Philadelphia becomes first World Heritage City in US

By: 9 years ago

A man reads a newspaper near Independence Hall, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Philadelphia. America’s birthplace has been named the country’s first World Heritage City. The Organization of World Heritage Cities voted in Peru on Friday to add Philadelphia. The city qualifies because Independence Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. AP

PHILADELPHIA — America’s birthplace has been named the country’s first World Heritage City, putting it on par with Jerusalem, Cairo, Paris and other places recognized for their impacts on the course of human events.

The Organization of World Heritage Cities added Philadelphia in a vote Friday at its biennial conference in Arequipa, Peru.

Philadelphia, the nation’s fifth largest city, qualified because Independence Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Declaration of Independence was signed at Independence Hall in 1776. Four years later, the Articles of Confederation, which united the 13 colonies, were ratified. The US Constitution was debated and signed at Independence Hall in 1787, with George Washington presiding.

“The universal principles of freedom and democracy set forth in these documents are of fundamental importance to American history and have also had a profound impact on lawmakers around the world,” according to UNESCO’s website.

The Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center are nearby, part of the three-block Independence Mall park created in the 1950s at the expense of dozens of colonial-era and early American buildings, including what was left of the home where Washington lived as president.

A consortium of city government and business leaders started campaigning for the honor three years ago at the suggestion of Richard Hodges, then the director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, who asked simply: “Why isn’t Philadelphia a World Heritage City?”

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The designation, held by about 260 cities, also reflects Philadelphia’s evolution into an economic and educational hub and its resilience — a theme of the organization’s conference, Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger said.

Denis Ricard, OWHC secretary general, was particularly taken during his visit last year with how the city has transformed its naval shipyard into a booming industrial park.

Being a World Heritage City will create more opportunities for cultural collaboration and exchanges, akin to a grander version of Philadelphia’s sister cities program, said John Smith, a lawyer who helped lead the campaign through the non-profit Global Philadelphia Association.

It will also help boost tourism, he said.

“Philadelphia has a lot going for it, but certainly isn’t as well recognized as New York or Washington in international parlance,” said Smith. “Philadelphia has to start thinking of other ways to establish itself as a bona fide world city.”

Recent events have helped.

Philadelphia hosted Pope Francis in September and will welcome the Democratic National Convention next summer. It was also the site of the Gold Cup Final, an important soccer match between Jamaica and Mexico.

Philadelphia was already renowned for its rich history and vibrant arts scene, including The Barnes Foundation museum and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where Sylvester Stallone ran up the steps in “Rocky.”

“People for a long time have raised questions about how confident Philadelphians are in themselves,” Smith said. “We think this will be a huge boost to the city’s ego. Once you get foreign cities and foreign countries to believe in you, it’s easier to believe in yourself.”