Impressions Of Philadelphia

Posted Oct 25, 2008 by Rod Challenger

Updated Oct 25, 2008 at 03:44 PM

It’s cool and rainy in Philadelphia. The leaves in southeastern Pennsylvania have past their peak fall colors. Many have already fallen and are piling up in the streets.

This is an old town with old buildings. Many look like they were constructed at the turn of the century. The first urban renewal project in the nation began here in 1904, before Tampa or St. Petersburg were more than settlements. Workers tore down buildings that were old and run-down then. The path that was cleared back then is now the Benjamin Franklin Parkway connecting city hall and the art museum made famous in the “Rocky” movies.

And some of the buildings Ben Franklin constructed in the late 1700’s are still standing.

They started building the Philadelphia City Hall in 1898. It’s the largest building housing a municipal seat of government in the country.  And of course, the city is the cradle of independence with historic buildings from the days in the late 1700’s when this colony became a nation. The Phillies and Eagles stadiums are in sharp contrast to the age of the rest of the city. Both are modern, new sports facilities.