What makes people fall in love with Philadelphia? What makes Philadelphians glow with civic pride? How has this 300-year-old city, founded by Quaker William Penn, evolved from the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed to the city known for cheese steaks and soft pretzels? And what happened in-between?

In the Main Gallery, a giant floor map of Philadelphia instantly engages audiences. On this vivid grid of neighborhoods, routes and rivers, visitors find their personal landmarks and trace the path of thier lives, or those of their ancestors. Our visitors are drawn to step onto the map and be surrounded by an exhibition that captures this rich cityscape with historic objects linked to the map.