Real Philly History, Real Fast: Fascinating Facts and Interesting Oddities about the City's Heroes and Historic Sites

by Jim Murphy

Overview

Philadelphia is known as the home of vibrant colonial history: the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, and Independence Hall. But the City of Brotherly Love is also home to—and less well known for—its quirky history. The country’s first quarantine station was located here. One of Philly’s clocks has a face larger than Big Ben’s in London. And a unique skill of Black abolitionist James Forten saved him from a life of West Indian servitude (and “Forten” was not even his real name).  

In Real Philly History, Real Fast, Jim Murphy provides an original tour of the city. He highlights artistic gems including the Dream Garden Tiffany mosaic and Isaiah Zagar’s glittering Magic Gardens. He profiles intriguing historical figures from military leader Commodore Barry to civil rights heroes like Lucretia Mott. Murphy also explores neighborhoods from Chinatown to the Italian Market and the unique architectural details of Carpenters’ Hall and the PSFS building.  

Each chapter provides a pithy story about a historical person or site, along with bullet points featuring interesting oddities, and nearby attractions along with fun facts such as: Why there are so many churches? What is the Philadelphia Eagles’ connection to the U.S. Custom House? Which famous artist may have been Philadelphia’s first nude model? And where was the Liberty Bell secretly damaged? (We didn’t do it!)   

This is Philly history in bites that are as digestible as a soft pretzel with mustard.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781439919248
Publisher:	Temple University Press
Publication date:	06/18/2021
Edition description:	1
Pages:	264
Sales rank:	1,084,688
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

A longtime resident of Philadelphia, Jim Murphy is a certified tour guide and copywriter who has owned a marketing communications business since 2004. He was the editor of Choices, an award-winning magazine published by the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union, and has been a creative director at Devon Direct Marketing and Advertising. He has been researching Philadelphia history since 2010. He would love to speak to your group.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

How to Use This Book xiii

Map of Locations xvi

Part I William Perm's Huge Impact on Philadelphia

1 A City of Churches 3

2 Green from the Get-Go 6

3 Philly's Flag 9

4 Welcome Park 13

Part II Military Leaders

5 Captain Gustavus Conyngham 19

6 Commodore John Barry 22

7 Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr. 25

Part III Gone-But Not Forgotten

8 Acadian Connection 31

9 The Gaskill Street Baths 34

10 The Grand Battery (or the Association Battery) 37

11 Washington Avenue Immigration Station 39

Part IV Heroes, Sung and Unsung

12 Charles Willson Peale 45

13 Francis Daniel Pastorius 48

14 Isaiah Zagar 50

15 James Forten 53

16 Lucretia Mott 56

17 Richard Allen 58

18 Robert Smith 62

19 W. E.B. DuBois 65

Part V Mob Rule

20 Bible Riots 71

21 Lombard Street Riot 75

Part VI In the Neighborhoods

22 Ninth Street Market (aka the Italian Market) 81

23 Chinatown 84

24 Philadelphia's LGBT Community 88

Part VII Hidden in Plain Sight

25 Ars Medendi 95

26 The Dream Garden Tiffany Mosaic 97

27 Independence National Historical Park 101

28 Irish Memorial 104

29 Mason-Dixon Survey 108

30 Old Pine Street Churchyard 111

Part VIII Marvelous Museums

31 The African American Museum in Philadelphia 117

32 National Museum of American Jewish History 120

33 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 123

Part IX Historic Architecture

34 Athenaeum of Philadelphia 129

35 Ben Franklin Bridge 132

36 Carpenters' Hall 135

37 Christ Church 139

38 City Hall 142

39 Gloria Dei Church (Old Swedes') 145

40 Masonic Temple 148

41 The PSFS Building 151

42 Reading Terminal Market 155

43 Sparks Shot Tower 158

44 Waterworks 161

45 U.S. Custom House 164

Part X Where History Comes Alive

48 Historical Society of Pennsylvania 171

47 Library Company of Philadelphia 174

Part XI Beyond Center City

48 Cliveden (or the Chew House) 181

49 Fort Mifflin 184

50 Taller Puertorriqueño 187

51 The Lazaretto 190

Bibliography 195

Index 231

Editorial Reviews

Jim Murphy has probably forgotten more Philly history than most historians know. Real Philly History, Real Fast makes readers want to discover the iconic places, and the men and women from all races and walks of life who made this city great. Each page of his excellent book contains a fact that will elicit anything from a smile to a ‘Wow!’ Billy Penn would be proud!”
—Tim McGrath, author of James Monroe: A Life

“A breezy glide through Philly history, Murphy’s new book should give every lover of this historic place new insight into the characters, places, and events that shaped it through four centuries.”—Sam Katz, Executive Producer, History Making Productions

“Even the most knowledgeable expert on Philadelphia history is likely to learn some new and interesting facts from Real Philly History, Real Fast. Jim Murphy has a way of bringing Philadelphia’s obscure and offbeat history to light in a wonderfully readable fashion.”
—Paul Steinke, Executive Director, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

From the Publisher