A City of U.S. “Firsts” Reclaims Top-Tier Status

Elfreth’s Alley: The oldest residential street in the U.S. Photo by Charles Ridgeway.

Quick Quiz:

What city in the U.S. can claim the first American:

• Public school (1698)
• Residential street (1702)
• Library (1731)
• Independent hospital (1731)
• Fire-fighting company (1736)
• Meetings of the U.S. Congress (1774)
• First university (1779)
• Public Bank (1780)
• Daily Newspaper (1784)
• Stock exchange (1790)
• Circus (1793)
• Manned air flight (1793)
• Art museum and school (1805)
• Carbonated water (1807)
• Theater (1809)
• Natural history museum (1812)
• African American university (1837)
• Advertising agency (1869)
• Zoo (1874)
• Merry-go-round (1867)
• Ice cream soda (1876)
• Cafeteria-style restaurant (1902)
• Funeral home (built as such) (1905)
• Thanksgiving Day parade (1919)
• Totally air conditioned building (1932)
• Cheesesteak (1932)
• Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
• Fully electronic computer invented (1946)
• Slinky (1948)
• Polio vaccine (1960)

Not to mention (though I’m mentioning them anyway): the first U.S. Mint, the first department store, the first botanical garden, the first opera… Continue reading →