1400 Block of Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA

The streets of the city are always changing, these maps were made to document those changes and can help us understand what was before and what came. These also will help to orient you to the 1400 block of Chestnut Street, one block southwest of City Hall.

Baxter Directory Panoramic Streetscape; "Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, South Side, West from 1400"

This is the 1400 block of the south side of Chestnut Street. These storefronts are located between Broad Street and Fifteenth Street in the heart of center city, Philadelphia, within footsteps of City Hall. The goal of our project is to discover and compile images and textual artifacts of this vibrant cityscape in order to communicate the changes this block has seen from the image above to what it looks like today, below. Click on a building or address above to find out more about it!

A modern view of the block

Conclusion

Once marveled as a distinguishable wealthy block where people would come to buy specialized clothes, jewelry, pianos, art, visit the theater, YMCA, and financial area has transformed into an anonymous block of urban shops, and chain stores. We have see the properties mature from homes and stores to larger office buildings, maybe in 50 years this block will transform further into one building? Or maybe as the city grows city center moves away and these properties return to small houses and stores?

Charlie Rubin
Eric Carlson
Haverford College
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