Vision for Historical Philadelphia

Click on image for a PDF of

Vision Framework for the

Historical District

The Independence Historical Trust (‘The Trust’) has partnered with a group of Philadelphia-based organizations (the ‘project partners’) to develop a strategic framework for improving the visitation experience by improving the public realm of historical Philadelphia. This vision framework is predicated on the idea that historical Philadelphia will be more accessible, better connected, and inviting to all who wish to visit. The project partners believe this framework achieves progress toward these goals by:

• Improving pedestrian connections to adjacent neighborhoods;
• Augmenting connectivity to regional bike, transit, and trail networks; and
• Prioritizing pedestrian mobility.

Second Street Pedestrian Plaza

The Trust and our partners hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Second Street Pedestrian Plaza on June 9th, 2026. This space is the first implementation project of the Historical Philadelphia Vision Framework. By enhancing the pedestrian environment on Market Street, this project established a new public space in Old City that activates streets, parks, and commercial corridors in support of community and economic development.

Commerce Connector

Commerce Street is the second Vision Framework project to be undertaken. With a series of connective pathways that originate at the Independence Visitor Center and stretch east, then south towards Carpenters’ Hall, the trail passes several historic and cultural institutions including Christ Church Burial Ground, Commodore Uriah Phillips Levey Park and the Benjamin Franklin Museum. This pathway offers a curated pedestrian route off the beaten path that will be activated by local institutions.

We invite you to the Commerce Connector Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, October 20th at 1am. Press and community members will gather at 4th Street between Market & Arch Streets.

This project is in partnership with Old City District and Old City Green with support from the City of Philadelphia.

Christ Church Burial Ground

The above image is a concept rendering from early in the design process and is not a final rendering.

Nestled at the corner of 5^th and Arch is the historic burial ground of some of our nation’s famous founders, including Benjamin Franklin. Still in the concept phase, this project reimagines a space where visitors can gather 24/7 to visit the final resting place of Franklin with extended sidewalks for safety, seating and wayfinding signage. This project, while not in the original Vision Framework, is one of the projects that came to be after others reviewed the Vision Framework and asked themselves… “What else could be possible when we reimagine the Historical District.”

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Thank you to our Vision Framework Partners:

For more information on the Vision for Historical Philadelphia, please reach out to our Development office at Development@inht.org.