Take A Stroll in University City
(Philadelphia, PA) – Looking to get out of the house? Eager to explore the history and culture of Philadelphia beyond the Liberty Bell? You can do both with University City District’s (UCD) new self-guided walking tours. One tour focuses on University City’s historic architecture, and you can guide yourself past gems such as a late 18th century Classical Revival mansion, a Byzantine-inspired domed church, and blocks of pristine Victorian and Colonial Revival houses from the 19th century. Discovering University City’s unique cultural attractions is the focus of another tour, including the avant garde Institute of Contemporary Art, the vast architectural archives of the Kroiz Gallery, and the extensive collection of Anthony Drexel at the Westphal Picture Gallery. The tours are free and can be downloaded from www.UCityphila.org or picked up at UCD’s office at 3940 Chestnut Street.
Located between the Schuylkill River and 50th Street, there’s much more to University City than its famous universities. It was Philadelphia’s first suburb and remains home to distinctive, livable urban neighborhoods of wide porches, tree-lined streets, restaurants, and shops. World-renowned centers of education, medicine, and technology and residents of diverse backgrounds lend University City its intellectual and international flavor. It’s a place to make discoveries off the beaten path: a delicious, affordable, and authentic ethnic restaurant, beautiful Victorian and Italianate architecture; intimate venues to see new visual and performing arts, independent bookstores, ethnic markets, and much more.
University City Tours were made possible by a grant from Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC).
# # #
University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan and advocate for University City’s diverse, urban community.
University City is the region’s leading community for technology, research, higher education and health care integrated with historic and desirable residential neighborhoods, vibrant commercial and cultural attractions, and strong transportation connections.
Release Date: Monday, January 5th 2004
