Strange Philadelphia: Stories from the City of Brotherly Love

i can't agree more with the other positive review. great stories about some the quirky history of the city. as a Philly native i've heard of some of the things mentioned here, but most all of it is new to me. a great book for any resident (past, present or future) or really for anyone who's ever been here. it's the kind of history they don't teach in school.

A fun collection of vignettes on the strange, weird and obscure of Philadelphia. The tidbits range from early Colonial to the late 1980's. Most of the material covers the century between 1850 and 1950. Facts about famous Philadelphians such as Benjamin Franklin and John Barrymore are included with other characters that have faded into history. As a newcomer to Philly, it was fun to learn the offbeat history of the city. It was fun to learn that a lion once lived on the street I currently live on and how towns in the area got their names. A must for any native, and fun for anyone interested in Philadelphia.