5 Weird Facts About Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, is renowned for its rich history, iconic landmarks, and vibrant culture. However, beneath the surface of this historical gem lie some truly peculiar and lesser-known facts. Here are five of the weirdest things about Philadelphia that might just surprise you.

Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell is one of the most famous symbols of American independence. However, its iconic crack has inspired various theories and legends. The most curious part? The bell’s exact cracking event is shrouded in mystery. It’s widely believed that the crack occurred in 1846, but no one is sure if it happened during a ringing ceremony or from a test ring. What’s even weirder is that the crack you see today isn’t the original but rather a larger one that appeared later. For years, the Liberty Bell’s crack was considered a minor issue until it became a symbol of resilience and freedom.

If you're a conspiracy theorist, like me, you're going to LOVE this one...

Philadelphia is home to one of the most intriguing urban legends in American history: The Philadelphia Experiment. According to the myth, in 1943, the U.S. Navy conducted a secret experiment in Philadelphia Harbor to make the USS Eldridge invisible to enemy radar. The experiment allegedly went horribly wrong, causing the ship to teleport and leading to various bizarre effects on the crew. Although this story is purely fictional and based on hoaxes, it has inspired numerous books, movies, and conspiracy theories, embedding Philadelphia in a layer of sci-fi mystique.

Every New Year’s Day, Philadelphia hosts the Mummers Parade, a quirky and colorful event featuring elaborate costumes, string bands, and comic performances. What makes this parade particularly odd is its long-standing tradition of extravagant and sometimes bizarre costumes. Participants often dress up in over-the-top outfits with intricate designs, feathered hats, and glittering sequins. The parade is a local institution with roots dating back to the 17th century, but the modern iteration is as eccentric and entertaining as ever.

In Philadelphia, you’ll find a peculiar landmark: a full-scale replica of the Liberty Bell. It stands in a small park across from the original Liberty Bell Center. This replica, while not as famous as the original, serves as a unique oddity. It’s not just a copy but a deliberate attempt to create a working bell with the same dimensions and features as its predecessor. The replica is a reminder of the city's dedication to preserving its history, even if it does add a layer of curious duplication to the historical narrative.

Philadelphia is home to a network of underground tunnels and hidden passages that are largely unknown to the general public. Some of these subterranean routes were used in the 19th and early 20th centuries for various purposes, including smuggling and secret meetings. Notably, the city’s old trolley lines and former speakeasies left behind a labyrinth of hidden corridors. While many of these passages have been sealed or forgotten, urban explorers and local historians sometimes uncover fascinating pieces of Philadelphia’s underground legacy. I would like to note that I am not endorsing any excursions into the underground land of Philadelphia!

Whether you’re a history buff or just someone who enjoys the unusual, Philadelphia’s quirks and curiosities make it a fascinating place to explore any time of year.

It's high time we reminded you of one of Philadelphia's most notable sports curses—the Curse of Billy Penn.

"What? You mean the little guy at the top of city hall?" Yes. "How'd he curse our sports teams?" Well, invisible reader, I'm glad you asked.

With Philly sports teams doing well, but not being able to complete the job in 2022 (and a bit of 2023), it sends shivers down my spine, forcing me to remember back to the days when the curse was in effect on the city of Philadelphia.

"But, how does the English writer, religious thinker, and influential Quaker who founded the Province of Pennsylvania during the British colonial era play into all of this? He died in 1718. Did his ghost haunt us? Are you crazy?"

Aren't we all a little crazy in this city? I promise I'll break it down. Just keep this curse in the back of your mind when you start seeing things go awry in the sports realm. Puzzle pieces will fall into place. Third eyes will open. Trust me, it's something all teachers should teach Philadelphian children. ( ̶Y̶o̶u̶ ̶h̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶m̶e̶,̶ ̶S̶c̶h̶o̶o̶l̶ ̶D̶i̶s̶t̶r̶i̶c̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶P̶h̶i̶l̶a̶d̶e̶l̶p̶h̶i̶a̶?̶)

There used to be an ordinance. A gentleman's agreement, if you will. It dates back to the late 1800s when City Hall as we know it was constructed. No building could be taller than the tip of Billy Penn's hat. Building heights were determined by a bronze statue on 5th and Chestnut streets. Does it sound a little silly? Sure. But it was the old days, back when there weren't the resources to construct skyscrapers. They couldn't see the future!

