Society Hill is where America’s past meets the future, where in one square mile a great experiment in liberty was launched. This part of William Penn’s 17th-century “greene Country Towne” was owned by the Free Society of Traders, a London development company. Because the company’s flag flew on the high ground above Dock Creek, the surrounding area became known as “the Society’s Hill.”

Society Hill also occupies an extraordinary place in the history of architecture, urban planning, development, culture, commerce, and religion. The streets and blocks reveal the perseverance and practicality of Penn’s plan of a grid and square for the city – a plan already modified by events before 1700, yet still adaptable to mid-20th century planning concepts and goals. Within this context stands a broad spectrum of architectural styles, ranging from modest Colonial dwellings through elegant Georgian, Federal, and Greek Revival houses to modern high-rises.

At the time of the American Revolution, Society Hill was one of the most desirable residential sections of the prosperous city, however, the neighborhood began to decline. By the mid-20th century it had become a mix of neglected 18th- and 19th-century houses interspersed with factories and warehouses. The rebirth of Society Hill began in the 1950s and became a national model for neighborhood renewal. Many Philadelphians, including elected officials, public administrators, and private citizens, contributed to the restoration of historic buildings that tell the story of an earlier society while adapting to contemporary needs.