Philadelphia Register of Historic Places explained

The Philadelphia Register of Historic Places (PRHP) is a register of historic places by the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Buildings, structures, sites, objects, interiors and districts can be added to the list.^[1]

Criteria

According to the Philadelphia Historical Commission, sites eligible for listing are those that possess any of the following:^[2]

1. Has significant character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage or cultural characteristics of the city, commonwealth or nation, or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past.
2. Associated with an event of importance to the history of the city, commonwealth or nation.
3. Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style.
4. Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen.
5. Is the work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or engineer whose work has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the city, commonwealth or nation.
6. Contains elements of design, detail, materials or craftsmanship which represent a significant innovation.
7. Is part of or related to a square, park or other distinctive area which should be preserved according to a historic, cultural or architectural motif.
8. Represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community or city.
9. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history.
10. Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social or historical heritage of the community.

Properties listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places may also be recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, be listed as a National Historic Landmark, or listed as a contributing property in a National Historic District.

Philadelphia Historical Commission

The Philadelphia Historical Commission is the city agency^[3] responsible for overseeing the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places and ensuring the preservation of Philadelphia's historic resources including buildings, structures, sites, objects, interiors and districts.^[4]

Current listings

The lists below contain selected notable properties on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places:

Properties listed in the register by name

Properties that do not have an official address as assigned by Philadelphia's Office of Property Assessment (OPA).^[5]

