History of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1682 - June 18 - Philadelphia is founded by William Penn

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June 18, 1682

1719 - First Newspaper in Pennsylvania
The first [newspaper] in Pennsylvania was "The American," published in Philadelphia in 1719.

colonialwarsct.org/ 1755.htm

1731 - November 8 - In Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin opens 1st US library
In 1731, Benjamin Franklin, already recognized as a prolific inventor, writer, and community leader in Philadelphia, established what would become the first public lending library in the American colonies. This milestone marked a significant moment in American intellectual history, as it democratized access to knowledge at a time when books were rare and expensive luxuries. Franklin, then just 25 years old, organized a subscription library system where members pooled resources to purchase books and share them amongst themselves. This innovative approach not only made books more accessible but also fostered a culture of learning and inquiry among the colonists.

Franklin's library was housed in a room within the Academy of Philadelphia (which later evolved into the University of Pennsylvania). It quickly became a hub for intellectual exchange and debate, attracting scholars, politicians, and ordinary citizens eager to expand their understanding of the world. Franklin's vision for the ... Read MORE...


Read more about Benjamin FRANKLIN

1732 - February 26 - 1st mass celebrated in 1st American Catholic church, St Joseph's, Philadelphia

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February 26, 1732

1732 - December 19 - Benjamin Franklin under the name Richard Saunders begins publication of "Poor Richard's Almanack"

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December 19, 1732

Read more about Benjamin FRANKLIN

1736 - The first volunteer fire department, the Union Fire Company, was founded in Philadelphia in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ pennsylvania.html

Read more about Benjamin FRANKLIN

1743 - February 3 - Philadelphia establishes a "pesthouse" to quarantine immigrants

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February 3, 1743

1748 - August 26 - The first Lutheran denomination in North America, the Pennsylvania Ministerium, is founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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August 26, 1748

1751 - Founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, Pennsylvania Hospital was the first hospital in the United States.

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May 11, 1751

Read more about Benjamin FRANKLIN

1752 - May 11 - 1st US fire insurance policy issued (Philadelphia)

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May 11, 1752

1759 - January 11 - 1st American life insurance company incorporated, Philadelphia

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January 11, 1759

1765 - May 3 - 1st US medical college opens in Philadelphia

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1770 - June 28 - Quakers open a school for blacks in Philadelphia

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June 28, 1770

1773 - December 26 - Expulsion of tea ships from Philadelphia

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December 26, 1773

1774 - September 5 - First Continental Congress formed in Philadelphia
The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from twelve of the thirteen colonies that met on September 5 to October 26, 1774 at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to "The passage of the Coercive Acts" (also known as Intolerable Acts by the Colonial Americans) by the British Parliament. The Intolerable Acts had punished Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party.

The Congress was attended by 56 delegates appointed by the legislatures of twelve of the thirteen colonies. Georgia declined to send delegates.

The Congress met briefly to consider options, including an economic boycott of British trade; rights and grievances; and petitioned King George III for redress of those grievances.
wikipedia.org
September 5, 1774

1775 - In Philadelphia, Johann Behrent built the first piano in America calling it "Piano Forte."

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ pennsylvania.html

May 1775 - Second Continental Congress - Philadelphia - plans to form an army.
When the Second Continental Congress came together on May 10, 1775 it was, in effect, a reconvening of the First Continental Congress. Many of the same 56 delegates who attended the first meeting were in attendance...

The second Congress managed the colonial war effort, and moved incrementally towards independence, adopting the United States Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. By raising armies, directing strategy, appointing diplomats, and making formal treaties, the Congress acted as the de facto national government of what became the United States.

Delegates from twelve of the Thirteen Colonies were present when the Second Continental Congress convened. Georgia had not participated in the First Continental Congress and did not initially send delegates to the Second Continental Congress.
wikipedia.org
May 10, 1775

The Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia in 1776.

