A new exhibit at Philadelphia International Airport, “About Philadelphia: A City of Firsts,” celebrates the city’s history with a photographic display. Installed in Terminal A-East and accessible to ticketed passengers, the exhibition opened on July 2 as part of the Wawa Welcome America! program and will remain on view through June 2016.
“Philadelphia’s firsts are extensive and wide ranging, from horticultural and medical advancements to human rights, consumer culture, the arts, and technology,” said Philadelphia Mayor Nutter. “About Philadelphia represents a small sampling of the city’s indelible contributions to the nation’s past and present.”
The exhibit highlights many well-known local milestones — including the first lending library, the first hospital, the first university, and the first art museum — while also featuring lesser-known but significant firsts. Visitors can view displays on the first U.S. Mint, the first African Methodist Episcopal Church, the first women’s medical college, and Philadelphia’s role as the first U.S. city to host a World’s Fair, among other notable achievements.
Curated through historic photographs and informative captions, the installation aims to provide travelers with a compact but engaging overview of Philadelphia’s cultural and scientific contributions. Positioned in a high-traffic terminal, the exhibit offers a convenient opportunity for both residents and visitors to reflect on the city’s impact on national history.
By pairing visual storytelling with concise historical notes, “About Philadelphia: A City of Firsts” connects everyday viewers to pivotal moments and institutions that originated in the city. The display underscores how Philadelphia’s innovations in education, medicine, religion, the arts, and civic life helped shape broader American developments.
Located inside Terminal A-East, the exhibit is timed to reach a broad audience of travelers and to complement other civic programs happening in the region. It provides an accessible, informative stop for anyone passing through the airport who wants a quick, well-presented sense of Philadelphia’s legacy of pioneering achievements.