Philadelphia Could Become a UNESCO World Heritage City

The accolades just keep rolling in for Philadelphia. News broke yesterday that the city might have earned the distinction of World Heritage City from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Not only is this a tremendous distinction, but it would be made more so by the fact that Philadelphia would be the first city in the United States to be so recognized.

Philadelphia could become the country’s first World Heritage City.

We will find out for certain whether Philadelphia will become a World Heritage City in early November when UNESCO holds its XIII World Congress of the Organization of World Heritage Cities in Arequipa in Peru. More cities are added to the program every year during the organization’s annual meeting. The distinction was explained by Zabeth Teelucksingh, executive director of the Global Philadelphia Association, as “a Sister Cities program on steroids.” Teelucksingh stated that she had been told that it was about 95% likely that Philadelphia would make the list of World Heritage Cities.

In the meantime, waiting for November, the GPA is doing what it can to court UNESCO and prove that Philadelphia has what’s necessary to become a World Heritage City. The Philadelphia Orchestra has met with delegates of UNESCO in six cities around the globe, including Lyon, France, and Vienna, Austria. The University of Pennsylvania is said to be developing a World Heritage curriculum. Philadelphia becoming a World Heritage City would catapult the city onto the international stage, hopefully increasing the city’s tourism and business travel.

There are about 270 cities on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Cities, but none of them are in the United States.