Faye Murman

As some of you may know, when I set out to do this project on Saturday, a woman ran a stop sign and crashed into my car. No one was seriously hurt, thankfully, but I did spend all day in the ER. It was, to say the least, a very unproductive day. Now here I am, stiff, car-less…trying to get everywhere I need to be this week without my Old Faithful (my car is 12 years old and near dead anyway. It would have been nice, however, to spray paint it Cherry and White in May, light it on fire, then roll it into the Delaware River, clutching my diploma and chanting wildly).

This project was intended to be completed in one outing but unfortunately, I had to break it up in to two. The project guidelines were as follows: I had to map a street that runs through Center City from river to river (the Delaware and the Schuylkill, that is). On Sunday, I mapped from the Delaware to Broad Street, which is the halfway point. Today I will map the rest. I chose Race Street for a few reasons: 1) It is unique in that it begins at the Ben Franklin Bridge, then runs through Old City, then some interesting points such as the Constitution Center and police headquarters. After that it takes you through Chinatown then it ends fairly close to the Parkway, which is where the Art Museum et al. are. Most of the other streets are simply residential and commercial the entire length. 2) For me, it is a road less traveled compared to Walnut, Spruce, etc.

Sunday was bitter cold and blustery. In fact, I was actually knocked on the ground by the wind at one point while crouching to take a photo. The streets were deserted barring a few people running to or from their cars to a safer, warmer place. It wasn’t until Chinatown that I found some form of life: cheering, drum beats…I followed the trail of firecracker paper to the site of the action. Chinese New Year! How could I have forgotten?

So, without further ado, here is Race Street.

Race Street begins on Columbus Blvd at the Ben Franklin Bridge. This is also the launching point for when “Ride the Ducks” goes into the river to give tourists a view of the city from the water.

3:30 p.m.

This is a section of the Philadelphia Water Department located at Race and the Delaware Expressway.

3:42 p.m.

Although there is no real “street” intersecting here, this is Front Street, home to the Market-Frankford EL, which is passing North while a car drives East, and the Ben Franklin sits there and rusts just a little bit more than it should.

3:43 p.m.

Here, Race splits in two, offering drivers a ramp to I-95 North and South.

3:46 p.m.

A jogger begins his journey across the Delaware to Camden, N.J. on the Ben Franklin Bridge, seen here from 2nd Street.

3:55 p.m.

A unique sight on 3rd Street.

4:05 p.m.

To me, this is a very amusing sign. I’ve never seen a “welcoming” stick figure before. This is the Old First Reformed Church, subtitled the United Church of Christ. It is located between Orianna and 4th streets.

4:10 p.m.

Here, 5th Street doubles as the entrance ramp to the Ben Franklin Bridge. There really aren’t any pedestrian crosswalks, which makes things very interesting.

4:13 p.m.

The National Constitution Center located on 6th Street. Their “Baseball as American” exhibit is set to open this weekend.

4:17 p.m.

This is Philadelphia Police headquarters on 7th and Race. Also known as the “Roundhouse,” it’s infamous past is streaked with violence during their corrupt policies of the early 1990s.

4:32 p.m.

The Chinatown stop for the Broad-Ridge spur on 8th street.

4:35 p.m.

In the heart of Chinatown, litter from the Year of the Rat celebrations is strewn about 9th Street.

4:40 p.m.

Members of the Philadelphia Suns, a Chinese Christian youth group, perform New Year rituals on 10th street.

5:02 p.m.

On 11th Street, it is back to deserted streets.

5:09 p.m.

The Pennsylvania Convention Center located on 12th and Race.

5:11 p.m.

The skyline is more visible from 13th Street due to the demolition of two historical buildings for plans to expand the Convention Center.

5:14 p.m.

There aren’t many subway stops in Philadelphia, but Broad and Race is one of the few. That’s the Daily News and Inquirer building in the background. My happy home away from home.

5:22 p.m.

DAY TWO: 15th Street to the Schuylkill River.

The Race Street Meetinghouse of the Religious Society of Friends, a historical landmark. 15th and Race.

4:40 p.m.

This man was one of the few people I saw while shooting in the bitter winter weather. This is 16th Street, facing away from Glaxo Smith Kline, a pharmaceutical and health care company.

4:45 p.m.

The new Comcast building is almost complete. 17th Street.

4:47 p.m.

Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on 18th Street.

4:51 p.m.

The Academy of Natural Science on the Ben Franklin Parkway.

4:56 p.m.

The wildly popular King Tut exhibit has been replaced by Star Wars at the Ben Franklin Institute on 20th and Race.

4:59 p.m.

21st an Race Streets.

5:06 p.m.

I don’t know where this car was recently, but it wasn’t Philadelphia. 22nd and Race.

5:07 p.m.

And at last the end; The Schuylkill River. Across the way is the Cira Center and to the left of that is 30th Street Station. Race reaches the river at 23rd Street, just a few yards from the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

5:12 p.m.