Elfreth’s Alley in Philadelphia

Posted on | August 5, 2011 | 12 Comments

One last post from Philly! After I checked out Independence Hall I heard a few guides talking about the “our nation’s oldest residential street” nearby. I walked in the 90+ degree heat feeling like I was going to pass out to check out Elfreth’s Alley, how could I miss it?

Since 1702, Elfreth’s Alley has been home to more than 3,000 people. Today thirty-two houses, built between 1728 and 1836, line the alley. They form one of the last intact early American streetscapes in the nation. Elfreth’s Alley is a National Historic Landmark District, one of the first districts that celebrates the lives of everyday Americans. (elfrethsalley.org)

I was struck by the color combinations of the doors and trims. Blues, red, greens and yellows intermix on different doors and shutters. The red door with the blue trim stopped me in my tracks, stunning! And the yellow trim with sage green door, had me thinking of my favorite yellow sofa and my green molding in my den.

I strolled down the cobble stone street entranced by the houses. Each feeling like a character in a play telling a story of the past. Below a few snapshots of the alley.

8 panel blue door and shutters.

Sage green and yellow, what a striking combination!

A red door with blue trim.

A view looking down the alley.

A beautiful eucalyptus green door.

Reds, greens and black.

A blue dutch door, check out the top of the door…Is that a crown?

A brick pathway off the main alley had me dreaming of my someday brick driveway.

Category: architecture, pennsylvania

Comments

12 Responses to “Elfreth’s Alley in Philadelphia”

Mirica
August 5th, 2011 @ 10:59 am
Enchanting!
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mary
August 5th, 2011 @ 11:08 am
Love, love this! I would live there in a second. I also have been really into (old) brick facades lately – maybe it’s because we’re re-clapboarding our house and I am fantasizing about living in a house that doesn’t have clapboarding. ;)
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Katy Elliott
August 5th, 2011 @ 11:13 am
I feel your pain Mary. We’re re-clapboarding this fall, so expensive even if you do it yourself. Brick is so beautiful and virtually maintenance free.
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Mary
August 5th, 2011 @ 11:14 am
LOVE this! So beautiful.
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Jane Flanagan
August 5th, 2011 @ 11:44 am
How lovely!
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Steve
August 5th, 2011 @ 12:12 pm
So charming I can’t even stand it.
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Katie
August 5th, 2011 @ 9:16 pm
Gorgeous pictures, I love the brightly colored doors! xo
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Jill
August 7th, 2011 @ 2:10 pm
Thank you for sharing this charming place!
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adrienne
August 7th, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
Oh…I am so disapointed that I didn’t know about this place when I was in Philadelphia…it is so charming, almost to good to be true. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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Megan
August 8th, 2011 @ 2:58 pm
I love Elfreth’s Alley… That little crown looking hardware above the door is for displaying little flags on wooden dowels… That way you can put out four or five little flags at a time.
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Katy Elliott
August 9th, 2011 @ 8:47 pm
Thanks Megan for sharing…I had no idea, very clever.
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chelsea
August 11th, 2011 @ 6:35 pm
Wish I would have had more time. Didn’t make it here. Looks so lovely.
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