Name	Image	Location	Designation Date	Description
Bachelors Barge Club		6 Boathouse Row 39.9692°N -75.1869°W		Mediterranean-style boathouse built in 1894.
Bartram House with Garden and dependencies		1650 S 53rd St 39.9321°N -75.2123°W
Belmont Mansion		2000 Belmont Mansion Dr 39.9909°N -75.213°W
Benjamin Franklin Bridge		200 N 5th St 39.954°N -75.1403°W
Boelson Cottage		1 M L King Dr 39.9896°N -75.2029°W
Cedar Grove Mansion		4001 Lansdowne Dr 39.9792°N -75.2044°W
Chamounix Mansion		3250 Chamounix Dr 40.0038°N -75.1964°W
Christopher Columbus Statue		2700 S Broad St. 39.9155°N -75.1721°W
College Boat Club of the University of Pennsylvania		11 Boathouse Row 39.9696°N -75.1884°W
Crescent Boat Club		5 Boathouse Row 39.9693°N -75.1866°W
Dickens and Little Nell Statue, Clark Park		Clark Park 4400 Chester Ave 39.9486°N -75.2094°W		One of only two life-sized sculptures of Charles Dickens. He had requested there not be any public memorials to him.^[6]
Dream Garden Glass Mosaic, Curtis Center		170 S Independence W Mall 39.9481°N -75.1513°W
Eastern State Penitentiary		2101-99 Fairmount Ave 39.9683°N -75.1727°W
Fairmount Rowing Association		2-3 Boathouse Row 39.9692°N -75.1859°W
Fairmount Water Works		620-90 Aquarium Dr 39.9663°N -75.1836°W
Fort Mifflin		1 Fort Mifflin Rd 39.8756°N -75.2129°W
Founders Memorial Bell		1 S Broad St 39.9512°N -75.1635°W
Frankford Avenue Bridge over the Pennypack Creek		8350 Frankford Ave 40.0435°N -75.0205°W
Hatfield House		3201 W Girard Ave 39.976°N -75.1883°W
Hermitage		700 Hermit Ln 40.0245°N -75.2004°W
Horse Trough at 147 N 2nd St		Fireman's Hall Museum 147 N 2nd St 39.9532°N -75.1431°W
Horse Trough at 315 S 9th St		315 S 9th St 39.945°N -75.1565°W
Laurel Hill Mansion		7201 Edgeley Dr 39.9914°N -75.1949°W
Lemon Hill Mansion		1 Lemon Hill Dr 39.9707°N -75.1871°W
Malta Boat Club		9 Boathouse Row 39.9696°N -75.188°W
Memorial Hall		4231 N Concourse Dr 39.9796°N -75.2093°W
Mount Pleasant Mansion		3800 Mount Pleasant Dr 39.9834°N -75.1998°W
New Market Headhouse		400 S 2nd St 39.943°N -75.1453°W
Ohio State Building		1700 Belmont Ave 39.985°N -75.2162°W
Ormiston Mansion		2000 Reservoir Dr 39.9887°N -75.1963°W
Penn Athletic Club Rowing Association		12 Boathouse Row 39.9696°N -75.1886°W
Pennsylvania Barge Club		4 Boathouse Row 39.9693°N -75.1866°W
Pennsylvania Railroad War Memorial, Angel of the Resurrection at 30th Street Station		1 N 30th St 39.9557°N -75.1819°W
Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club		14 Boathouse Row 39.9698°N -75.1892°W
Philadelphia Museum of Art		2500 Spring Garden St 39.9658°N -75.1812°W
Ridgeland (Mount Prospect)		4100 Chamounix Dr 39.9926°N -75.2102°W
Rittenhouse Town, Abraham Rittenhouse House		206 Lincoln Dr 40.0299°N -75.1896°W
Rittenhouse Town, barn		210 Lincoln Dr 40.0291°N -75.1921°W
Rittenhouse Town, house		208 Lincoln Dr 40.0297°N -75.1905°W
Rittenhouse Town, house		210 Lincoln Dr 40.0288°N -75.1915°W
Rittenhouse Town, Jacob Rittenhouse House		209 Lincoln Dr 40.0295°N -75.1909°W
Rittenhouse Town, William Rittenhouse House		207 Lincoln Dr 40.0295°N -75.1897°W
Rockland Mansion		3810 Mount Pleasant Dr 39.9858°N -75.1998°W
Rodin Museum		2201-99 Ben Franklin Pkwy 39.9619°N -75.174°W
Sedgeley Club		15 Boathouse Row 39.9699°N -75.1898°W
Sedgeley Porter's House		3250 Sedgeley Dr 39.9745°N -75.1889°W		Porter's House of the demolished Sedgeley Mansion
Shofuso Japanese House and Garden		4301 Lansdowne Dr 39.9814°N -75.2129°W
Smith Memorial Playhouse		3500 Reservoir Dr 39.9817°N -75.1957°W
St. Augustine Costaggini Paintings St. Joseph and Our Mother of Consolation, St. Augustine's Church		246-60 N 4th St 39.9555°N -75.1465°W
St. Augustine Frescos, St. Augustine's Church		246-60 N 04th St 39.9555°N -75.1465°W
Strawberry Mansion		2450 Strawberry Mansion Dr 39.9944°N -75.1906°W
Strawberry Mansion Bridge		1 Strawberry Mansion Bridge Dr 39.9953°N -75.194°W
Swann Memorial Fountain, Logan Square		1900 Ben Franklin Pkwy 39.958°N -75.1706°W
Sweetbriar Mansion		3801 Lansdowne Dr 39.977°N -75.2008°W
The Cliffs (in ruins, fire on 2/22/1986)		3400 Reservoir Dr 39.9794°N -75.1941°W		Ruins since a fire on February 22, 1986.
The Exaltation of St. Joseph into Heaven, painting at Old St. Joseph's Church		321-27 Willings Aly 39.9467°N -75.1477°W
The Lilacs		3600 Greenland Dr 39.9988°N -75.1965°W
The Monastery		1024 Kitchens La 40.0361°N -75.2035°W
The Solitude		3400 W Girard Ave 39.9726°N -75.1955°W		1784–85; original owner and architect was John Penn, grandson of William Penn; within the Philadelphia Zoo.^[7]
Thomas Mill Covered Bridge over the Wissahickon Creek		1 Thomas Mill Rd 40.0719°N -75.2256°W
Undine Barge Club		13 Boathouse Row 39.9697°N -75.1889°W
University Avenue Bridge		1000 University Ave 39.9428°N -75.1969°W
University Barge Club		7-8 Boathouse Row 39.9694°N -75.1874°W
Valley Green Inn		1 Wissahickon Dr 40.0542°N -75.2182°W
Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center		1 Rector St 40.0232°N -75.2216°W
Vesper Boat Club		10 Boathouse Row 39.9694°N -75.188°W
Walnut Lane Bridge over Lincoln Drive		500 W Walnut La 40.033°N -75.1878°W		Spans Lincoln Drive and Monoshone Creek.
Walnut Lane Bridge over the Wissahickon Creek		900 W Walnut La 40.0323°N -75.1996°W		Spans Wissahickon Creek.
Wanamaker Eagle, Grand Court, Wanamaker Building		Wanamaker Building 1300 Market St 39.9517°N -75.1622°W
Washington Fountain, Eakins Oval		2601-99 Ben Franklin Pkwy 39.9643°N -75.1792°W
Weightman Hall, University of Pennsylvania		235 S 33rd St 39.9507°N -75.1908°W		Franklin Field Complex
Wissahickon Memorial Bridge		4200 Henry Ave 40.0239°N -75.1959°W		Carries Henry Avenue across the Wissahickon Creek; aka Henry Avenue Bridge.
Woodford Mansion		3400 Woodford Dr 39.9932°N -75.1877°W
WPA Murals		1801 Vine St., Philadelphia 39.9594°N -75.1695°W		37 murals located in the Family Court Building;^[8] building is being converted to a hotel.^[9]

Properties listed in the register by address

The complete list contains over 11,000 sites.^[10]

