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Broad Street (Philadelphia)
Encyclopedia
Broad Street is a major arterial street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, and is nearly 13 miles long.
It is Pennsylvania Route 611
along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309
(Cheltenham Avenue) and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95
. The north–south street lies between 13th Street and 15th Street, in lieu of 14th Street. It is interrupted at the block containing Philadelphia City Hall
, which stands where Broad and Market Street
would intersect in the center of Center City; Broad meets Market as a pedestrian path at the center of the City Hall block.
SEPTA's Broad Street Line
subway, which served about 110,000 riders per day in 2007, runs beneath Broad for most of its length. Distinguished by its orange cars, the subway starts in the Fern Rock
neighborhood and extends through Center City to Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia
.
, where it is home to art galleries, the Academy of Music
, and the Kimmel Center.
The South Philadelphia Sports Complex
, near Broad's south end, is the site of Citizens Bank Park
, Lincoln Financial Field
, and the Wells Fargo Center. Defunct sports facilities JFK Stadium
, The Spectrum, and Veterans Stadium
were located in this area. As a result, the Philadelphia Flyers
are nicknamed the "Broad Street Bullies." Broad Street often serves as the main parade route for Philadelphia sports championship parades; in the most recent, for the Phillies
2008 World Series
victory, an estimated 2 million people lined Broad Street. The largest gathering for a championship parade was for the Flyers in .
South of the sports complex and interchanges with the Schuylkill Expressway
(Interstate 76) and Interstate 95
, Broad Street has its southern terminus in the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
.
The offices for The Philadelphia Inquirer
and Philadelphia Daily News
newspapers are on Broad Street just north of City Hall. Also located on North Broad at its intersection with Fairmount Street is the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel
. Farther north, Broad passes through the campus of Temple University
.
One of the busiest streets in the country, Broad Street is shut down for the annual 10 miles (16.1 km) Broad Street Run
. Additionally, the section of Broad Street from near Oregon Avenue (Marconi Plaza
) to City Hall
, in South Philadelphia
and Center City, is the traditional location of the Mummers Parade
on January 1.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, and is nearly 13 miles long.
It is Pennsylvania Route 611
Pennsylvania Route 611
Pennsylvania Route 611 is a major state highway in Pennsylvania, United States, running from Interstate 95 south of downtown Philadelphia north to Interstate 380 in Coolbaugh Township, Pennsylvania in The Poconos....
along its entire length with the exception of its northernmost part between Old York Road and Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309
Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North...
(Cheltenham Avenue) and the southernmost part south of Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Pennsylvania
Interstate 95 is an Interstate highway running from Miami, Florida north to Houlton, Maine. In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the route is known by many as the Delaware Expressway, but is officially named The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway. and locally known as "95"...
. The north–south street lies between 13th Street and 15th Street, in lieu of 14th Street. It is interrupted at the block containing Philadelphia City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall is the house of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At , including the statue, it is the world's second-tallest masonry building, only shorter than Mole Antonelliana in Turin...
, which stands where Broad and Market Street
Market Street (Philadelphia)
Market Street, originally known as High Street, is a major east–west street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the majority of its length, it serves as Pennsylvania Route 3....
would intersect in the center of Center City; Broad meets Market as a pedestrian path at the center of the City Hall block.
SEPTA's Broad Street Line
Broad Street Line
The Broad Street Line is a rapid transit line operated by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority that runs from Fern Rock Transportation Center in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia...
subway, which served about 110,000 riders per day in 2007, runs beneath Broad for most of its length. Distinguished by its orange cars, the subway starts in the Fern Rock
Fern Rock, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
thumb|Fern Rock Transportation CenterFern Rock is a neighborhood in the upper North Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bounded by Olney to the east, Ogontz to the west, Logan to south, and East Oak Lane to the north. It is approximately situated between Broad Street, Tabor Road, 7th...
neighborhood and extends through Center City to Pattison Avenue in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
.
Cultural landmarks
Broad Street is home to several Philadelphia cultural landmarks. Between Spruce and Market Streets, it is called the Avenue of the ArtsAvenue of the Arts, Philadelphia
The Avenue of the Arts is a segment of Broad Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that includes many of the city's cultural institutions, most notably the theater district south of City Hall....
, where it is home to art galleries, the Academy of Music
Academy of Music (Philadelphia)
The Academy of Music, also known as American Academy of Music, is a concert hall and opera house located at Broad and Locust Streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1857 and is the oldest opera house in the United States that is still used for its original purpose...
, and the Kimmel Center.
The South Philadelphia Sports Complex
South Philadelphia Sports Complex
The South Philadelphia Sports Complex is the current home of Philadelphia's professional sports teams. It is the site of the Wells Fargo Center, Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park...
, near Broad's south end, is the site of Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
, Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field
Lincoln Financial Field is the home stadium of the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles. It has a seating capacity of 68,532 . It is located in South Philadelphia on Pattison Avenue between 11th and 10th streets, also aside I-95 as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
, and the Wells Fargo Center. Defunct sports facilities JFK Stadium
John F. Kennedy Stadium
John F. Kennedy Stadium was an open-air stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that stood from 1925 to 1992. The South Philadelphia stadium was situated on the east side of the far southern end of Broad Street at a location that is now part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
, The Spectrum, and Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
were located in this area. As a result, the Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
are nicknamed the "Broad Street Bullies." Broad Street often serves as the main parade route for Philadelphia sports championship parades; in the most recent, for the Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
2008 World Series
2008 World Series
The 2008 World Series was the 104th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as champions of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays, as American League champions, competed to win four games out of a possible...
victory, an estimated 2 million people lined Broad Street. The largest gathering for a championship parade was for the Flyers in .
