Historic Philadelphia THEN Silk Scarf

ABOUT THE Historic Philadelphia Silk SCARF

Philadelphia has the distinction of being the first American city to be laid out with green space.  Surveyor Thomas Holme’s 1682 plan provided for 5 squares laid out on a grid between the two rivers.  It was a model for urban growth and inspired many would be immigrants to settle there.  This scarf illustrates the evolution of Philadelphia from its original riverside settlement into a dense, gridded metropolis.  The earliest plans laid out orderly streets between the Delaware and Schuylkill, but over time, the city expanded through annexation, industrial growth, and transportation networks. Its foundational layout comes from William Penn’s vision for a “greene country towne,” executed in map form by Surveyor General Thomas Holme in1683. Each map captures a moment in its transformation, from colonial capital to modern city.

ABOUT THE Philadelphia Map Insert

Philadelphia has the distinction of being the first American city to be laid out with green space.  Surveyor Thomas Holme’s 1682 plan provided for 5 squares laid out on a grid between the two rivers.  It was a model for urban growth and inspired many would be immigrants to settle there.  This map insert illustrates the evolution of Philadelphia from its original riverside settlement into a dense, gridded metropolis.  The earliest plans laid out orderly streets between the Delaware and Schuylkill, but over time, the city expanded through annexation, industrial growth, and transportation networks. Its foundational layout comes from William Penn’s vision for a “greene country towne,” executed in map form by Surveyor General Thomas Holme in1683. Each map captures a moment in its transformation, from colonial capital to modern city. This insert will accompany the Philadelphia Silk Scarf and Tote Bags.