Among the things to do in Center City Philadelphia today is the 883-foot high One Liberty Observation Deck. The deck offers a 360° view of Philadelphia. Located on the 57th floor, you will be able to view the Independence National Historical Park from the deck including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and Carpenters Hall. You will also be able to see the Rocky statue and steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Located at 1650 Market Street, the deck is open between 10 am and 8 pm from Wednesday through Sunday.
Other Things to Do in Center City Philadelphia Today
First Bank of the United States
Chartered for 20 years by Congress in 1791, the First Bank of the United States, along with the federal mint and excise taxes, were part of a federal fiscal and monetary power expansion plan suggested by the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Hamilton’s goal was to firmly establish good credit for the new nation and develop a system for handling the new nation’s financial business. The First Bank of the United States replaced the Bank of North America. Located in the Independence National Historical Park, the First Bank building was completed in 1797. It is located at 128 South 3rd Street and is open between 8 am and 5 pm from Monday through Friday.
Wanamaker Building
The Wanamaker Department Store was opened in 1877 by John Wanamaker and carried his menswear line as well as women’s clothing and dry goods. Through his store, he made contributions to modern retail including establishing price tags. In addition, he established the policy of “The customer is always right,” For employees, he provided free medical care, profit sharing, pensions, recreational facilities, and expected respectful treatment from supervisors. The store had electric lights, a pneumatic tube system for sending cash and documents to the office, and the St Louis World’s Fair organ that he enlarged. The store is now a Macy’s, but the organ is still there. It is played twice a day except on Sundays. The store is located at 1300 Market Street and is open daily from 11 am to 7 pm Sunday through Thursday and 11 am to 8 pm on Friday and Saturday.
The Betsy Ross House
To learn more about the One Liberty Observation Deck.
While much of the Betsy Ross story is now questioned, a tour of the house is still fun. Located at 239 Arch Street, it is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.