South of the sports complex and interchanges with the Schuylkill Expressway
Schuylkill Expressway
The Schuylkill Expressway , locally known as the Schuylkill, is a freeway through southwestern Montgomery County and the city of Philadelphia, and the easternmost segment of Interstate 76 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
(Interstate 76) and Interstate 95
Interstate 95
Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
, Broad Street has its southern terminus in the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
The Philadelphia Naval Business Center, formerly known as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and Philadelphia Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. The U.S. Navy reduced its activities there in the 1990s, and ended most of them on September 30, 1995...
.
The offices for The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
and Philadelphia Daily News
Philadelphia Daily News
The Philadelphia Daily News is a tabloid newspaper that serves Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The newspaper is owned by Philadelphia Media Holdings which also owns Philadelphia's other major newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Daily News began publishing on March 31, 1925, under...
newspapers are on Broad Street just north of City Hall. Also located on North Broad at its intersection with Fairmount Street is the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel
Divine Lorraine Hotel
The Divine Lorraine Hotel, also known as the Lorraine Apartments, stands at the corner of Broad and Fairmount Streets in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Designed by architect Willis G. Hale and built between 1892 and 1894, the building originally functioned as apartments, housing some of...
. Farther north, Broad passes through the campus of Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
.
One of the busiest streets in the country, Broad Street is shut down for the annual 10 miles (16.1 km) Broad Street Run
Broad Street Run
The Blue Cross Broad Street Run, held in Philadelphia on the first Sunday in May since 1980, is one of the largest ten-mile road races in the United States.-Course:...
. Additionally, the section of Broad Street from near Oregon Avenue (Marconi Plaza
Marconi Plaza, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Marconi Plaza is a neighborhood located in South Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.An Italian-American enclave, Marconi Plaza has two main halves, East and West, which are divided in the middle by Broad Street. It is located at the most southern end of the city and within the northern...
) to City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall
Philadelphia City Hall is the house of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At , including the statue, it is the world's second-tallest masonry building, only shorter than Mole Antonelliana in Turin...
, in South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia
South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south, and the Schuylkill River to the west.-History:...
and Center City, is the traditional location of the Mummers Parade
Mummers Parade
The Mummers Parade is held each New Year's Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Local clubs compete in one of four categories . They prepare elaborate costumes and moveable scenery, which take months to complete...
on January 1.
Other names
- "Avenue of the Arts" (from Locust Street to Washington Avenue). This section of Broad Street includes many prominent theater and concert halls, including the Academy of Music, Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Merriam Theater, Wilma Theater, University of the Arts Gershman Hall, and Suzanne Roberts Theater. The street has "AA" lights all along the way, which is the abbreviation for Avenue of the Arts.
- Avenue of the States: from Washington Avenue to Oregon Avenue. Along this section of Broad Street fly the flags of all 50 states in the US.
- C. A. Tindley Boulevard: from South Street to Washington Avenue. This was dedicated to the late Charles A. Tindley, the father of gospel musicGospel musicGospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
. Tindley Temple United Methodist Church was his home, at the corner of Broad and Fitzwater Streets.
- Georgie Woods Boulevard: from Norris Street to approximately Cumberland Street.
Major intersections
- Pennsylvania Route 309Pennsylvania Route 309Pennsylvania Route 309 is a major highway which runs for 134 miles through Pennsylvania in the United States. It connects Philadelphia and its northern suburbs to Allentown, Hazleton, and Wilkes-Barre. A limited-access highway portion of PA 309 in the Wilkes-Barre area is known as the North...
- Roosevelt BoulevardRoosevelt Boulevard (Philadelphia)Roosevelt Boulevard , often referred to simply as "the Boulevard," is a major traffic artery through North and Northeast Philadelphia...
- Vine Street Expressway
- Market StreetMarket Street (Philadelphia)Market Street, originally known as High Street, is a major east–west street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For the majority of its length, it serves as Pennsylvania Route 3....
- Chestnut StreetChestnut Street (Philadelphia)Chestnut Street is a major historic street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Originally named Wynne Street because Thomas Wynne's home was there. William Penn renamed it Chestnut Street in 1684. It runs east–west from the Delaware River waterfront in downtown Philadelphia through Center City and West...
- South StreetSouth Street (Philadelphia)South Street is an east-west street forming the southern border of the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the northern border for the neighborhoods of South Philadelphia. The stretch of South Street between Front Street and Seventh Street is known for its "bohemian"...
- Schuylkill ExpresswaySchuylkill ExpresswayThe Schuylkill Expressway , locally known as the Schuylkill, is a freeway through southwestern Montgomery County and the city of Philadelphia, and the easternmost segment of Interstate 76 in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
- Interstate 95Interstate 95Interstate 95 is the main highway on the East Coast of the United States, running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to Florida and serving some of the most populated urban areas in the country, including Boston, Providence, New Haven, New York City, Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore,...
See also
- Broad Street Historic District (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)