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1777 - September 26 - British General William Howe occupies Philadelphia during American Revolution

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September 26, 1777

1778 - In June 1778, a 700 wagon caravan escorted the Liberty Bell on its return to Philadelphia from Allentown along Towamencin's Allentown Road.
Nine months earlier, when British troops threatened to capture the city, the bell had been whisked into hiding via the same route.
www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ pennsylvania.html

1782 - January 7 - 1st US commercial bank, Bank of North America, opens in Philadelphia

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January 7, 1782

1784 - September 21 - The Nation's First Daily Newspaper Began Publication
The nation's first daily newspaper, the Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser, began publication on September 21, 1784. Many independent newspapers ran before that on a weekly or monthly basis. America's first independent newspaper, the New England Courant, was published by Benjamin Franklin's older brother in 1721. By the start of the Revolutionary War in 1775, there were 37 independent newspapers to keep the colonists informed.
www.americaslibrary.gov
September 21, 1784

1787 - September 17 - US constitution adopted by Philadelphia convention

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September 17, 1787

The first American brooms were made in Philadelphia in 1790.

Newburgh Daily Journal
Newburgh, New York
June 13, 1893

1790 - December 6 - The U.S. Congress moves from New York City to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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1792 - July 1 - A tremendous storm (a tornado or hurricane) hit Philadelphia and New York City. Many young people were drowned while out boating on that Sunday.

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1793 - Yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia killed about 2,000

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1793 - January 9 - 1st hot-air balloon flight in the US lifts off in Philadelphia, piloted by Jean Pierre Blanchard

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January 9, 1793

1793 - June 10 - Washington replaced Philadelphia as US capital

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June 10, 1793

1803 - May 8 - A freak spring storm produced heavy snow from southern Indiana to New England. The storm made sleighing possible in Massachusetts, but also ruined shade trees in Philadelphia.

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1816 - December 2 - 1st savings bank in US opens (Philadelphia Savings Fund Society)

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December 2, 1816

1822 - Orphan Asylum Fire
Philadelphia, from 1790 to 1860, suffered severely by fires. The most lamentable of them all was the burning of the Orphan Asylum, which happened on a very cold night of January 23d, 1822, in which twenty-three poor orphans perished.
The Deseret News
Salt Lake City, Utah
July 3, 1861

1827 - Mechanics Union of Trade Associations formed in Philadelphia

The World Almanac of the U.S.A, by Allan Carpenter and Carl Provorse, 1996

1839 - February 24 - Steam shovel patented by William Smith Otis, Philadelphia
William Smith Otis (1813-1839) was an American mechanical engineer and inventor who is credited with the development of the steam shovel, a significant innovation in the construction and mining industries. He was born in Hampden, Maine, in 1813.

The steam shovel is a machine that uses steam power to excavate and lift materials, such as soil, coal, or other debris. It played a crucial role in large-scale construction projects, mining operations, and the expansion of railroads during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

William S. Otis designed the steam shovel in the 1830s, and he was granted a patent for his invention on February 24, 1839. Unfortunately, he died later that same year at the age of 26, which prevented him from fully capitalizing on the success of his creation.

Following his death, other inventors and companies continued to refine and improve upon the steam shovel design, leading to its widespread adoption and further revolutionizing the construction and mining... Read MORE...

1839 - AWFUL CONFLAGRATION !! DESTRUCTION OF MORE THAN 47 BUILDINGS, AND A GREATER LOSS OF PROPERTY THAN HAS FALLEN UPON PHILADELPHIA BY A SIMILAR CALAMITY FOR MANY YEARS - WITH LOSS OF LIFE.
From the Philadelphia Ledger of October 5.

One of the most disastrous conflagrations that ever occurred in Philadelphia, broke out about half past ten o'clock last night, and raged with unmitigated fury until daylight, in spite of the exertions of the firemen. The fire commenced in the extensive four storied store, No. 14, South Wharves, which extends through and includes No. 19 South Water Street. This store was occupied by Messrs. David W. Prescott and Wm. J. Stroup as a wholesale fish and provision store. The fire had got great headway when it was first discovered, the whole interior of the first and second stories through into Water Street being in flames. The alarm having been given, some of the fire apparatus were on the spot in an incredible short space of time after, but the flames spread and communicated to the adjoining store, No. 15 Water Street, which stood at the corner of an alley, and was occupied as a grocery store by C. Cheeseborough, and swept through with a... Read MORE...

