Franklin Field, Philadelphia
Franklin Field, an iconic American sports stadium, holds a prominent place in Philadelphia, situated at the eastern edge of the University of Pennsylvania's campus. This historic venue serves multiple purposes, primarily as the home stadium for the Penn Relays, a renowned track and field event. It is also the primary facility for the University of Pennsylvania's football, track and field, lacrosse teams, and in the past, it accommodated soccer, field hockey, and baseball.
Beyond its use for intercollegiate athletics, Franklin Field is a hub of student activity, facilitating recreational sports, intramural, and club sports, including touch football and cricket. It also has the distinction of being the chosen location for the University's graduation ceremonies, weather permitting.
Franklin Field's historical significance is further highlighted by its recognition by the NCAA as the oldest stadium still in operation for football in the United States. Its pioneering features include being the first U.S. stadium with an upper deck of seats and a scoreboard. In 1922, it achieved another first: the site of the initial radio broadcast of a football game on WIP, and also the venue for the first television broadcast of a football game by Philco.
From 1958 to 1970, Franklin Field expanded its legacy in professional sports by serving as the home field for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League.
Moreover, the stadium is etched in political history as well. It was here in 1936 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a significant speech, accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for a second term as president. This event drew an impressive crowd of around 100,000 people, who braved intermittent rain to hear FDR's address at Franklin Field.
Beyond its use for intercollegiate athletics, Franklin Field is a hub of student activity, facilitating recreational sports, intramural, and club sports, including touch football and cricket. It also has the distinction of being the chosen location for the University's graduation ceremonies, weather permitting.
Franklin Field's historical significance is further highlighted by its recognition by the NCAA as the oldest stadium still in operation for football in the United States. Its pioneering features include being the first U.S. stadium with an upper deck of seats and a scoreboard. In 1922, it achieved another first: the site of the initial radio broadcast of a football game on WIP, and also the venue for the first television broadcast of a football game by Philco.
From 1958 to 1970, Franklin Field expanded its legacy in professional sports by serving as the home field for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League.
Moreover, the stadium is etched in political history as well. It was here in 1936 that President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered a significant speech, accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for a second term as president. This event drew an impressive crowd of around 100,000 people, who braved intermittent rain to hear FDR's address at Franklin Field.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Philadelphia. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51±¬ÁÏÍø: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Franklin Field on Map
Sight Name: Franklin Field
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Philadelphia, USA (See walking tours in Philadelphia)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Create Your Own Walk in Philadelphia
Creating your own self-guided walk in Philadelphia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Franklin Parkway Walking Tour
Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a scenic boulevard running through the cultural heart of Philadelphia. Named for America's Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, this mile-long tree-lined parkway is lined with several notable sights and world-class museums.
At its heart lies Logan Circle, a charming green space centered around a picturesque fountain. This spot can provide a refreshing break on... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
At its heart lies Logan Circle, a charming green space centered around a picturesque fountain. This spot can provide a refreshing break on... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Fairmount Park Historical Houses Walking Tour
Fairmount Park, Philadelphia's oldest park, established since 1867, is also the city's largest municipal park, sprawling over 2,000 acres adjacent to the banks of the Schuylkill River. The park grew out of the Lemon Hill estate of Henry Pratt, whose land was originally owned by Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
In 1972, the park was placed on the National... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
In 1972, the park was placed on the National... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.7 Km or 2.9 Miles
Benjamin Franklin's Philadelphia
Benjamin Franklin's journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in Revolutionary America began when he, as a teenager, ventured from a Puritan family in Boston to Philadelphia. This city would not only become his home but also a stage for his remarkable life as a writer, printer, philosopher, postmaster, scientist, inventor, statesman, and diplomat. His life epitomizes the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Philadelphia Introduction Walking Tour
The sixth largest city in the United States and the largest in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia is a dynamic city heaped with old-world charm and contemporary infrastructure. Notable for its rich history, primarily as the birthplace of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
Often called Philly, Philadelphia is also known as the City of Brotherly Love – a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Often called Philly, Philadelphia is also known as the City of Brotherly Love – a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour
King Charles II of England, while seriously indebted to Admiral Sir William Penn, settled his debt in 1681 by granting lands in America to William Penn, the Admiral's Quaker son. A thorn in the King's side, young Penn sailed to America, where he envisioned a utopian society based on tolerance and founded Philadelphia, the "City of Brotherly Love."
The Old City Center, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
The Old City Center, the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles
University of Pennsylvania Walking Tour
As America's first university, The University of Pennsylvania (aka Penn or Upenn, for short) has a history stretching back to the mid-18th century, closely bound with the city's colonial past and the birth of the United States. Initially, this Ivy League institution emerged as the College of Philadelphia, one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the US Declaration of... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Philadelphia Souvenirs: 13 Unique Gift Ideas from the City of Brotherly Love
Looking for a great gift while visiting Philadelphia? Famous for its history, arts and culture, championship sports teams, and award-winning food and drink, Philadelphia is a top-rated shopping destination. Here, you'll find an amazing selection of items to choose from - something uniquely...