The City of Brotherly Love is also the birthplace of the United States. It was here on July 4, 1776, that the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

Philadelphia has historic landmarks around every corner and some of the same cobblestone streets that the nation's Founding Fathers once strolled. In the heart of the city two of the nation's symbols of freedom, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, are in Independence National Historical Park. Originally built as the Pennsylvania Statehouse, Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the U.S. Constitution was written. The Liberty Bell rang from the top of Independence Hall on the day the Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time.

More than a dozen other historic attractions are within the park including Carpenter's Hall, where the First Continental Congress met in 1774; the First Bank of the United States; Franklin Court, where Benjamin Franklin's home once stood; Christ Church Burial Ground, where Benjamin Franklin is buried; and the Declaration House, where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.

The oldest continuously occupied residential street in the nation---Elfreth's Alley---is off Second Street between Arch and Race Streets. This National Historic Landmark consists of 33 Colonial- and Federal-style homes.

Some of the city's most famous residents besides Benjamin Franklin include Betsy Ross and Edgar Allan Poe. The home where Ross stitched together the first American flag is within walking distance of the Liberty Bell. Poe lived in Philadelphia for about six years. For the last 18 months of that time he lived at a home on Seventh Street, now the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site.

Philadelphia is more than just a city of history; it is also a city of restaurants with a large variety of ethnic eateries. Perhaps one of its most popular dishes also bears the city's name, the Philadelphia cheesesteak.

Included among the city's many parks is Fairmount Park, the nation's largest landscaped city park, encompassing 8,900 acres of winding creeks, lush green meadows, and 100 mi of trails. Nearby is the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoo in the nation, which is home to more than 1,800 animals.

Philadelphia's diverse shopping districts include Jewelers Row, the nation's oldest diamond district and one of the largest; South Street, with 150 stores, boutiques, and galleries; and the Italian Market, the world's largest outdoor market.

Several museums within the city limits are sure to entertain and educate those who visit. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute Science Museum, the Natural Science Museum, the Philadelphia Doll Museum, and the Independence Seaport Museum are just a few of the many museums here.

Philadelphia is home to four professional sports teams: the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers.

Where the Schuylkill River flows into the Delaware River, Philadelphia has served as an important port from its beginnings.

The city is home to 27 colleges and universities including the University of Pennsylvania, which was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740 and was the first school in America to earn the title of "university" in 1779.