1843 - August 5 - A spectacular cloudburst near Philadelphia turned the small creeks and streams entering the Delaware River into raging torrents.
As much as sixteen inches of rain fell in just three hours. Flooding destroyed thirty-two county bridges, and caused nineteen deaths. It is believed that several small tornadoes accompanied the torrential rains, one of which upset and sank more than thirty barges on the Schuylkill River.
WeatherForYou.com
August 5, 1843

1843 - Artificial Freezer Patented
1843: Until September 9, 1843, ice cream was made by the "pot freezer method," but on this day, Nancy M. Johnson of Philadelphia got her "artificial freezer" patented, containing a tub, cylinder, lid, dasher, and crank. This design is still widely used today.
The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com

1844 - FRIGHTFUL RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
We learn from the Philadelphia Gazette of Saturday that the bridge on the Reading Railroad over Mill Creek near Manayunk, gave way on Friday morning as an upward train of thirty-five burden cars were passing it, followed by a complete wreck of the greater portion of the bridge and the almost total destruction of the cars, which fell through the bridge into the stream and road below. The locomotive had cleared the bridge within a few yards when the engineer discovered by its trembling motion that the structure was going. He instantly put on a full head of steam and succeeded in jumping off in safety. The frightful and destructive catastrophe took place the same instant. The tender went with the cras, and the locomotive having become detached preceeded at a furious speed to Norristown, and was not stopped until it had gone some distance beyond that place. Not a life most fortunately was lost, and the escape of the engineer was truly providential. The bridge was about eighty feet long... Read MORE...

1847 - May 7 – In Philadelphia, the American Medical Association (AMA) is founded.

wikipedia.org
May 7, 1847

1851 - DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA.
Philadelphia, Saturday, Dec. 27.
A destructive fire broke out at 1 o'clock this morning, in HART'S Building, corner of Sixth and Chestnut streets. The flames spread with great rapidity, destroying the entire building, together with several book and music stores, and PARKER'S Restaurant in the basement.
The flames spread to the Shakespere building on the opposite side of Sixth street, and adjoining Chestnut street Theatre, which was also entirely destroyed, as was also BROWN'S Hotel, and HART'S building adjoining on Chestnut street.

About three o'clock, the walls of HART'S Building fell into the street, instantly killing two colored men and severely injuring several firemen and police. There is also reason to fear that several other persons were killed, as the streets were crowded at the time the walls fell.

The entire block on the west side of Sixth street, from Chestnut to Carpenter sts., is a heap of ruins.

Besides the buildings above named, JOHNSON'S law book store, and... Read MORE...

1854 - Phildadelphia
Philadelphia, a port of entry, the second city in the United States, and the metropolis of Pennsylvania, is situated between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers, about 6 miles above their junction, and (following the river and bay) 06 miles from the ocean. It is in 39° 67' N. lat., and 75° 11' W. Ion., being about 130 miles N. E. of Washington City, and 87 S. W. of New York.

Population. — If we except Paris, Philadelphia nearly equals the largest capitals on the continent of Europe in population, and, at its present rate of increase, will soon surpass them. In 1684 it had 2500 inhabitants; 21,767 (inclusive of the army and strangers) at a census taken by order of Lord Cornwallis in 1777 or '8; 42,520 in 1790; 70,287 in 1800; 96,287 in 1810; 119,325 in 1820, (up to which period it was the largest city in the United States;) 167,325 in, 1830; 258,037 in 1840, and 408,762 in 1850, showing an increase of 58 1/ 2 per cent, in the ten years preceding the census of 1860, and 953 1/ 2 per... Read MORE...

