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Long before Philadelphia existed, Swedish colonists farmed the riverbank here and called it Upland. William Penn stepped ashore in 1682, renamed the settlement Chester, and the town on the Delaware became the oldest city in Pennsylvania. Its 1724 courthouse still stands on the Avenue of the States as a reminder of that colonial head start.
Shipyards, mills and refineries later turned Chester into an industrial powerhouse, and the city's story also runs through Crozer Theological Seminary, where a young Martin Luther King Jr. studied from 1948 to 1951. Widener University, which grew out of a nineteenth-century military academy, anchors the west side with its stately Old Main.
Today the waterfront is the draw: Subaru Park, home of the Philadelphia Union, sits beneath the soaring Commodore Barry Bridge, with a riverside park, a casino and racetrack close by. Philadelphia International Airport is about 15 minutes up the river, and the gardens of the Brandywine Valley are an easy half-day trip.
The riverside soccer stadium of the Philadelphia Union, opened in 2010 right under the Commodore Barry Bridge. Supporters in the Sons of Ben section keep the noise up all match, and the open east end looks out over the Delaware. Arrive early for parking and tailgating along the waterfront.
A waterfront casino in Chester with slot machines, table games and a poker room, plus a harness racing track where standardbred horses race on a seasonal schedule. Restaurants and a bar overlook the oval. Guests must be 21 to enter the gaming floor; parking is free on site.
Opened in 1974, this cantilever bridge links Chester with Bridgeport, New Jersey, and is one of the longest of its type in the United States. Named for Revolutionary War naval hero John Barry, it lights up at night above Subaru Park. The best views are from the riverfront park beneath it.
The turreted Old Main building dates from the era when Widener was the Pennsylvania Military College, and it still faces a broad lawn at the heart of campus. A walk around the grounds shows a mix of Victorian and modern buildings. Visitors can stroll the campus freely; park in the visitor lots.
Built in 1724 when Chester was the seat of the county, this stone courthouse on the Avenue of the States is among the oldest public buildings in the country. Its plain Georgian lines recall the colonial courts that met here for over a century. It is often viewed from outside, so check opening times first.
Just over the line in Upland, this small stone house was built around 1683 by Caleb Pusey, manager of William Penn's mill, and is said to be the only surviving building Penn himself visited. The grounds include a log house and an old schoolhouse. Volunteers open it on weekends in the warmer months.
A landscaped riverside park along the Delaware next to Subaru Park, with a paved promenade, lawns and benches looking straight up at the underside of the Commodore Barry Bridge. Freighters glide past on their way to Philadelphia. It is quiet on non-match days and good for a sunset walk.
A peaceful arboretum on the banks of Ridley Creek a few minutes north of Chester, managed by the conservation group Natural Lands. Trails wind past specimen trees, a pond and rocky creek banks, with spring blossoms and fall color the highlights. Entry is free; bring good shoes for the creekside paths.
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Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
Pennsylvania, United States
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Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC0
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Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Smallbones, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Smallbones at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain