier neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.The mountain was once the home of many various coal mines, earning it the nickname of “Coal Mountain.” Grandview Avenue runs the length of the hill with four outlook decks in between homes and restaurants. At the edge of the mountain you’ll find the bronze statue of George Washington and Seneca leader Guyasuta staring at one another, marking the area’s history. Also be sure to check out the library and the city’s newest park, Emerald View, which feels worlds away from the city.

Philadelphia is a city that’s home to both art and history. Few places showcase the connection between the two like the Barnes Foundation. This world-class museum houses a large collection of Modern paintings and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from artists like Renoir, Cezanne and Picasso.Travelers can wander the galleries filled with iconic works and tour the collection of smaller rooms that are reflective of the original Barnes estate. The museum also offers travelers easy access to the nearby park and the city’s waterfront, which is the perfect place for an evening skyline stroll.

Set within Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park, the Second Bank of the United States was the country’s national bank from 1816 to 1833. An architectural inspiration for later American banks, the Greek Revival building now houses a “People of Independence” collection of portraits and sculptures of leading 18th-and 19th-century Americans.

Located in Independence National Historical Park, Independence Visitor Center is Philadelphia's official visitor center and a helpful introduction to its Revolutionary War landmarks. Visit the center to access tourism resources, get tickets to select landmarks—including Independence Hall—and stop by its gift shop and cafe.

Spanning half a city block on South Street, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens (PMG showcases the work of mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. Featuring both an outdoor sculpture garden and an indoor gallery, PMG is a unique, urban art space constructed from glass and ceramic fragments, handmade tiles, and all manner of discarded and found items.

Travel back in time to the Battle of Gettysburg during a visit to the Gettysburg Heritage Center. Interactive exhibits, historic artifacts and technologically advanced displays bring history to life as much for adults as they do for children.Families will find engaging exhibits and 3-D productions that showcase stories and information about one of the nation’s most famous battles. Travelers will learn what Gettysburg was like before the battle, and how things changed once combat had ended. Tours include an informative movie that examines the three-day battle in-depth.It’s easy to explore the center solo and visitors who want to commemorate the trip can pick up an informative book, sweatshirt, mug or other Gettysburg-themed item at the lobby gift shop.

From a disc of precious metal to a shiny new coin, you can watch the entire process of creating money at the United States Mint in Philadelphia. Glass-lined hallways set above the operating floor let you view coins as they are cut to size, rolled across conveyor belts, stamped with designs, and popped out looking like the change in your pocket.

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is one of America's most historic public gardens, full of exotic plant species since 1893. Its elaborate 15-acre (six-hectare) layout features mostly floral exhibits, as well as steel and glasswork Victorian greenhouse architecture. The conservatory was founded in the late 19th century by local steel magnate Henry Phipps and later given to the city of Pittsburgh. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as one of the greenest buildings in the country with a LEED-certified visitor center and production greenhouse.

Pennsylvania’s largest Catholic church, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul makes a striking impression on the east side of Philadelphia’s Logan Square. One of Philadelphia’s most notable buildings, built between 1846 and 1864, the cathedral has been the site of two papal Masses. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

With four floors of interactive exhibits, the Carnegie Science Center is both a museum and research facility with a planetarium as well as educational live shows. Here you’ll find a zero-gravity simulator and the world’s largest permanent collection dedicated to robotics. The center also holds the city’s largest movie theater screen called the Omnimax, a dome screen more than four stories tall showing classic films that change every month.Learn about Pittsburgh’s three rivers at the H20h! exhibit, or explore the USS Requin, a real submarine from the Cold War. Children can especially appreciate the Miniature Railroad and Village and Exploration Station built for preschoolers. The Exploration Station features classic science exhibits on sound, light, and magnetism.Want to see what it’s like to be a doctor? Check out the hands-on exhibit that allows visitors to learn about the skills and tools surgeons utilize. How about an astronaut? There is also a unique, real-sized replica of the International Space Station that recreates the experience for those of us on Earth.

For history buffs, a sojourn in Philadelphia isn’t complete without a stop at the National Museum of American Jewish History (NMAJH). Learn about Jewish heritage while browsing the vast exhibits, curated to showcase culture and traditions of Jews in America.The Smithsonian-affiliated museum hosts special events and houses an extensive collection of 30,000 artifacts detailing themes that include American-Jewish immigration, art, charity, sports, and religion. Because of its’ convenient location across from Independence Mall and near the Liberty Bell, NMAJH is included in many tours of Philadelphia’s historic district.

The former estate of the du Pont family, Longwood Gardens comprises around 1,000 acres (400 hectares and showcases more than 11,000 plants. Highlights include a children’s garden, an orchid house, and one of the world’s largest greenhouses.

Philadelphia’s grandest public square, Rittenhouse Square—and its surrounding neighborhood, which goes by the same name—is a popular destination for shoppers, sightseers, and foodies. Located in the heart of Center City, the leafy park is a popular public oasis, and the high-end stores and restaurants are their own draw.