Cherry Street Pier Raises The Bar For Dynamic Public Space
Cherry Street Pier is officially open for business. The 99-year-old maritime warehouse blends a public park with artist studios, food vendors, a beer garden, and incredible views of the Delaware River. Michael Bixler gives us a look inside > more
Shakespeare & Co. Brings Old Bank Back To Life
Manhattan-based bookstore and café revives an old banking storefront in Rittenhouse Square. Michael Bixler takes a look > more
Landmark Record Store On Ridge Avenue Razed
Webb’s Department Store, a renowned Black record shop and celebrity hot spot in Sharswood, is currently being demolished. Michael Bixler has the details > more
Old Train Car On North Broad To Become Rail Park HQ
That old abandoned rail car at Broad and Noble is here to stay. The quirky North Philly landmark will become the new Rail Park's headquarters and visitor's center > more
Hidden City Wants YOU To Join The Conversation
Attention: The Hidden City Daily is looking for writers. Gather your best ideas, and pitch a story today! > more
New Schuylkill River Trail Extension Now Open
Michael Bixler takes us on a stroll down the newest segment of the Schuylkill River Trail > more
Out Now! Philadelphia: Finding The Hidden City
Hidden City Daily co-founders Nathaniel Popkin and Peter Woodall and Hidden City Festival photographer Joseph E.B. Elliott launch their book Philadelphia: Finding the Hidden City > more
Six Great Places To Be During Parkway 100 Kick Off Party
Parkway 100 kicks off a year-long celebration of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this Friday. Here are our picks for the event > more
Fierce & Fashionable: Philadelphia Female Labor Fighters Of The 20s & 30s
New book examines Kensington's radical hosiery workers and women in the labor movement from the Jazz Age to the New Deal. Nathaniel Popkin has the review > more
In “Louis Kahn: The Power of Architecture,” The City Is A Muse
Groundbreaking exhibit of the work of Louis Kahn brings his ideas to life, says Nathaniel Popkin > more
A Sneak Peek At Cai Guo-Qiang: Fireflies
Michael Bixler has this behind-the scenes look at Cai Guo-Qiang's interactive dreamscape, "Fireflies." The Chinese artist will debut his mobile art project on September 14 in celebration of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway's centennial > more
The National? It’s About To Reappear
The façade of the historic National Restaurant Supply Company building in Old City will be rebuilt as part of a 192-unit mixed-use development in Old City. Groundbreaking tomorrow > more
Gehry, PMA Break Ground On Major Renovation
The $196 million "Core Project" to renovate key areas of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and create nearly 100,000 square feet of new space began this morning with an official ceremony > more
New Exhibition Gives Movement To The Philadelphia School
Two fans of Modernism re-evaluate architectural history with the exhibition, "What Was the Philadelphia School?" > more
Ode To Old Philadelphia
Inspired by photographs from Hidden City's 2016 calendar, aging Philadelphians share their thoughts and memories of the city through poetry. Ann de Forest has the backstory > more
Rare Books Department At FLP Examines A City In Transition
Affordable housing, displacement and gentrification, demolition for redevelopment--sounds a lot like today's local headlines, but Philly has been dealing with these issues for decades. This and more is addressed in the new exhibition, "Philadelphia: The Changing City," now on view at the Free Library of Philadelphia. Ali Roseberry-Polier has the review. > more
Dispatch From the Dolomites: Lamenting the Loss of Northern Italy’s Philly Twin
Contributor Ann de Forest dials home from Italy where she visits a little chapel that, until recently, had a sibling on Christian Street > more
Secluded Stone Stairway On Lincoln Drive Revealed
A mysterious set of stairs next to Monoshone Creek leads Sharon Barr on a path to uncover its origins > more
The Ghastly Tale Of South Philly’s Cult Of The Holy Ghost
A secretive cult dedicated to the worship of a Swiss woman met a horrific end in 19th century South Philly. Ryan Briggs unearths the grim details > more
How to Save A Slice Of Neighborhood Green Space
Queen Village resident David O'Donnell is on a mission to fill his neighborhood with verdant pocket parks. He shares his playbook on how to save slivers of green space with HC contributor Joe Brin > more
A Century Of Public Events On The Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Patrick Glennon takes a look at big public shindigs and the making of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway through rarely seen photographs from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania > more
Defending Philly History From 3,000 Miles Away
Joshua Bevan knew he had to act after discovering the architectural beauty of Belmont. From his home in San Francisco he mobilized to nominate a neighborhood landmark for historic designation. In this essay Bevan describes his journey between the Bay Area and Philly to protect the McGaw Mansion > more
Design Coalition Aims To Bridge The Old-New Divide
Move over Miami, the Philadelphia Design District is getting ready for some time in the spotlight. The coalition of gallery owners, artisans, and tech startups want to transform Old City into a hive of contemporary design, while preserving the neighborhood's historic character. Joe Brin takes a look inside the idea with co-founder Eugenie Perret > more
Germantown Boys & Girls Club Compromise Brings Peace To Penn Street
Owners of Germantown Boys and Girls Club reach an agreement with preservationists after two years of heated debate. Starr Herr-Cardillo has the news > more
Historic Districts Make A Comeback
After nearly a decade of lost opportunities, creative new strategies emerge for protecting Philadelphia's historic neighborhoods > more
Bearing Witness To Destruction On Christian Street
This summer contributor Mickey Herr recorded the slow demolition of Christian Street Baptist Church from the beginning to the end. In this photo essay she shares what it was like to watch a 128-year-old neighborhood landmark being reduced to rubble > more
New Audio Archive Gives Voice To Philly Immigration History
Relive Philly public history in high fidelity through those who came before us. Historian Janneken Smucker gives us a listen inside the inner workings of the digital oral history project, "Philadelphia Immigration" > more
From Click To Clink: A History Of Mug Shots In The Quaker City
Harry K. gives us the backstory of Philadelphia's Rogues' Gallery, which has been tracking criminals in photographic form since the 1860s > more
Unlisted Philadelphia: Automobile Row
Ben Leech spotlights unique and significant buildings not listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places with his architectural illustration series, Unlisted Philadelphia. In this installment, he puts the pedal to the metal on Automobile Row > more
Abandoned Navy Hangar Prepares For Final Battle
A demolition study for the Mustin Field Seaplane Hangar at the Navy Yard puts a structural engineering landmark on notice. Michael Bixler takes us inside > more
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