1854 - December 15 - 1st street-cleaning machine in US 1st used in Philadelphia

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1854 - DREADFUL ACCIDENT ON THE READING RAILROAD.
On Friday afternoon week, the locomotive Wisconsin life Richmond for Pottsville, with a train of empty coal cars. When the train was approaching the Manayunk tunnel the boiler of the locomotive exploded, blowing out the end over the firebox, and rendering the engine a complete wreck. GEORGE LONG, formerly an engineer on the road, but recently living in Baltimore, where he leaves a family, was on the engine at the time of the explosion. He sprang to the ground, but was so badly scalded that he died in a short time. JOHN LYNCH, the fireman, was much mangled, and so severely scalded that he survived but a few minutes. LYNCH lived in Dauphin county, where he leaves a family.

CHARLES MILLER, the front brakeman of the train, had the top of his head carried away, and was badly scalded. He died instantly. A lad residing in Reading, who was on the train at the time, was badly scalded, and had a leg broken. He was sent to Phil'a on the passenger train, on Saturday morning. A man named JAMES ... Read MORE...

1856 - February 18 – The American Party (Know-Nothings) convene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to nominate their first Presidential candidate, former President Millard Fillmore.

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February 18, 1856

1856 - July 17 – The Great Train Wreck (the worst railroad calamity in the world to date) occurs near Philadelphia, PA, USA.
The Great Train Wreck of 1856 occurred in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania, between Camp Hill Station and Fort Washington Station, on July 17, 1856. Two trains, traveling on the same track in converging directions, collided, killing between 59 and 67, and injuring over 100. The incident was referred to as The Camp Hill Disaster in Montgomery County, and The Picnic Train Tragedy in the city of Philadelphia. It was the deadliest railroad catastrophe in the world up to that time and became one of the signature events of its era.
wikipedia.org
July 17, 1856

March 30, 1858: H. L. Lipman, of Philadelphia, patented the first pencil with eraser
In 1858, an American inventor named Hyman Lipman patented the design for a pencil with an attached eraser. His invention involved attaching a small rubber eraser to the end of a wooden pencil, creating a convenient two-in-one writing and erasing tool. This innovation made pencils more practical and popular, as it eliminated the need to carry a separate eraser.
The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com
March 30, 1858

Read more about Hymen L LIPMAN

1869 - Pastors Unite
Over a dozen Philadelphia pastors have united in the determination to attend no more Sunday funerals, unless the necessity is certified by a physician. As yet they have had none this year.
St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 19, 1869

1870 - February 5 - 1st motion picture shown to a theater audience, Philadelphia

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February 5, 1870

1871 - In Philadelphia, there is a blacksmith shop, the bellows of which are operated by dog power.


St Joseph Herald
Saint Joseph, Michigan
June 17, 1871

1874 - July 1 - 1st US zoo opens (Philadelphia)
Still open, it is the oldest zoo in the USA.
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July 1, 1874

1876 - May 10 - Centennial Exhibitiion
May 10, 1876: The Centennial Exhibition opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at which Caroline Shawk Brooks displayed her sculpture of a woman's face made out of butter. The rendering, Dreaming Iolanthe, sparked a movement of serious artistic butter sculpting in America. Butter sculptures remain a popular attraction at state fairs.

The Old Farmer's Almanac www.almanac.com
May 10, 1876

1884 - A SHOCK OF EARTHQUAKE Felt Over a Large Region – A Vibratory Motion from Washington to Maine
...In Philadelphia the shock was very perceptible and the undulation apparently extended from northeast to southwest, increasing in intensity with each succeeding second and subsiding gradually. The strongest buildings in the city were shaken, rickety chimneys toppled over on the roofs and bricks tumbled down upon the pavements in all parts of the city. Plaster fell from ceilings of houses, chinaware rattled in the closets , door-bells began ringing, glasses clinked in a lively tune upon sideboards and clocks were set to running down. In some instances people were prostrated upon the floors of their dwellings. Nervous people were frightened to such an extent that many thought the destruction of the world was at hand. Everywhere the populace became excited.

Every house in the city was agitated more or less, their occupants running breathlessly into the street, thinking that a terrible explosion had taken place. A few moments later three-fourths of the entire population was in the... Read MORE...

