CONTENTS Page 7 . II . Philadelphia The Sesqui-Centennial City. Historic Facts About Philadelphia The National Government in Philadelphia The William Penn Sight-Seeing Tour–Summary Route A 263 The George Washington Sight-Seeing Tour-Summary Table of Highway Routes —To and from Philadelphia Highway Routes I to XII . 284-310 Bulletin of Information for Auto-Tourists The Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, Philadelphia, “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof.”—Lev. xxv: V, X. THE LIBERTY BELL 1776—Philadelphia—1926 © Aerograph by Aero Service Corporation PHILADELPHIA AND THE PARKWAY FROM THE AIR From the heart of the city rises the City Hall Tower surmounted by a heroic statue of William Penn. At the upper left, stretching from the City Hall to Fairmount Park and Hanked by buildings of rare beauty-representative of industry, science, literature, art, and religion, is seen Philadelphia's great central boulevard, said to be the most beautiful promenade in America. 25 B 82 FOREWORD THE CORN EXCHANGE NATIONAL BANK takes pleasure in helping to make Philadelphia better known to its own citizens and to visitors from afar in a way unique among guide books. The present volume should bring motorists flocking to Philadelphia. It should also stimulate new uses for the automobile at home. For the book does more than tell about Philadelphia, it shows how to visit and enjoy every nook and corner of the nation's greatest historic city. It does this chiefly in the form of attractive motor routes, which embrace all the places and memorials of historic and scenic importance in and about Philadelphia. It is a book therefore to be used in an automobile, not merely to be read in a library. It will be found most valuable as an exact historic auto-guide to the old homestead of the nation. Several special features will appeal to the auto-tourist. Not only are definite directions given by which the chief sights of the city and its surroundings may be reached, but the minimum time necessary to visit and inspect them is fully indicated. For convenience and quick reference the “Descriptive Itineraries” show in bold-faced type the exact mileage location of the site or relic described. The visitor limited in time to one or more days will find useful the “Summary Sight-Seeing Tours,” which cover the important points of interest. Frequent visitors to Philadelphia will find in this guide “something new” for every occasion. The long-distance tourist, reaching or leaving Philadelphia by one of the great highway routes, will find the scheduled “Detours' attractive and, in the long run, time-saving. The doctor, the lawyer, the banker, the business man, the teacher, the churchman, the industrial worker, and the social worker, as well as the general sight-seer, will find something that appeals to his special interest. Moreover, every user of the book will discover that it is a guide to a series of auto-outings every one of which teems with scenic and kaleidoscopic experiences not set down in the text. The illustrations in the book deserve a word of comment. They are a revelation of the surprising extent and variety of Philadelphia's historic treasures. No single book on Philadelphia has ever given so complete a pictorial record of the city. Acknowledgment is here made of the courtesy of officials of the Academy of Fine Arts, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, National Museum in Independence Hall, and others too numerous to mention. The Rau Studio, the Newell Studio, Henry C. Howland, and Edgar S. Nash also deserve mention for some of the best pictures in the book. So much of Philadelphia's history is national history that nearly every aspect of it has been treated in many charming books in many charming ways. The racy literary philosopher has cast his reviving spell over the forgotten and the familiar. The specialist has treated with illumination his technical phase of the wealth of material. The historian has told over and over the delightful stories of persons and places. It is believed, however, that this new approach to an old field will also be found not without value. It should be noted that the repetitions in the book are intentional, and, it is hoped, will be found to add to its usefulness and pleasure. It will be obvious that many of the directions are given for the benefit of the visiting stranger. In the interest of completeness the return trip to City Hall is always scheduled. The sketch maps will be found useful by visitors. The official designation and approval of this book by Colonel David C. Collier, Director General of the Sesqui-Centennial International Exposition, as the Official Historic Auto-Guide of the Sesqui-Centennial Exhibition Association, adds to its value as a souvenir of the birthplace of the nation. a BROAD AND WALNUT STREETS-LOOKING NORTH TO CITY HALL The building at the left is the Manufacturers' Club. The City Hall is at Broad and Market Streets, where all routes in this book start and terminate. Home of the city and county offices and of all the county courts, the City Hall is the largest single building in the world, containing 750 rooms. It accommodates, however, only a part of the 20,997 municipal employees under Mayor W. Freeland Kendrick and City Council. |