Lauder College House Presents... Penntracks' West Philadelphia Tour! Preview

This National Historic Landmark is a fantastic federal-style mansion
surrounded by a beautiful, botanical garden. The Woodlands is perhaps
most famous for its Victorian cemetery. Here lie many famous Colonial
American and Civil War fellows, as well as members of old Philadelphia
families. Thomas Eakins, Joseph Campbell (of soup fame), and Samuel
Gross are also buried here.

This small neighborhood is on the National Register of Historical Places.
Here you will see Italianate style houses. This distinct architecture became
popular during the 19th century and spread from England to the United
States and Australia. Believe it or not, Penn students live in these beautiful
homes!

In 2003 Green Line Cafe owners transformed a historic but neglected building into a thriving coffeehouse that has been called “West Philly’s Living Room.” They quickly learned people really liked their way of serving organic and fairly-traded coffee and quick bites in a welcoming atmosphere. Since then they've added four more West Philly locations and a location in Center City. In 2021, they created Green Line Coffee Roasters to bring customers unique fairly-traded and organic coffee, roasted micro-batches in a 100% solar powered roasting facility.

Clark Park is one of the great public spaces of West Philadelphia. In the
warm months it hosts community festivals and a weekly farmer’s market. At
the southern end of the park is the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia,
which contains the oldest school of pharmacy in the Western Hemisphere
(founded in 1821). The park boasts the world’s only life-sized statue of
Charles Dickens, a secret community garden, and a fountain that served the
Civil War hospital that was on this site.

This street is an old turnpike that went from Philadelphia to Baltimore
and is one of the major arteries through West Philadelphia. The trolleys
that still run down the street are what made this neighborhood the most
desirable suburb of Philadelphia in the decades after the Civil War
because the streetcars provided easy access to jobs in Center City.

Great restaurants pepper the historic avenue including the popular
Ethopian eatery – Dahlak on 47th Street. If you are more in the mood
for a delicious Vietnamese meal, then you can try Vietnam Cafe which
is practically right next door. In addition, the area boasts Thai, Indian,
Caribbean, and bar food.

The Garden Court neighborhood is on the National Register of
Historic Places, and is one of the most charming residential areas in all
of Philadelphia. The homes on Larchwood and Osage Avenues are
simultaneously suburban and urbane, and they provide attractive city living
for many Penn faculty and staff. The homes were designed in the 1920’s
and were among the first housing developments in Philadelphia to take
into account the family automobile.

Philadelphia Divinity School, now recognizable as St. Andrew’s
Collegiate Chapel, was founded in 1921. The site was the location of
the developer Clarence Clark’s mansion. Clark, after whom Clark Park
is named, developed what is now known as ‘beige block,’ among many
other investments. The original plan for the Divinity School called for a
quadrangle which would have filled the entire square block; however, only
six buildings were completed. The site now houses the Penn Alexander
School and the Parent Infant Center.

Named after the owner’s adorable French bulldog, Lulu Café is another
one of Philly’s local boutique cafes. Stop by and try their authentic
Taiwanese street food and bubble tea as well as other delicious snacks and
drinks. The café also has a mobile shop at 33rd and Market streets.