1885 - August 3 - A tornado hit Philadelphia and Camden along its eight mile path.

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1889 - ANOTHER HORROR. A WOMAN AND FOUR CHILDREN ROASTED TO DEATH WHILE ASLEEP.
Philadelphia, Dec. 3. - Fire in GUSTAV GROSS' bakery and dwelling, northeast corner Second and Huntingdon Streets, early yesterday morning destroyed the shop and dwelling, and one woman and four children were burned to death. Three others were seriously burned. The flames broke out in the cellar of the building and spread so rapidly that the victims, who were asleep in the upper stories, were suffocated before aid could reach them.

The dead are:
ANNIE BITNER, aged thirty-two years, burned to death.
GUSTAV GROSS, aged eleven years, burned to death.
BRUNO GROSS, aged five years, inhaled the flame and smoke and died half an hour after the fire was discovered.
GEORGE BITNER, aged nine months.
IDA BITNER, aged six years.

The injured are:
MINNIE GROSS, aged thirty-three years, who with her babe, MATTIE, aged two and a half years, jumped from a second story window after being severely burned.
JOSEPH BITNER, aged forty years, badly burned and bruised by jumping from a third story ... Read MORE...

1894 - Both Are Now Dead
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 14. - Mrs. John Heard, who was shot by her jealous husband on the night of Jan. 2 at her mother's home in this city, died Friday night. Her husband, who, after shooting his wife, shot himself in the head, died several days ago.
The Lewiston Daily Sun
Lewiston, Maine
January 15, 1894

1895 - Phildadelphia
Phil'adéI'phia (Fr. Philadelphie, fee'!!'d''fee'; Sr., and It. Filadelia, fe-la-dé'fe-A), a port of entry, the third city of the United States, the metropolis of Pennsylvania. and coextensive with the co, of Philadelphia, is situated on the W. bank of the Delaware, 96 miles (by the ship channel) from the open sea, 87 miles by rail S.W. of New York, and 136 miles N.E. of Washington, D.C. Lat. 30° 57' N.; lon. 75° 10' W. The river Schuylkill traverses the city, dividing the part known as West Philadelphia from the older portion of the town. Along the Delaware the water-front measures 23 miles, extending from the mouth of Poquessing Creek (which enters the Delaware near Torresdale on the N.E.), southwestward and southward, to the embouchure of Bow Creek, at Tinicum Island. The area of the municipality is more than 129 square miles, of which a considerable part, especially in the N., is rural in character, while other portions are occupied by suburban districts, embracing several places... Read MORE...

1896 - When Should a Man Feel Encouraged?
The first steps toward courting a wife are taken with a certain diffidence.

A man wants to show his hand plainly from the first, that she may have no "possible, probable shadow of a doubt" about his intentions. He shows her, as well as he knows how - which is not always by any means very well, poor creature! - and he supposes she understands.

In nine cases out of ten she probable does; in the other, she doesn't, though he never would believe that, but it doesn't matter.

Now, courtship, as someone once observed is like a game of whist. You expect your lead to be returned, and when it is, you deduct certain inferences from it. When a man leads "attentions" and a girl plays "acceptance," he naturally counts on having the game in his hands.

When he finds she has been leading him astray, he naturally grows irritated, and is disposed to fling down the cards. There ought to be a school for instructing women and men in the ordinary rules of courtship, then we should have fewer... Read MORE...

1902 - November 21 - 1st night football game, Philadelphia Athletics beats Kanaweola AC, 39-0

onthisday.com
November 21, 1902

1904 - DISASTER ON BATTLESHIP MASSACHUSETTS.
Philadelphia, Dec. 16. - Caught in a trap and helpless to save themselves, three men lost their lives and four others, including LIEUT. WILLIAM C. COLE, were terribly scalded Thursday by a rush of steam and boiling water in the fire-room of the battleship Massachusetts, lying at the League Island Navy Yard.