Name	Image	Location	Description
1616 Walnut Street Building		1616 - 26 Walnut St.
		1818 - 20 Chestnut St.
Belgravia Hotel		1811 - 19 Chestnut St.
Boyd Theatre		1910 Chestnut St.
Carpenter Station		201 Carpenter Ln.
Centennial National Bank		3140 - 42 Market St.	The bank of the Centennial Exposition. It was designed by the renowned architect Frank Furness.
Church of St. Luke and The Epiphany		318 - 30 S. 13th St.
Congregation B'nai Abraham		523-527 Lombard St.
Drake Hotel		1512 - 14 Spruce St.
Family Court Building		1801 Vine St.
Gravers Station		300 E. Gravers Ln.
Greenwood Cemetery		930 Adams Ave.
Guild House		711 - 39 Spring Garden St.
Loews Philadelphia Hotel		1200 Market St.	Philadelphia Savings Fund Society building
		1401 E. Bristol St.
Mount Moriah Cemetery gates		1801 Cemetery Ave.
		1301 - 03 Walnut St.
Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral		13 - 19 S. 38th St.	Listed as Church of the Savior
Philadelphia Sketch Club		233 - 37 S. Camac St.
Ruan House		4278 Griscom St.
Sigma Sound Studios		210-12 N. 12th St.	Recording studio known as the "birthplace of the 'Philly Sound.'"^[11]
Sun Oil Building		1608 - 14 Walnut St.
		1520 - 28 Spruce St.
Tulpehocken Station		314 W. Tulpehocken St.
Union Bank of Philadelphia Building		249 - 53 Arch St.	The building was used to house the cast of The Real World: Philadelphia in 2004 - 05.
United States Custom House		200 - 32 Chestnut St.
		1701 - 15 Locust St.
Wetherill Mansion		251 S. 18th St.
Wissahickon		5215 - 31 Schuyler St.

Historic districts

Historic districts listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places:^{[12] [13]}

Name	Image	Designation Year
1416-32 West Girard Avenue Historic District
420 Row - 420 to 434 South 42nd Street Historic District
4208-30 Chester Avenue Historic District		2022
Automobile Row Historic District		2021
Awbury Historic District
Carnegie Library Thematic Historic District		2021
Central Mt. Airy Commercial Historic District		2021
Chester Regent Historic District		2019
Chestnut Street East Commercial Historic District		2021
Christian Street/Black Doctors Row Historic District		2022
Conwell House Block Historic District		2022
Diamond Street Historic District
Drexel-Govett Historic District		2022
East Logan Street Historic District
F.D.R. Park Historic District
French Village Historic District		2021
Gardiner-Poth Historic District		2021
Gates Street Historic District		2022
Girard Estate Historic District
Greenbelt Knoll Historic District
Historic Paving Street Thematic District
House of St. Michael & All Angels Historic District		2023
Manayunk Main Street Historic District
Manheim Square Historic District		2021
Old City Historic District
Overbrook Farms Historic District		2019
Park Avenue Historic District
Parkside Historic District
Powelton Village Historic District		2022
Ridge Avenue Roxborough Thematic Historic District		2018
Rittenhouse Fitler Historic District
Satterlee Heights Historic Districts
Society Hill Historic District
Spring Garden Historic District
Tudor East Falls Historic District
Victorian Roxborough Historic District		2022
Wayne Junction Historic District

See also

• List of National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pennsylvania
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

External links

• City of Philadelphia Historical Commission
• Philadelphia Register of Historic Places - Lists

Notes and References

1. Web site: Philadelphia Register of Historic Places: Register. Philadelphia Historical Commission. March 6, 2013.
2. Web site: Philadelphia Register of Historic Places: Designation. Philadelphia Historical Commission. March 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061005020217/http://www.phila.gov/historical/designation.html . October 5, 2006.
3. Web site: Philadelphia Historical Commission Homepage City of Philadelphia.
4. Web site: Philadelphia Historical Commission. City of Philadelphia Historical Commission. March 6, 2013.
5. Web site: PRHP: List of properties without official addresses. Philadelphia Historical Commission. November 13, 2018. January 15, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190115111129/https://www.phila.gov/historical/PDF/Phila%20Register%20no%20addr.pdf. January 15, 2019. live.
6. News: Rare Charles Dickens statue restored to Sydney park after 40 years missing. Bonnie. Malkin . The Telegraph. March 14, 2011 . March 14, 2011.
7. https://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/12306 "Solitude, also known as: John Penn House; Philadelphia Zoological Gardens Offices (1874)"
8. Web site: The New Life Of The Old Family Court (And Its Murals). Ufberg, Max. Hidden City Philadelphia. June 25, 2014. December 27, 2017.
9. Web site: Family Court hotel project on the Parkway gets boost from renovation-plan action. Adelman, Jacob. Philly.com. January 31, 2017. December 27, 2017.
10. Web site: PRHP: List of properties with OPA-compliant addresses. Philadelphia Historical Commission. March 22, 2018.
11. Web site: Sigma Studios, birthplace of the Philly Sound, wins spot on city's historic register . 2023-06-13 . WHYY . en-US.
12. Web site: PRHP: List of historic districts. Philadelphia Historical Commission. March 7, 2013.
13. Web site: Philadelphia Historic Districts . January 5, 2024 . Phila.gov.