To spot Woodland Terrace, look for a row of stately stone twin mansions tucked beneath a canopy of leafy trees, just off the sidewalk between 40th and 41st streets.
As you stand here, imagine the year is 1861. The air is filled with the scent of spring, and a horse-drawn carriage creaks by on the cobblestones. Samuel Sloan, Philadelphia’s superstar architect, designed these grand homes for anyone who wanted a touch of elegance in their daily life. Each house was crafted to be impressive, but not intimidating - the perfect blend of high style and neighborly warmth. Charles M. S. Leslie, the man who brought this little dream street to life, couldn’t have predicted that one of the future residents would be Paul Cret, a creative genius who’d go on to leave his mark all over the city. Imagine Cret strolling past, brainstorming the next iconic Philadelphia building, maybe dodging an over-enthusiastic dog along the way! Woodland Terrace hasn’t lost an ounce of its charm. It’s a time capsule of West Philly’s golden age, officially declared a historic district in 1972. You can almost hear echoes of old dinner parties and whispered secrets floating down the shady, peaceful block. Step lightly - you’re walking on history’s front porch.