The dead are:
EDWARD BUB, married, boilermaker and civilian;
ANDREW HAMILTON, married, boilermaker and civilian;
CHARLES RITZEL, boilermaker's helper and civilian.
LIEUT. COLE received his injuries in a heroic attempt to rescue the others. The first to enter the fire-hole was LIEUT. COLE. Without hesitating at becoming scalded by the hot water and steam he entered quickly and dragged the men from the place to the door, where they were taken in charge by others. BUB and HAMILTON were dead when found, and RITZEL died a few minutes after being taken on deck.
Worthington Advance
Minnesota
December 23, 1904

1906
Philadelphia, a port of entry, the third city in population of the United States, the metropolis of Pennsylvania, coextensive with the co. of Philadelphia, is situated on the W. bank of the Delaware River, 96 miles (by the ship- channel) from the open sea, 90 miles by rail SW. of New York, and 136 miles NE. of Washington, D.C. Lat. 39° 57' N. ; Lon. 75° 10' W. The Schuylkill River, which is here crossed by a number of railway and passenger bridges, traverses the city, dividing the part known as West Philadelphia from the older portion. Along the Delaware the water-front measures 23 miles, extending from the mouth of Poquessing Creek (which enters the Delaware near Torresdale on the NE.), southwestward and southward, to the embouchure of Bow Creek, at Tinicum Island. The area of the municipality is 130 sq. m., of which a considerable part, especially in the N., is rural in character, while other portions are occupied by suburban districts, embracing several places which have almost the ... Read MORE...

1906 - BUILDING INSPECTORS BLAMED FOR PHILADELPHIA CHURCH HORROR. EIGHTEEN DEAD AND MORE THAN SIXTY INJURED IN PANIC FOLLOWING DISCOVERY OF FIRE IN CHURCH - DISASTER ACCOMPANIED BY MOST HORRIBLE SCENES.
By Publishers Press Direct Wire.
Philadelphia, Jan. 22. - The building inspectors are blamed for the panic at St. Paul's African Baptist Church, at Eighth Street and Girard Avenue, in which eighteen negroes were crushed to death and over 60 injured yesterday.

Coroner Jerome will hold a thorough investigation and he will be aided in this by the police authorities.

Superintendent of Police Taylor and Captain Hamm made an examination of the heater and the flue from which the fire originated. It was found that the flue was defective, and that the heater pipe came within six inches or less of a wooden joist.

"The blame for this is not upon us," said Superintendent of Police Taylor. "It is up to the Board of Building Inspectors. Why should they permit a heater pipe unprotected to come within six inches of an open wooden joist?"

A revised list of the dead was given out at 10 o'clock today.
It is as follows:
RUTH TRAINER, Watts Street.
SARAH RUFING, 4262 Parkside Avenue.
MRS. ... Read MORE...

1910 - The Baseball World Series won by Philadelphia Athletics.

1911 - The Baseball World Series won by Philadelphia Athletics

1913 - The Baseball World Series won by Philadelphia Athletics

1918 - influenza epidemic in Philadelphia killed 11,000

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1918 - EXPLOSION AT NAVY YARD. TWO KILLED, 7 SCALDED WHEN BOILER LETS GO AT LEAGUE ISLAND.
Philadelphia, Jan. 2. - Two negro firemen were killed and seven other men injured in an explosion at the Philadelphia navy yard.
Report of the accident was made public by the navy department at Washington. According to officials at the local yard the explosion occurred in the power house and was caused by defective tubing in one of the boilers.

The building was only slightly damaged. The names of the dead are given as:
E. B. SELDOM.
ALEXANDER JOHNSON.

The injured are:
WILLIAM GAY.
HENRY WORDSON.
JOSEPH SELDOM.
HAMPTON BUTLER.
COLEMAN GRAY.
WILLIAM D. BOYD.
ARCHIE MORGAN.
Tyrone Daily Herald
Tyrone, Pennsylvania
January 2, 1918

1920 - Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade
First held in 1920 in Philadelphia. It is the oldesst Thanksgiving Day parade in America. The parade was created by Gimbel Brothers Department Store for the children and residents of Philadelphia.
musiccelebrations.com

Read more about Ellis Adam GIMBEL

1921 - November 15 - KYW-AM in Philadelphia PA begins radio transmissions

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1936 - June 11 - Presbyterian Church of America founded at Philadelphia

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June 11, 1936

1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pa
In 1940, RCA Laboratories (later merged into SRI) commercialized the first high-resolution transmission electron microscope in North America; this TEM became known as "Model B" and created a usable electron microscope for wider application.