The oldest franchise in Philadelphia history is the Philadelphia Phillies. They were founded in 1883. The Philadelphia Eagles were founded in 1933. The Sixers were founded in 1946. The Flyers, the Little Brother franchise, were founded in 1967 (such babies, right?).

Philadelphia teams have always been formidable opponents. The Phillies won NL Pennants in 1915, 1950, 1980, and 1983. They won the World Series in 1980. The Eagles won championships in 1948, 1949, and 1960. The Sixers won championships in 1955, 1967, and most recently 1983. The Flyers won the Stanley Cup in 1974 and 1975.
Teams also had multiple playoff and championship appearances. Everything, prior to the MID-80s, went pretty well for Philly sports. Then, beginning in 1985, something changed.

In comes the snake in the grass. The 61-story, 945-foot ne'er-do-well. The skyscraper, One Liberty Place, stands 397 feet above Billy Penn. Construction on One Liberty Place began in 1985, two years after the last championship season in Philadelphia. That fateful decision. The decision to break a promise. The decision to give ol' Billy a Napoleon Complex. Well, it changed things.

We endured years of failures. Over 20 years of losses and heartbreaks in sports. Philadelphia's franchises began a pattern of failures to win a SINGLE world championship. The Flyers lost the Stanley Cup Finals twice, in 1987, two months after One Liberty Place opened. And in 1997, in a four-game sweep by the Detroit Red Wings. The Phillies upset the Atlanta Braves to win the NLCS, but then lost the 1993 World Series. The 76ers lost the 2001 NBA Finals despite the Sixers having league MVP Allen Iverson. The Eagles lost three straight NFC Championship games from the 2001 through 2003 seasons, before reaching Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season, only to lose by three points.

During the Curse of Billy Penn, Philadelphia sports fans were also infamous for rude and unsportsmanlike behavior. But heck, we were frustrated.

A practice during the Curse years became dressing Billy Penn up in the team's colors and hats. The city thought, "Hey, let's make even more of a mockery of this historical figure by dressing him in funny hats!" It was well-intentioned. They figured, well, maybe he's cold up there! Maybe he'll be nice to our teams if we force him to get into the spirit. It was more of a celebratory thing. But, it was in vain.

On June 18, 2007, ironworkers raised the final beam in the construction of the Comcast Center at 17th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard in Center City Philadelphia. Two really smart workers, John Joyce and Dan Ginion, had a big-brain idea. They were aware of the curse. They wanted the curse to end. So, the two of them attached a small figurine of William Penn to the beam, along with the traditional American flag and a small evergreen tree. Would Billy Penn be happy, now that he was at the tallest point in Philadelphia again? Would he reward us with success?

The Phillies won. And then won. And then won it all. In 2008, just a over year after mini Billy was placed atop the Comcast Center, the Philadelphia Phillies won the 2008 World Series at home. An ad that aired, congratulating the team during the parade, featured a shot of little Penn, looking over the city. Coincidence? Let's see.

On November 27, 2017, they "topped out" the new tallest building in Philadelphia, the Comcast Technology Center. Smart ironworkers once again placed a new Billy Penn figurine on top of the building's highest beam. Then, months later on February 4, 2018, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, winning their first Super Bowl in team history. Their first championship since 1960.

But, here's the thing. As a Philadelphia sports fan, still suffering from a mild case of sports-PTSD from 2022-23 BIG losses, I think we oughta check on Billy. You good up there little guy? Last year was an atrocity. Heartbreaking loss after heartbreaking loss. We need that to end. We need good juju.

So, this is my open plea. Can someone please take a look at Billy Penn on top of the Comcast Technology Center? Is he okay? Does he need anything? We want him well. Let's win another big one.

And to the spirit of Billy Penn, if you're reading this, please don't curse us again. We love you. You are wonderful. You are tall. You are going to help us win.