Broad Street (Philadelphia) - Cultural Landmarks

Cultural Landmarks

Broad Street is home to several Philadelphia cultural landmarks. Between Spruce and Market Streets, it is called the Avenue of the Arts, where it is home to art galleries, the Academy of Music, and the Kimmel Center.

The South Philadelphia Sports Complex, near Broad's south end along Southern Boulevard Parkway, is the site of Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and the Wells Fargo Center. Defunct sports facilities JFK Stadium, The Spectrum, and Veterans Stadium were located in this area. As a result, the Philadelphia Flyers are nicknamed the "Broad Street Bullies." Broad Street often serves as the main parade route for Philadelphia sports championship parades; in the most recent, for the Phillies 2008 World Series victory, an estimated 2 million people lined Broad Street. The largest gathering for a championship parade was for the Flyers in 1974.

South of the sports complex and interchanges with the Schuylkill Expressway (Interstate 76) and Interstate 95, Broad Street has its southern terminus in the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

The former offices for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News newspapers on Broad Street just north of City Hall and former PA State Building at Springarden street. Most recently, the Public School District Administration relocated between these two landmarks. Also located on North Broad at its intersection with Fairmount Street is the historic Divine Lorraine Hotel. Farther north, Broad passes through the campus of Temple University.

One of the busiest streets in the country, Broad Street is shut down for the annual 10-mile (16 km) Broad Street Run. Additionally, the section of Broad Street from near Oregon Avenue (Marconi Plaza) to City Hall, in South Philadelphia and Center City, is the traditional location of the Mummers Parade on January 1.