Places to Urban Sketch in Old City Philadelphia
By Cait Kearney
America’s most historic square mile
Bustling with both visitors and locals, distinguished by charming cobblestone side streets, and abundant with diverse architecture–from Georgian and Federal Styles to Greek Revival Style–the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia may be one of the most sketchable urban areas in the United States.
Come to sketch and stay to enjoy the wonderful food and drink scene and the 20+ historical attractions that all lie within one square mile.
The neighborhood is home to the iconic Liberty Bell, Independence Hall–where the Declaration of Independence was signed– the Museum of the American Revolution, and much more!
Here are 15 places worth urban sketching in historic Philadelphia! (Listed in no particular order other than to match the map above)
Independence Hall
1: Independence Hall
Outdoor
Seating: Front: None; bring a stool/chair or blanket. Back: some benches but not with a great view of the building (if you want to draw that, but many people walking around)
Shade: Some trees on one side, otherwise not much coverage
Independence Hall is arguably the building of the greatest historical importance in Philadelphia. It is where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence to unite the American colonies and split from British rule.
If you have not visited, you may be surprised to learn that the hall actually sits on a National Park called Independence National Historic Park. It’s the smallest U.S. national park in square miles. In order to get into the park and inside the hall, you have to go through security, and timed entry costs $1. But fear not! The view of the Independence Hall facade is totally visible from the grassy area just across the street. There’s a lot of room there to set up chairs or lay a blanket.
The Bourse
2: The Bourse
Outdoor or Indoor
Seating: Will need a stool if outside; some seating indoors
Shade: Trees across the street, where there is a good view of the building facade
The Bourse was America’s first full commodities exchange. Completed in 1895, it is a Victorian-era build with a beautiful sandstone facade. Now the Bourse holds private offices and a food court. You can sketch in the food court if you want to sketch indoors!
Carpenters’ Hall
3: Carpenters’ Hall
Outdoor
Seating: A couple of benches to one side; recommend bringing a stool/chair or blanket
Shade: Some trees on one side, otherwise not much coverage
Carpenters’ Hall hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774–the meeting to create the Constitution–and is considered one of the greatest examples of Georgian Architecture in the U.S.
I think Carpenters’ Hall is a lovely place to sketch and relax. There is a lot of open space surrounding the building, and it’s set back a bit from the main road. You can find a nice garden to the left of the building.
“Ghost house” of Benjamin Franklin in Franklin Court
4: Franklin Court
Outdoor
Seating: None, bring a stool
Shade: None
Franklin Court is where Benjamin and Deborah Franklin owned land and built houses in Philadelphia. Ben lived on the site for varying amounts of time and eventually died in his house on the site at 84 years old.
Franklin’s house was demolished in 1812, but in 1953, the National Park Service did an archaeological excavation on the site. Eventually, the site was modified to have a “ghost house” of the Franklins’ home, archaeological pits in the courtyard, and the Benjamin Franklin Museum (worth the visit!).
I haven’t had a chance to sketch the “ghost house” yet, but it seems like a unique thing to draw. I’d wait to sketch here when it’s cooler.
Christ Church
5: Christ Church
Outdoor
Seating: Typically a few open benches around the church
Shade: Benches aren’t shaded; some shade in the park nearby that still has a good view of the church
When Christ Church was constructed sometime around the 1740s, it was the largest church building in British North America. It was the tallest building in America until 1810. Another fun fact is that seven of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence were members of the Christ Church congregation.
To go inside the church, you have to buy a ticket, like a museum. The inside is beautiful, but I don’t believe you can sit and sketch. I’ve sat on one of the benches outside for a couple of hours on a warm Spring day, and it was lovely!
The Betsy Ross House
6: Betsy Ross House
Outdoor
Seating: Tables and chairs in courtyard
Shade: Courtyard is mostly shaded by trees
Betsy Ross is one of Philadelphia’s historical icons. The legend goes that George Washington commissioned Betsy to sew the first American flag based on a design he had drawn. The legend also goes that Betsy suggested changing the six-point stars on Washington’s design to five-point. The Betsy Ross House is where Betsy lived, supposedly.
What we know for sure is that Betsy was a successful seamstress and upholsterer in Philadelphia, and the Betsy Ross House is an example of what a 1740s townhouse for the middle class would have looked like.
You can pay to tour the house, and there’s a gift shop inside.
The courtyard is a fine place to sit. The facade of the house isn’t overwhelmingly interesting, but I think it’s worth a quick sketch given how iconic Betsy is!
