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Visit Media, PA
Media may be compact at less than one square mile, but this Delaware County seat located 12 miles southwest of Philadelphia is quite multifaceted.
Nicknamed “Everybody’s Hometown” for its stated commitment to diversity and neighborliness, Media also bears distinction as America’s original Fair Trade town — characterized by its support of businesses that ensure workers receive a fair price for products and labor.
The feeling of community radiates on State Street, where shopkeepers tend lovingly to stores situated in buildings older than the town itself.
Acquaintances greet one another during outdoor concerts on the pedestrian Plum Street and dine under the stars at open-air dinners.
William Penn sold a parcel of land in central Delaware County 300 years ago that eventually became Media. The name means “middle” in Latin.
Soon Philadelphians began vacationing and moving to this suburb shortly after it received a courthouse in 1851. Many Victorian homes still stand, as do buildings housing first-floor businesses with upstairs apartments.
Adventurous types should check out Ridley Creek State Park for hiking, cross-country skiing and more outdoor activities.
Media’s close-knit history lives on at sites such as Providence Friends Meeting, a Quaker meetinghouse whose members participated in the Underground Railroad.
Media Presbyterian Church, the Media Armory and several historic homes like the 1681 Minshall House, the Cooper House and Hillhurst also proudly represent the area’s heritage.
Public lots and metered parking are available to visitors traveling by auto. Trolley lines laid in 1890 continue to service a route to and from Philadelphia.
Visitors unplug media for a day to contemplate nature at the Tyler Arboretum and Ridley Creek State Park. With admission that allows for repeat entries on the same day, fans of horticulture can spend a few hours exploring Tyler’s 650-acre collection of plants, special trees, interesting treehouses and historic buildings.
For lunch, the nearby Country Deli offers packable food items for eating somewhere along the area’s 17 miles of trails amid meadows, woodlands and wetlands.
Ridley Creek State Park encourages fishing, hiking, cross-country skiing and exploration of its formal gardens and living-history Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation site.
Wednesday evenings during warmer months, Dining Under the Stars replaces automobiles on State Street with dinner tables to host this unique dining experience.
Media hosts concerts throughout the year as part of America’s Music Festival series, with events like the Americana Roots Ramble in May, the State Street Blues Stroll in June and the Jazz By Night Celebration in November.
Media Theater — Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia
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