Queen Village was not always the captivating residential and thriving business area we know it to be today. In 1638, Swedish settlers arrived in the mid-Atlantic area in a place the natives called Wiccaco, which means "pleasant place". Of these settlers, a Swedish family called Sven made their home in an area overlooking the Delaware, present-day Queen Village. Today, the neighborhood occupies several blocks between the Delaware River and Sixth street, bound by South Street from the north and Washington Avenue from the south.
Over three centuries of American history and architecture sets Queen Village apart from other neighborhoods in Philadelphia. These homes cannot be summed up in one style--- it is a mixture of eclectic splendor from enchanting 18th century homes to the Victorians of the 19th century, and the distinctive fashions of the 20th century to the sleek, modern urban influence of the 21st century. Long story short, Queen Village is as versatile as it is charming.
Queen Village is chocked full of history, from being the site of Gloria Dei Church, the oldest church in Pennsylvania, to the Shot Tower, originally a munitions plant during the war of 1812, and now the oldest facility of its kind in America. Historic Fabric Row, situating on south Fourth Street, offers a wide range of textiles which generations of Philadelphians have used to make their curtains, wedding gowns and children's clothes. Philadelphia's first trolley actually ran through Queen Village in 1892! To learn more about this interesting community, visit http://www.qvna.org/.
Make sure you try:
- New Wave Cafe - at 3rd and Catharine - Great Beer on Tap and Awesome Food! I like the Chicken Cheesesteak
- For Pete's Sake - Quaint bar / Restaurant. Gets crowded. Try the country chicken salad!
- Dmitri's - 3rd and Catharine (across from New Wave Cafe) World Class Mediterranean Food!
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