Elfreth’s Alley
7: Elfreth’s Alley
Outdoor
Seating: Some outdoor seating; recommend a stool
Shade: Limited
Elfreth’s Alley is one of America’s oldest residential streets, dating back to 1703. It is also, in my opinion, one of the most charming!
Sketch here and feel like you’re transported back in time to colonial America. Capture the quintessential brick and bunting flags, and enjoy the magic of this historic street. There is an Elfreth’s Alley Museum if you want to learn more about this historic street.
I can’t mention Elfreth’s Alley without recognizing Dottie Ottey, who worked to form the Elfreth’s Alley Association (1934) and preserve this amazing street.
Benjamin Franklin Bridge and Race Street Pier
8: Race Street Pier
Outdoor
Seating: Benches
Shade: Limited
Philadelphia has a number of piers along the Delaware River. The Race Street Pier is like a fancy park that extends into the water. Most notably, the pier has a fantastic view of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. In the spring, this area has beautiful pink-flowered trees.
Franklin Square
9: Franklin Square
Outdoor
Seating: Benches, chairs
Shade: Number of shady spots, especially during the Chinese Lantern Festival
Franklin Square was one of five squares in William Penn’s original plan for the urban layout of Philadelphia.
The square is located in Chinatown–an area of Philly with historical significance, charm, and some great restaurants! Every year, the Chinese Lantern Festival is held here. The months-long festival has free entry during the day. Urban Sketchers Philadelphia has had at least three meetups here during the festival because there are so many fun and interesting things to draw. There are also a lot of chairs, plus some food and drink for purchase.
Moshulu
10: Penn’s Landing
Outdoor
Seating: Benches, chairs, low walls to sit on
Shade: Tree shade if you want it
Penn’s Landing is a waterfront area with lots to see, do, and eat/drink. It’s historically significant because it’s where William Penn’s ship landed in 1682.
What makes this area worth sketching is the variety of ships. The historic ships stand out in particular: World War II submarine USS Becuna, Spanish-American War cruiser USS Olympia, and Moshulu. Moshulu is the world’s oldest and largest four-masted tall ship and currently is a floating restaurant. There are shady spots to sit with great views of Moshulu. You can grab a drink on board after!
Washington Square
11: Washington Square
Outdoor
Seating: Benches and grass
Shade: Some from the trees
Like Franklin Square, Washington Square was one of William Penn’s five original squares of Philly.
For the first century of its existence, the square was the site of the burial of the poor, the burial of sixty Native Americans who died of smallpox, and, in 1793, the burial of victims of yellow fever. John Adams said of the square, “When walking through this congregation of the dead … I never in my whole life was affected with so much melancholy.”
Now the square appears to be a pleasant park, but personally I find it hard to fully relax here given its morbid history. Nonetheless, it’s still a nice space to sketch, with lots of people and pets walking through and with good views of the buildings that line the square’s four sides.
Curtis Atrium
12: The Curtis Atrium
Indoor
Seating: Some chairs
The Curtis Center used to be the headquarters of the Curtis Publishing Company. It’s now a place of apartments, offices, and restaurants.
It’s home to a stunning mosaic, Dream Garden, by the renowned American artist Maxfield Parrish. The mosaic is made from 100,000 pieces of hand-cut glass and is on display in the Curtis Center foyer of the building’s entrance on S Sixth Street.
You can sketch the mosaic or walk down the hall from the mosaic and sketch the atrium. The atrium is a large, visually appealing hall with a glass ceiling, marble floors, and columns. Assuming there are no events going on in the hall, the space is a cool, quiet spot to draw.
Merchant’s Exchange
13: Merchant’s Exchange
Outdoor
Seating: None, bring a stool
Shade: Limited
The Merchant’s Exchange, designed by William Strickland and completed in 1834, is a prime example of Greek Revival Style architecture. The building is currently closed to visitors, but don’t let that stop you from drawing this grand and unique structure.
Corn Exchange National Bank
14: Corn Exchange National Bank
Outdoor
Seating: A couple of benches across the street with a good view
Shade: Limited
This is a lesser-talked-about historical location in Philadelphia. The Corn Exchange National Bank at 2nd and Chestnut is amongst bars, restaurants, and shops, and it honestly took me about ten times of walking through the area to notice it. But now that I’ve noticed it, I just want to stare at it! To me, the details and symmetry of the building are beautiful. The area is lively, so it’s a nice opportunity to add in walking people, if that’s your thing.
Girard Fountain Park
15: Girard Fountain Park
Outdoor
Seating: Benches, stone wall
Shade: Some depending on time of day
Last but not least, Girard Fountain Park. This quaint park is home to a giant statue of Ben Franklin’s head and a nice fountain. This is a nice place to chill and unwind and draw something unique.
