"Built about 1798 by Henry Pratt on the site of Robert Morris' countryseat, "The Hills," this mansion commands a noble view of the Schuylkill and of Fairmount. It was noted for its gardens and greenhouses. For some years after Pratt's death in 1838 it was used as a public garden, before becoming an initial part of Fairmount Park. It has served various purposes, such as the residence of the Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and is now cared for by the Colonial Dames....A conestoga wagon drawn by four horses proceeds to the left in the foreground. Beyond lies the Schuylkill. The other side of the river is dominated by Lemon Hill and its extensive greenhouse."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 308)

"The Courthouse was completed about 1708 and was situated in the middle of Market Street at Second. It stood upon the arches with pillars, the basement being open for market stalls. From its balcony proclamations were read, governors inaugurated, and speeches made. It was also the place where elections were held, served as the town hall, and the seat of the legislature until the State House was built. It was demolished in 1837. (Sharf and Wescott, History of Philadelphia, I, 187.)....The two-and-a-half stofy brick building is shown fronting on Second Street. Behind it extending west on Market Street are market sheds. At far left is a Connestoga wagon. In center right some women inspect a vegetable stand."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 301)

"Incorporated in 1793, the Bank's building was erected on the west side of Second Street above Walnut from designs by Benjamin Latrobe. The bank failed in 1857 and its building was put to other uses before being demolished about 1870....The marble building of classical design with six pillars supporting it sprotico is surrounded by a tall iron fence with small templelike structures at each corner..."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 308)

"This property in West Philadelphia was purchased by the Hamilton family in 1735. The present mansion was built about the time of the Revolution by William Hamilton who filled it with art treasures and improved the grounds with elaborate gardens. In 1840 the property was purchased by the Woodlands Cemetery Company and is still operated as a burial ground. (Thompson Wescott, The Historic Mansions and Buildings of Philadelphia, 423-427.)"

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 306)

"The Swedes of Wilmington, Delaware, completed Holy Trinity, a stone church near Christiana Creek in 1699, and it remains to this day, being virtually the only monument to the Swedish colony in that vicinity."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 305)

"The first bridge over the Schuylkill at Market Street, Philadelphia, was built by a company incorporated for the purpose, and was opened on January 1, 1805. It had a wagonway in the center and foot paths on either side. A roof was added a year later. The bridge was widened in 1850-51 to carry the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad. On November 20, 1875, the bridge was destroyed by fire caused by a leaky gas main which was being laid on it. (Joseph Jackson, Encyclopedia of Philadelphia, III, 872)....The three-span bridge lies in the background. Two cargo barges are on the river. In the right foreground, fishermen bring shad ashore. To the left are several groups of people and two cavalrymen gallopin away....Barralet painted this view in payment for $150 rent he owed Josepg Ogden on a property occupied by the artist at Vine and Schton Streets."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 291)

"The Church was built on the west side of Second Street, just north of Market, between 1727 and 1744, replacing an earlier structure. Its steeple was added in the 1750's. Historically, this is the most important of Philadelphia's old churches....Christ Church with its tower and spire occupy the center of the picture with roes of buildings to left and right. The east end of the Courthouse in Market Street is seen at the far left."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 302)

"Also called 'A Civic Procession,' this is evidently the painting exhibited under that name at the Pennsylvania Academy in 1856 by James Vansyckle, its then owner....The vendor with his tray of pastries, dressed ina white coat and tall black hat, is in the foreground, surrounded by boys. In the background is the old City Hall at the corner of Fifth and Chestnut, while up Chestnut prodeeds a parade led by a band."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 307)

"According to tradition, William Penn conducted his great treaty of friendship with the Indians in 1682 under the branches of a mighty elm which stood on the bank of the Delaware at Shackamaxon (later Kensington). When the tree was blown down on the night of March 5/6, 1810, it was found to have a circumference near the ground of twenty-four feet and was estimated to be 280 years old. In 1827, the Penn society erected a monument upon the site of the elm, at Treaty Park, East Columbia Avenue and beach Street. (Jackson, Encyclopedia of Philadelphia, IV, 1143-1144; Scharf and Westcot, History of Philadelphia, I, 104-107.)"

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 293)

"The single-span bridge across the Schuylkill at Spring Garden Street near Fairmount was designed by Lewis Wernwag for a company incorporated in 1811 and principally owned by Jacob Ridgway. It was completed in January, 1813, and, 366 feet long, was believed to be the longest single-span bridge in the world. It was destroyed by fire on September 1, 1838....The bridge is seen arching the river below Fairmount at the right. IN foreground at left a Conestoga wagon approaches the bridge. Harding inn is seen on the far side of the river."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 294)

"Philadelphia's first public water supply system was planned by Benjamin Henry Latrobe. Water was raised from the Schuylkill and sent by gravity through an aqueduct under Chestnut Street to a central engine house at Center Square (site of City Hall). There it was pumped to an upper story to provide pressure for its distribution. The system operated with difficulties from 1800 until 1815, when it was replaced by the Fairmount Works. (Jackson, Encyclopedia of Philadelphia, IV, 1173-1174.)

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 311)

"Elections in Philadelphia were held at the Court House, Market and Second Streets, and later at the State House (Independence Hall), the votes being handed in the windows."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 298)

"Center Square, now Penn Square, the site of Philadelphia's City Hall, was for many years a popular place of rendezvous for pleasure seekers, and for holding celebrations."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 299)

"This primitive painting shows two house-drawn streetcars with signs "Centennial Grounds" and "Fairmount Park." Both cars are jammed with men, many on the roofs. The cars belong to the Chestnut and Walnut Street Line which employed the artist as a sign painter."

(Wainwright, Nicholas B., compiler. Paintings and Miniatures at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1974; 296-7)