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Historic Germantown
One of the oldest settlements in Philadelphia, Germantown has a relaxed, backyard feel that complements its many historic attractions.
Unique eateries and stores thrive next door to 300-year-old buildings and significant American Revolution sites comprising Germantown Avenue, the main thoroughfare connecting Germantown to Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill.
Just 20 minutes from Center City and running approximately from the historic Stenton house to the Cliveden mansion on Germantown Avenue, Germantown’s is a long and interesting story ripe for exploration: three centuries of founding, settlement, tolerance, patriotism, abolitionism, architecture, industry and community service.
Though famous for its historical sites and houses, Germantown’s charm is by no means limited to its history. The iMPeRFeCT Gallery, a community-centered art showroom, provides space for local artists and others to show off their work. The Wissahickon Valley Park offers 57 miles of trails among 18 acres of lush scenery while never having to leave the city.
A variety of charming shops and cafes run along the neighborhood’s eponymous main thoroughfare, Germantown Avenue.
Unique eateries and stores thrive next door to historic sites in Germantown.
Germantown is a 20-minute drive outside the city. The Chestnut Hill East and Chestnut Hill West regional rail lines offer multiple stops along or adjacent to many of the neighborhood’s attractions.
A six-acre oasis amid a bustling Philadelphia neighborhood, Cliveden was an estate in the suburb of Germantown built just before the Revolutionary War. In October 1777, the Battle of Germantown took place in the estate’s backyard. Dozens of British soldiers holed up there during the firefight.
The partially hidden rose garden along busy Germantown Avenue offers a two-and-a-half-acre oasis of color and scent at the historic Wyck House. Dating back to 1824 and boasting 70 varieties, it is widely recognized as the nation’s oldest rose garden still in its original plan.
Johnson House Historic Site, an Underground Railroad house and museum, hosts the annual Philadelphia Juneteenth Festival to commemorate the end of slavery. The festival features vendors, performances and activities to educate visitors about anti-slavery and abolitionist movements.
The Revolutionary Germantown Festival marks the anniversary of the Battle of Germantown every October, complete with historical reenactments and museum tours.
Cliveden — Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
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