Category: Philadelphia (Page 4 of 11)

Colorized historic postcard of large department store with trolleys, horses, carts, and people in the foreground. — Historic postcard of Kaufman's Department Store in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. PA SHPO files.

Window Shopping at 5 of Pennsylvania’s Historic Department Stores

December 23, 2020 / Elizabeth Shultz / 12 Comments

With the widespread availability of plate glass at the end of the nineteenth century, department stores and window-shopping culture flourished in cities and towns throughout Pennsylvania – especially during the holiday shopping season near the end of the calendar year.

Should I go left or right at the next historical marker?

November 4, 2020 / Guest Contributor / 1 Comment

There are only so many times I could run to the Race Street Pier or the Art Museum steps… I needed my next destination.

Row of two two story brick buildings along a pathway, canal, and railroad track. — Rear elevations of buildings in Manayunk overlooking the Manayunk Canal. PA SHPO, 2020.

Manayunk Main Street Historic District Flood Guide

September 30, 2020 / John Gardosik / 0 Comments

September is National Preparedness Month. According to the PA Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), this year’s theme is “Disasters don’t wait. Make your plan today.”

One-story metal building with sign that reads "Scotty's Diner" — Scotty's Diner in Wilkinsburg, Allegheny County, 1989. Image from the John Margolies Roadside America photograph archive at the Library of Congress (https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2017702223/)

Buildings on the move: Diners in Pennsylvania

September 16, 2020 / Jenna Solomon / 3 Comments

If historic preservationists could choose a superpower, it just might be the ability to move buildings to a new location when they are threatened with a proposed demolition.

#PreservationHappensHere thanks to the PA Historic Preservation Tax Credit

September 2, 2020 / Scott Doyle / 1 Comment

The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PA DCED) recently announced that it has awarded $5 million in Pennsylvania historic preservation tax credits (PA HPTC) to 22 projects across the commonwealth through the FY 2019-2020 PA HPTC Allocation.

The application period for the next round opens October 1, 2020.

The Triumphant Note of Women’s Equality: the Justice Bell & Women’s Suffrage

August 5, 2020 / Pamela Reilly / 2 Comments

One hundred years ago, the clapper of the Justice Bell was unchained for the first time so that it could ring out in jubilation to celebrate the ratification of the 19^th Amendment granting women the right to vote.

When a door closes, a window opens…

July 8, 2020 / Jenna Solomon / 2 Comments

One of the stereotypes that often accompanies historic preservationists is the battle over replacing historic windows.

Undated file photo of the pool at Bendigo State Park in Elk County.

Dip into History: Five Historic Pools and Swimming Holes in Pennsylvania

June 10, 2020 / Elizabeth Shultz / 4 Comments

Summer is definitely here in Pennsylvania! And when the weather turns hot and humid, my mind turns to swimming and lazy days by the water.

#FavoritePAPlaces: Preservation Alliance’s Paul Steinke

June 1, 2020 / Shelby Weaver Splain / 0 Comments

Pennsylvania’s communities are filled with special and meaningful historic places and spaces that add value to our lives and offer comfort and stability during these challenging times. Now more than ever, it is important to stay connected to our communities.

Today’s Spotlight: Paul Steinke

Vietnamese History in Pennsylvania

May 27, 2020 / Guest Contributor / 4 Comments

In addition to being National Historic Preservation Month, May is also Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and the perfect time to share this story by PA SHPO’s 2019 Keystone Intern, Yen Ho. Yen is a Vietnamese American from southeast Pennsylvania who, in addition to her summer project, helped the PA SHPO learn more about the places important to the Vietnamese-American community and that reflect this underrepresented part of our history.