Jump to content

Race Street (Philadelphia)

Coordinates: 39°57′20″N 75°09′53″W / 39.955577°N 75.16475°W / 39.955577; -75.16475
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Race Street
Race Street in Chinatown with the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in the background
Maintained byPennDOT
Postal code19102, 19103, 1904
West end36th Street in West Philadelphia
Major
junctions
PA 611 (Broad Street) in Center City
East endColumbus Boulevard in Old City
NorthVine Street
SouthArch Street

Race Street is a major east–west street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that runs parallel to Cherry Street. It was one of William Penn's original gridded streets from the 1680s, although named Sassafras Street then.[1] Race and Arch streets are listed by their original names, "Sassafras" and "Mulberry," on the map in Birch's Views of Philadelphia, published in 1800.[2]

History

[edit]

The name "Race Street" was originally a nickname given to the street, since the street was used for horse racing in Philadelphia in the early 1800s. The name became official some time in the mid-1850s.

Points of interest

[edit]

Center City

[edit]

From east in Center City near the Delaware River to west near the Schuylkill River:

West Philadelphia

[edit]

Drexel University Campus, from 32nd to 34th Streets:

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Robert F. Looney, Old Philadelphia in Early Photographs, 1839–1913 (Courier, 2013).[1]
  2. ^ Alotta, Robert I. (1990). Mermaids, Monasteries, Cherokees, and Custer: The Stories Behind Philadelphia Street Names. Chicago, IL: Bonus Books, Inc. p. 52. ISBN 9780933893900.
  3. ^ "Embassy Suites by Hilton Philadelphia Center City". Embassy Suites by Hilton.

39°57′20″N 75°09′53″W / 39.955577°N 75.16475°W / 39.955577; -75.16475