About
The Wood Street Steps are the last surviving examples of 10 or more stairways Philadelphia founder William Penn commissioned along the original Delaware Riverbank.
Why are they important? Penn felt all citizens should have public access to the river wharves. Some early wealthy Quakers, who owned land there, disagreed.
As part of a 1684 compromise, Penn made sure at least 10 stairways led to the port area near major cross streets ... from Vine Street to what was originally called Cedar Street ... and is now known as South Street.
Unfortunately, this is the only set of those steps left.
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Know Before You Go
Walking Directions:
Take Race Street east to Columbus Blvd., and go left. Walk to Summer Street and go left. Be careful here. People going to I-95 North turn quickly there from Columbus Blvd.
Stay to the right and go past Vine Street. Walk down the left side of Water Street until you see bricks at the sidewalk. You’re there. Look up the steps.
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Published
October 9, 2026
Sources
- https://www.realphillyhistory.com/blog/remarkable-relic
- https://blog.phillyhistory.org/index.php/2018/11/steps-on-the-waterfront-a-vestige-of-penns-promise/
- https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/wood-street-steps
- https://hiddencityphila.org/2013/10/honoring-william-penns-steps-at-last/
- Kyriakodis, Harry. Philadelphia’s Lost Waterfront. Charleston: The History Press. 2011.
