History
Today: City Tavern Reopens Following Fire…But That’s Not All
To celebrate the City Tavern‘s reopening today, after the restaurant was closed down due to a fire , guest General George Washington will be meeting diners at […]
I Went to a Nazi Concentration Camp on Saturday
I really didn’t want to visit Majdanek, a former Nazi concentration camp in Lublin, Poland. Like most people, I found Schindler’s List pretty difficult to […]
Behind the Flag: An Interview With Betsy Ross
I’m sewing for the first time, and it’s with Betsy Ross. I’m helping Betsy stitch a final ring onto one of the bed curtains she’s been […]
Mayor Nutter to Donate 2008 Phillies World Series Ring to Philadelphia History Museum’s Baseball Collection
Tonight Mayor and First Lady Nutter will be honored at a special event by the Philadelphia History Museum for their contributions to the city and its history. […]
This Is the Monster We Celebrate on Columbus Day
A version of this story ran in 2012. Imagine, if you will, that the man who murdered your entire family, raped your daughter, sister, and […]
Remembering the Great Charles Bowser on His 84th Birthday
A version of this story ran in 2010. Many prominent, as well as not-so-prominent, Philadelphians have important stories to tell about the preeminent Charles W. […]
Philly Brothels: 1849 and Now
Last month, Slate‘s Rebecca Onion unearthed pure gold from the depths of the Library Company of Philadelphia‘s digital stacks. Guide to the Stranger or Pocket Companion for the Fancy is […]
Nat Turner: Maniacal Murderer or Virtuous Visionary?
A version of this column ran in 2011. October 2, 2014 — or thereabout — will be the 214th birthday of Nat Turner. I say “thereabout” because […]
How Frank Rizzo Helped the Beatles Play Philly
XPN has a great piece up today about today’s momentous anniversary: The Beatles played Convention Hall on Sept. 2, 1964. The whole story’s worth a […]
American Slavery: Maliciously Born 395 Years Ago on August 20th and Markedly Raised in Philly
A version of this article ran last year. As you take your lunch break tomorrow in Center City, stroll over to Front and Market where […]
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Dr. Walter P. Lomax Jr.
A version of this story ran last October. On October 10, 2013, at 8:30 a.m., 81-year-old Dr. Walter P. Lomax Jr. passed away. “So what?” […]
A Museum on Wheels
Philadelphia is a city rich with history. It has also been deemed “the city of neighborhoods.” But when’s the last time you actually had a […]
VIDEOS: 10 Cool Old British Newsreels of Philadelphia
From 1910 until 1970, the U.K.-based Pathé News produced newsreels and documentaries on events all over the world. Recently, a collection of 85,000 videos was […]
10 Things You Should Know About Thomas Jefferson* Before You Tour ‘Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello’
This week, the National Constitution Center opened the doors to Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello, its six month-long exhibition about Thomas Jefferson. And to my surprise, […]
Philly’s Octavius Catto Was the Hero of America’s First Civil Rights Movement
Tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 22, is the birthday of a great American who raised his voice against tyranny and oppression and led a people into a […]