Model B was a behemoth, measuring 10 feet high and weighing in at half a ton. It was demonstrated in Philadelphia on April 14, 1940. The RCA Transmission Electron Microscope was used successfully to observe cancer cells as early as 1949...
medium.com

1943 - REPORT 150 DEAD IN WRECKED TRAIN.
Philadelphia, Sept. 6 (AP) - One hundred and fifty persons were reported killed and more than 90 injured in the wreck of the Congressional Limited, fastest train of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in northeast Philadelphia tonight.

The estimate was made two hours after the accident by MATTHEW A. ROSS, chief deputy coroner.

A priest who entered on of the cars to administer last rites to the dying, said there were 75 persons in the car and he believed at least half of them were dead.

Many were still trapped in the cars, and acetylene torches were being used in an effort to cut an opening through to them.

Every available ambulance was rushed to the scene at the request of railroad officials, and police were dispatched to nearby hospitals to straighten out "traffic congestions" in the emergency wards.

Railroad officials said six cars were derailed -- two coaches, a twin diner unit and two pullmans.

Frankford Hospital reported shortly after the accident that if was "full of... Read MORE...

1946 - Philadelphia became home to the first computer.

www.ereferencedesk.com/ resources/ state-facts/ pennsylvania.html

1950 - Horse Without Driver Is Caught at Red Light
PHILADELPHIA, March 1. - (AP) - A milk wagon horse took a walk without its driver in the center of Philadelphia.

But it wasn't hard to catch, because it was a big-city horse.

Police found the animal waiting for a red light to change yesterday.
Lancaster New Era
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
March 1, 1950

1955 - Hurricane Diane - NINE DEATHS REPORTED IN EASTERN PA. 650 YOUNGSTERS MAROONED; RAIN REACHES 9 INCHES.
Philadelphia (AP) - Rain-swollen rivers rampaged through eastern Pennsylania today, causing at least nine deaths and isolating towns and cities. The threat was still increasing in some communities.
The swiftly rising waters marooned 650 youngsters on two island camps in the Delaware River about 10 miles north of Philadelphia. They virtually cut off Scranton and smaller communities from passage, and brought a major flood warning at Bethlehem.

Another 310 persons were stranded in two Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad trains in the Pocono Mountains between Cresco and Tobyhanna. The railroad said the 2nd Army had promised helicopters would try to remove the passengers.

9 Inches Of Rain.
In addition to the known deaths, other persons were unaccounted for.
Rains totaled more than 9 inches in one sector.

While Pennsylvania was hardest hit by what was left by Hurricane DIANE, there were floods throughout a wide area of the northeast United States...

...In Philadelphia... Read MORE...

1964 - Race riots in Philadelphia

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2023 - Whether you're a history buff, a foodie, an art lover, or just looking for some fun experiences, Philly has something for everyone. Here's a list of places to go and things to do in the City of Brotherly Love:
1. Independence National Historical Park: This is where American democracy was born. Visit Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted. Don't forget to see the Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of American freedom.

2. The Museum of the American Revolution: This museum offers an in-depth look at the American Revolutionary era through immersive exhibits and artifacts. It's a must-visit for history enthusiasts.

3. Reading Terminal Market: A food lover's paradise, this bustling market is home to a variety of vendors selling everything from Philly cheesesteaks to Amish pretzels, fresh produce, and gourmet treats.

4. Eastern State Penitentiary: A historic prison turned museum, it offers a fascinating look at the world of 19th-century incarceration. You can even take a spooky guided tour during Halloween.

5. Philadelphia Museum of Art: Famous for its "Rocky Steps," this museum houses an impressive collection of art from ... Read MORE...