Treasure
Philly!
Philadelphia is a city rich in history. It is full of dynamic stories and traditions that we can celebrate and pass on to the future through preservation.
These stories and traditions are examples of cultural resources. Cultural resources are woven into the everyday fabric of our community. They reveal themselves through cherished traditions. They imprint themselves on the spaces we gather to celebrate and mourn, to honor and protest. They tell of experiences shared throughout our neighborhoods. They provide context for the communities in which we live today.
Treasure Philly! is a first-of-its-kind effort to preserve cultural resources in Philadelphia. Treasure Philly! will explore new ways to identify and record these resources. The Philadelphia Historical Commission wants to bring to light the many histories of Philadelphia that were previously overlooked. Treasure Philly! is a test to find new ways to improve the Philadelphia Historical Commission's ways of documenting, designating, and protecting our city's history.
History Happens Here
Broad
Germantown & erie
In Summer 2023, Treasure Philly! launched in the neighborhoods surrounding the Broad, Germantown and Erie intersection. This pilot project surveyed the area, relying on community engagement to uncover and protect cultural resources.
Left: Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, 1910. G.W. Bromley and Co. Courtesy of the Athenaeum of Philadelphia.
philly culture
What neighborhood stories are important to you?
We're starting with the BG&E area, but we want to hear about what's important to you, across the city!
We want to know about the neighborhood histories and traditions you value.
A cultural resource can be anything: a place or an experience of community, history, or culture.
A cultural resource can be a building, a park, or a store. It can be a parade route, or a restaurant where everyone goes to celebrate big life events. It can even be something that is not associated with a specific place, like a ghost story or locally made handicraft.
To tell us about a resource in your neighborhood, you can fill out our survey form, or send us an email!
If you have time, we'd love to meet you for a walk around your neighborhood to hear about what makes this place special to you.