Elfreth's Alley (est. 1702): Philadelphia, PA - Oldest Street In America

Elfreth's Alley (est. 1702) located in Philadelphia, PA is considered the oldest street in America. Technically the oldest residential street in America. It is a credit to the Elfreth’s Alley Association that tourists from all over the country and the world are able to visit the cobblestone street and its history. Named for blacksmith and property owner Jeremiah Elfreth, Elfreth’s Alley was home to the eighteenth-century artisans and tradespeople who were the backbone of Colonial Philadelphia. The oldest street in America dates back to 1702 when two blacksmiths surrendered portions of their land in order to create an alleyway that led to the river. On Elfreth’s Alley, grocers, shoemakers, cabinet makers, tailors and others worked out of the first floor of their houses. The street squeezes 32 Federal- and Georgian-style houses onto one cobblestone city block. There are 32 houses on the street, which were built between 1728 and 1836. Two adjacent houses, built in 1755, now function as a museum and gift shop. This alley remains a throwback to early America, preserving three centuries of evolution through its old-fashioned flower boxes, shutters, Flemish bond brickwork and other architectural details. The alley is now a National Historic Landmark.