Do you remember what Philadelphia in the 1950s & 60s was like?
We have 20+ vintage scenes in and around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from more than 50 years ago — all of which are representative of this transformative era in American history that impacted the entire country.
From new high rise buildings in the city center and a rapidly expanding freeway system to peaceful scenes of the growing suburbs, these photos offer a nostalgic glimpse into a charmingly idealized Philadelphia in the 1950s and 60s.
Philadelphia in the 1950s: Downtown construction and buildings in 1959
Philadelphia highways in 1965
Philadelphia Museum of Art (1965)
The Franklin Institute (1965)
Philadelphia Electric headquarters (1965)
Society Hill in Philadelphia (1965)
New buildings in Philadelphia in 1965
Downtown Philadelphia – The city in 1966
Philadelphia’s waterfront on the Delaware River (1968)
Old Philadelphia city center landmarks with floodlights (1968)
Greater Philadelphia… a great place to raise your family (1962)
Greater Philadelphia has everything a family needs for a happy, healthy, well-rounded life.
Evidence of this is the great number of owner-occupied homes here. This means a steady, reliable workforce with an above-average interest in their community and careers — one of the most important reasons Greater Philadelphia is the nation’s leading industrial center.
Add a huge port, a far-reaching land and air transportation network, ready access to raw materials and markets. abundant electricity and the conclusion is obvious: Greater Philadelphia is not only a great place to raise a family, but an ideal location for business or industry.
A quiet street of homes in the Philadelphia suburbs
Open-air concerts in Philadelphia
Schools in the Philadelphia area
Playing ball in a beautiful park with the Philly skyline behind
ALSO SEE: Homemade scrapple recipe & about this meaty Pennsylvania treat
Modern hospitals in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Electric Company: An Investor-Owned Company with more than 100,000 Stockholders — Serving the world’s greatest Industrial area, Delaware Valley.
Prosperous Greater Philadelphia in the 1950s – 1957
Business transportation in Greater Philadelphia – 1957
Downtown Penn Center in Philadelphia Pennsylvania (1957)
Industry thrives in Greater Philadelphia – 1955
Shipping via Philadelphia’s “ocean highway” 1952
Philadelphia Society Hill home restorations in 1959
Philadelphia shops/mall in 1965
One Response
Wanamaker’s
Bonwits
Gimbels (with Saks in the rear)
Sun Oil Company
Helen Segal’s Restaurant
Pennsylvania Raiilroad Suburban Station
Terrelos
And, most especially, living on Locust Street off Rittenhouse Square
Ahh, yes, I remember it well