Treasure
Philly!
Philadelphia is a city rich in history. It is full of dynamic stories and traditions that we can celebrate and pass on to the future through preservation.
These stories and traditions are examples of cultural resources. Cultural resources are woven into the everyday fabric of our community. They reveal themselves through cherished traditions. They imprint themselves on the spaces we gather to celebrate and mourn, to honor and protest. They tell of experiences shared throughout our neighborhoods. They provide context for the communities in which we live today.
Treasure Philly! is a first-of-its-kind effort to preserve cultural resources in Philadelphia. Treasure Philly! will explore new ways to identify and record these resources. The Philadelphia Historical Commission wants to bring to light the many histories of Philadelphia that were previously overlooked. Treasure Philly! is a test to find new ways to improve the Philadelphia Historical Commission's ways of documenting, designating, and protecting our city's history.
Treasure Philly! launched in the neighborhoods surrounding the Broad Street, Germantown Avenue, and Erie Avenue intersection in Summer 2023. In Fall 2025, Treasure Philly! is expanding to engage new neighborhoods, including Frankford.
History Happens Here
Join us
Please join Treasure Philly! and the Historical Society of Frankford for two exciting October events:
Historical Society of Frankford Open House
1507 Orthodox Street
Saturday, October 4th, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Share in neighborhood history and connect with Treasure Philly! partners Frankford CDC, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and the Free Library of Philadelphia.
The event will feature tours of the Historical Society's museum and highlight some of its rich collections of photographs, maps, and ephemera. Photographer Joseph V. Labolito (@philadelphiacollections) will present his 1982 photographs of Frankford Avenue.
Walking Tour: Frankford Churches
Meet at 1507 Orthodox Street
Saturday, October 18th, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Visit historic churches that are not listed in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places during this tour led by the Historical Society of Frankford.
Rain date: October 25th.
philly culture
What neighborhood stories are important to you?
We want to know about the neighborhood histories and traditions you value.
A cultural resource can be anything: a place or an experience of community, history, or culture.
A cultural resource can be a building, a park, or a store. It can be a parade route, or a restaurant where everyone goes to celebrate big life events. It can even be something that is not associated with a specific place, like a ghost story or locally made handicraft.
To tell us about a resource in your neighborhood, you can fill out our survey form, or send us an email!
If you have time, we'd love to meet you for a walk around your neighborhood to hear about what makes this place special to you.