New Philadelphia History Highlight’s Former NYC Rival

Philadelphia was one New York City‘s of the most important economic and cultural rivals in Early America.

Philadelphia: A Narrative History (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2024) by Paul Kahan is a comprehensive history of Philadelphia from the region’s original Lenape inhabitants to the myriad of residents in the twenty-first century that underpins that relationship for those interested in New York history.

Philadelphia is more famous for its colonial and revolutionary buildings and artifacts, which draw tourists from far and wide to gain a better understanding of the nation’s founding.

Philadelphians, too, value these same buildings and artifacts for the stories they tell about their city. But Philadelphia existed long before the Liberty Bell was first rung, and its history extends well beyond the American Revolution. Until New York City’s ascension (thanks to the Erie Canal), Philadelphia was America’s largest port
from the mid-1700s.

Paul Kahan’s narrative history presents a comprehensive portrait of the of the city itself, beginning with the region’s original Lenape inhabitants. It’s the first new comprehensive history of the city in some 40 years.

As any history of Philadelphia should, this book chronicles the people and places that make the city unique: from Independence Hall to Eastern State Penitentiary, Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross to Cecil B. Moore and Cherelle Parker.

Kahan also shows us how Philadelphia has always been defined by ethnic, religious, and racial diversity ― from the seventeenth century, when Dutch, Swedes, and Lenapes lived side by side along the Delaware River; to the nineteenth century, when the city was home to a vibrant community of free Black and formerly enslaved people; to the twentieth century, when it attracted immigrants from around the world.

This diversity, however, often resulted in conflict, especially over access to public spaces. Those two themes ― diversity and conflict ― have shaped Philadelphia’s development and remain visible in the city’s culture, society, and even its geography. Understanding Philadelphia’s past, Kahan says, is key to envisioning future possibilities for the City of Brotherly Love.

Kahan was recently interviewed by Liz Covart on her Ben Franklin’s World podcast. You can listen to that here.

Read more of New York Almanack‘s unique coverage of Philadelphia.