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As a critical player in the founding of the United States, Philadelphia is home to some of the oldest structures in the country — from cultural centers and religious institutions to meetinghouses and historic streets. Here are some of the most notable, beautiful and storied landmarks in the city.

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Located near Independence Hall, Philadelphia’s Philosophical Hall was commissioned in 1785 as a meeting place for the American Philosophical Society. Over the years, the building served several additional purposes: It held classes for the University of Pennsylvania, Charles William Peale’s Philadelphia Museum and government meetings. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.

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The beautiful Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul opened in 1864, constructed during a period of significant strife in Philadelphia between Roman Catholics and Protestants. Windows were originally built high to avoid vandalism during riots; lower stained-glass windows were added during a 1955 renovation. Today, it’s the principal church of the diocese, the largest brownstone structure in Philadelphia and the largest Catholic church in Pennsylvania.

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Known today for its ghost tours, Eastern State Penitentiary has a long and important history as one of the first incarceration locations to emphasize reform rather than punishment. Opened in 1829, the prison is known for notorious criminals like Al Capone and its architectural significance inspired by prisons and asylums in the 1780s in England and Ireland, designed in a neo-Gothic style to intimidate people from committing crimes.

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Another Philadelphia first is the aptly named First Bank of the United States, part of Independence National Historical Park. It was built in 1795 when Philadelphia served as the nation’s capital, and championed by Alexander Hamilton who believed a national bank would stabilize and improve the nation’s credit following the Revolutionary War and signing of the Constitution. The landmark is a stunning early example of Classical Revival design.

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Dating to 1702, Philadelphia’s Elfreth’s Alley is referred to as the nation’s oldest residential street. The street’s 32 Georgian and Federal-style houses were built 1728–1836, lining a picturesque cobblestone alleyway complete with old-time street lamps. The alley’s location in the Old City neighborhood near the waterfront made it a hub in the 18th century for shipping and trading. Today, it’s preserved as a rare example of 18th-century working-class housing.

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Situated on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, north of the Fairmount Water Works and Philadelphia Art Museum, Boathouse Row consists of 15 historic boathouses dating to 1860 — each with its own history and social and rowing club. Collectively, the houses host several major rowing regattas. In 1979 lights were installed around each house, giving Boathouse Row its iconic appearance.