An 1854 watercolor depicting Hamilton Terrace, a suburban development in West Philadelphia showing five suburban villas designed by Samuel Sloan. This is the west side of S. 41st Street between Baltimore and Chester Avenues. Three of these villas remain in various states of preservation.
Historic Districts and Historic Sites
in West Philadelphia
University City and West Philadelphia have several districts and many individual sites that are of historic interest; many have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The most recent neighborhood that is a historic district is Powelton Village (also on the National Register). Other historic neighborhoods that are eligible to become local historic districts in order to preserve their character and architectural legacy are Garden Court, Cedar Park, Spruce Hill, Belmont, and Walnut Hill.
Historic University City & West Philadelphia
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Resources
- Rosenthal’s A History of Philadelphia’s University City
- Vintage Postcards of West Philadelphia
- Bibliography on the History of West Philadelphia and University City
- Vintage Photos from the Library of Congress
Available from UCHS
more information
Historic Districts
West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Roughly bounded by U. of Pennsylvania campus, Woodlands Cemetery, Poweltown Ave., 52nd St., & Woodland Ave.announcement boundary description Garden Court 46th to 50th Streets, Pine Street to Larchwood Avenue in West PhiladelphiaPowelton Village 32nd to 39th Streets, Lancaster Avenue to Spring Garden Street in West Philadelphiastreet-by-street inventory at Powelton Village site University of Pennsylvania Campus and Vicinity Roughly bounded by Hamilton Walk, South St., 32nd St., Walnut St., 36th St., Spruce St., 39th St.College Hall Furness Library Sansom Row (3400 Block of Sansom Street) University Avenue Bridge
Dental hall, University of Pennsylvania. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection. c. 1904Parkside Historic District Bounded by Penn-Central Railroad Tracks, 38th Street, Girard, Parkside, and Belmont AvenuesHaddington Historic District 6000 Blocks of Market, Ludlow, and Chestnut StreetsOverbrook Farms Historic District Roughly bounded by City Line Avenue, 58th Street, Woodbine Avenue, and 64th StreetCobbs Creek Automobile Suburb Historic District Roughly bounded by Cobbs Creek Parkway, Spruce St., 62nd St., and Angora St.
Historic Sites
Featured Historic Sites
- UC Urban Arboretum
- Universities
- Schuykill River
- Churches
- Mill Creek
- Satterlee: a Civil War Hospital
- Market Street in West Philadelphia
- Atlantic Richfield Gas Station
Vintage Photos
In the Cedar Park Area
Regent-Rennoc Court 5100 block of Regent St.1311-1327 S. 52nd St.
The Woodlands
Woodlands National Register Nomination 4000 Woodland Avenue
Hamilton Mansion at the Woodlands Cemetery. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection. c. 1900
More Sites
Fairmount Park Fort Mifflin Marina Road and Penrose Ferry RoadJohn Bartram House and Gardens 54th Street and Eastwick Avenue
Sites in Powelton Village
Frederick A. Poth Houses 3301-3311 Powelton Ave.
Poth and Schmidt Development Houses 3306-3316 Arch St.
The Powelton Apartments 3500-3520 Powelton Ave.214-218 N. 35th St.215-221 N. 36th St.
John Shedwick Development Houses 3433-3439 Lancaster Ave.
30th Street Station Centennial Bank 3200 Market St.designed by Frank Furness
Sites in the Spruce Hill Area
The Drexel Development Historic District The area around Pine, Delancey, 39th, and 40th Streets
The Hamilton Family Estate 4039-4041 Baltimore Ave.4000-4018 Pine St.
The Pinehurst Apartments 4511-4523 Pine St.324-334 S. 45th St.
Woodland Terrace 501-519, 500-520 Woodland Terrace
Sites in the Walnut Hill Area
Breslyn Apartments 4624-4642 Walnut St.201-213 S. 47th St.
LaBlanche Apartments 5100 Walnut St.
WFIL Studios 4548 Market St.Site of American Bandstand broadcasts
Kirkbride’s Hospital 111 N. 49th St.
Paul Robeson House 4951 Walnut St.
UCHS 