Which U.S. city has the most historical significance? (Boston, Philadelphia, or Other) (state, better)

[Philly7615]

Both cities had a important role in the early stages of American history. Which city do you believe played a larger role in making America and why?

If you picked other, feel free to state your case for the other city you chose.

Examples of topics for debate:

-Historical events

-Culture

-Economy

-Inventions and Innovations

-Any other topics welcome

[BTA88]

This poll seems a little narrow to me. Strong cases can be made for New York and San Francisco as well.

[tmac9wr]

San Francisco? I don't know how well SF stacks up against the Northeastern cities...

I'd say this is mainly between Boston & Philadelphia--at least in terms of early/pre-USA--with Boston being more important prior to the revolution and Philadelphia playing a stronger role afterwards. However there's tons of cities with rich histories both in the eastern & western parts of the nation, with the Eastern part obviously having a huge edge in American history.

[pgm123]

I'd be more interested in a poll to pick #3. I've already given all my arguments for Philadelphia in another thread. You can really pick either and be right. I predict that for most people, the tie-breaker will be their opinions of the city and have nothing to do with history.

[2e1m5a]

In some ways you could say Boston was the brawn, Philadelphia was the brain.

[Antdawg1]

Originally Posted by BTA88

This poll seems a little narrow to me. Strong cases can be made for New York and San Francisco as well.

I disagree with this. Philadelphia is the birthplace of this country,SF and NY cannot compete with philly in terms of american history I'm sorry they just cant. Say what you will about the negatives of Philly but in american history every other city in this country (except for Boston which is just behind Philly) should bow down and kiss the ring of Philly. LOL I said kiss the ring, I know I'm crazy.

Some of Philly's credentials:-Liberty Bell

-Independence Hall

-Original capital of the U.S./ First U.S. Congress

-Country was founded here (signing of the Declaration of Independence and National Constitution happened here)

-Largest collection of colonial housing in the U.S. in Society Hill in Center City, Philadelphia

-First U.S. Flag made here

-Battles during the American Revolution fought here

-First public school in America here

-First U.S. Hospital, Pennsylvania Hospital (still in operation today)

-First Science Institute

-First Lightning Rod used here

-Electricity discovered here

-First School of Anatomy

-First Medical School

-First Theater

-Life Insurance Started here

-First Slavery Protests here

-First Public U.S. Bank

-Second Public U.S. Bank

-First Stock Exchange

-First Daily Newspaper published here

-First Medical Relief to the poor here

-First Steam Vessel moved here on the Delaware River

-First Law School in the U.S.

-First Carpet Factory Here

-First Turnpike here

-First U.S. Mint here (still in operation today)

-First water company and water sent through pipes here

-First Ink Printing here

-First Carbonated Water here

-First Insurance Company here

-First Savings Fund Society

-First Lithograph in the U.S.

-First College of Pharmacy

-First Successful Woman's Magazine

-Many first Locomotives tested here

-First gas pipes in the country laid here

-First Zoo in America

-First World's Fair in the U.S.

[git45]

Find a LARGE tome on NYC history an prepared to be wowed. Philly may still be the one though.

[pgm123]

Originally Posted by git45

Find a LARGE tome on NYC history an prepared to be wowed. Philly may still be the one though.

There's no question that New York City has a lot of history. Unfortunately, a lot of it has been built over. I guess it's part of the price to pay to be the city that never sleeps.

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by pgm123

Unfortunately, a lot of it has been built over.

Or torn down, like Federal Hall in Lower Manhattan. The close approximation of the old balcony where the George Washington statue now stands is a little tacky.

[Carlite]

I wouldn't compare San Francisco to the big East Coast cities in this, but San Francisco played a very key role in the development of the West Coast. It was a significant settlement even under the Spanish-Mexican government, although Monterey was the territorial capital. Once the Americans took over, all roads and most sources of finance flowed from San Francisco. San Francisco was The port on the West Coast. The Southern Pacific Railroad, which dominated California agriculture and politics, was based in San Francisco. There really wasn't another major city on the West Coast in the 19th Century. Los Angeles didn't reach 100,000 population until the 1900 Census, Seattle until the 1910 Census.

Many of San Francisco's historic buildings were of course destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, though pockets of older buildings remain. There are dozens of buildings built between 1906 and World War 2; San Francisco has probably been better than most cities about preserving them.