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America’s Oldest Residential Street: Elfreth’s Alley, Not Far From Rittenhouse Claridge

June 19, 2014

Jeremiah Elfreth served Philadelphia as a blacksmith in the 18th century. He lived in a neighborhood with other artisans, from furniture craftsmen to glassblowers to silver smiths. Now centuries later, his former stomping grounds have been named for the blacksmith. Elfreth's Alley in Old City, not far from Rittenhouse Claridge, still consists of mostly private homes, and it's the oldest street in America that's been continuously inhabited.

You can learn more about its former inhabitants at the Elfreth's Alley Museum, which resides inside of 124 and 126 Elfreth's Alley. These homes have been repurposed to include artifacts and displays regarding the early Americans who once lived here. Of course, you don't have to visit the museum to get a bit of culture and history. You can simply stroll down the cobblestone street, which is lined with Federal- and Georgian-style homes, as were typical in 18th-century Philadelphia.

Elfreth's Alley
elfrethsalley.org
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