Natalie Pompilio - Walking Philadelphia: 30 Walking Tours Exploring Art, Architecture, History, and Little-Known Gems

Walking Philadelphia: 30 Tours of Art, Architecture, History, and Little-Known Gems

Copyright 2017 and 2022 by Natalie Pompilio and Tricia Pompilio

Second edition, first printing

Distributed by Publishers Group West

Manufactured in the United States of America

Cover design: Scott McGrew

Cover photo: Sean Pavone/Shutterstock, Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock, and Shchus/Shutterstock (Independence Hall)

Interior design: Lora Westberg; typesetting: Annie Long

Interior photos: Tricia Pompilio; photo on by Scott Biales/Shutterstock

Cartography: Steve Jones; map data: OpenStreetMap

Project and copy editor: Holly Cross

Proofreader: Emily Beaumont

Indexer: Potomac Indexing, LLC

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Pompilio, Natalie, author. | Pompilio, Tricia, 1975- author.

Title: Walking Philadelphia : 30 tours of art, architecture, history, and little-known gems / Natalie Pompilio and Tricia Pompilio.

Other titles: Walking Philadelphia, thirty tours of art, architecture, history, and little-known gems

Description: Second edition. | Birmingham, AL : Wilderness Press, [2022] | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2022024573 (print) | LCCN 2022024574 (ebook) | ISBN 9781643590899 (paperback) | ISBN 9781643590905 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Philadelphia (Pa.)Tours. | Philadelphia (Pa.)Guidebooks. | WalkingPennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaGuidebooks. | Historic buildings PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaGuidebooks. | Historic buildingsPennsylvania PhiladelphiaGuidebooks. | Historic sitesPennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaGuidebooks.

Classification: LCC F158.18 .P66 2022 (print) | LCC F158.18 (ebook) | DDC 917.48/1104dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022024573

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022024574

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All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.

SAFETY NOTICE: Although Wilderness Press and the authors have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety and health while following the walking trips described here.

Dedication

For Mom, Patricia Pompilio, January 24, 1944July 18, 2014

When next we meet, well walk together.

Acknowledgments

From Natalie: One advantage of writing about Philadelphia is the wealth of information easily found online and in the library. Writing this guide would have been much less enjoyable if I hadnt had Hidden City Philadelphia, Naked Philly, and the Association of Public Art. The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News, both found at inquirer.com , were also essential. I found some lovely snark published in Philadelphia magazine. The Free Library of Philadelphia was a great resource/makeshift office. Please see the bibliography at the end for further reading. I apologize if I forgot anyone.

Thanks to everyone at AdventureKEENHolly Cross, Steve Jones, Annie Long, and Emily Beaumontfor editorial, production, and marketing.

Thanks to Dante Zappala, Christy Speer LeJeune, and Fon Wang for sharing their local expertise. Ellen McCusker, youre the proofreader and friend Ive always dreamed of. Cara Schneider Bongiorno, lets have another nerdy history lunch soon.

My father, Lou Pompilio, promised to buy multiple copies of the book, but he did so when he thought photos of him were included. Look, Dad! I got your name in! Im thrilled that my sister, Tricia Pompilio, could use this outlet for her fabulous photos. I hope this leads to endless opportunities. I had the support of Team Barnett/Fletcher, Katies kettlebell class, and too many others to list. Rocky and Spike, you were faithful companions/obstructions throughout the writing process. Lisa Wathen read the finished tours and called them brilliant when they werent.

A big shout-out to my faves: Fiona, Luna, and Poppy Savarese and Will, Maddie, and Nora Paxson. Its hard to be stressed when talking about Noisette and the No Nut Shop, playing Mr. Bowl, or making up another story about the Chewys. What would life be without Popco, Ratfaces diary, and Well, that didnt go as planned?

Finally, I want to thank my husband, Jordan Barnett. During the mad push to finish, he made maps, made dinner, and made me laugh. Jordo, our relationships truly special.

From Tricia: First, thank you to my talented older sister, Natalie, for making this happen. Although you were less than thrilled at my arrival 40+ years ago, you have never wavered in your support. Thank you to Rochelle Litman, my friend and neighbor. You listened patiently when I was overwhelmed, drove me around the city for hours, and acted as a constant cheerleader as I began my new career.

My kids: Fi, Lu, and Poppy. You inspire me every day. I love you more than all the stars in the sky. And thank you to my husband, Vince. Your unwavering support, love, and patience are astounding. You never complain when I disappear into my office for hours, run off on weekends for sessions, or throw my heavy camera bag on your back. Ill back you up always.

Authors Note

There are a lot of great things about living in Philadelphia. Being able to walk almost everywhere I need to go is one of them. The gym, the post office, the doctor and dentist, the grocery store, the open-air market, the pharmacy, my sisters house, my nieces school, and more restaurants and bars than I can quickly countnone of those places is more than 1 mile from my home.

This city has hosted some of my lifes biggest milestones. I thought I knew a lot about it, too, having worked here as a professional journalist and lived here as a nonprofessional nosy person since November 2002. I was so wrong.

Researching different neighborhoods and buildings, and the people behind them, I often found myself falling down the rabbit hole, digging deeper and deeper because it was all so interesting and new. More than once, Id emerge from reading an original historic-designation nomination form or news clipping from the 1920s to find Id spent more than an hour on a single stop on a single tour. I couldnt stop myself: I love tidbits and odd facts, and Id get so excited by each one.

I was also constantly distracted because I kept thinking how tour 31Natalie Pompiliomight read. One of the tours will take you within a block of my home. Another passes the hotel where my husband and I married. A third brings you to my nieces school, and a fourth passes in front of my sisters house. I should probably include her address in case you need a bathroom.