Before looking at the list, Saxmore did not know either of these things were Philly firsts.
“My family are in health care and now I work with children, so I thought it would be fun,” she said. “I can relate to it personally.”
Artist Alana Saxmore paints the co-creators of the first Ronald McDonald House that opened in Philly in 1974. (Peter Crimmins/WHYY)
Some of the firsts are fundamental to the nation, such as the first constitution, the first art school and museum, and the first gay rights demonstration.
Others firsts are less well-known: the first pencil with an eraser on the end, the first public screening of a movie and the first ice cream soda, which was made in 1874 during a street fair out of desperation when a vendor ran out of regular cream for cream sodas.
“I’m a little partial to the signing of the Constitution,” said Stango, out of professional due diligence. “But aside from that, the one that I can keep coming back to is the first selfie. I just assumed that selfies started with the iPhone.”
The first selfie predated the iPhone by 168 years. In 1839, Robert Cornelius took a picture of himself with a homemade camera.
One of the more significant items on the list of 52 firsts is the first children’s hospital. In 1855, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia opened. It is a place artist Aaminah Rasheed knows very well, having frequented CHOP as a child.
“I had a severe case of asthma at the time. Was in and out for that,” Rasheed said. “Also treated for pneumonia.”
Artist Aaminah Rasheed chose to represent Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as a Philly First because she frequented CHOP as a child. (Peter Crimmins/WHYY)
Rasheed said she wanted her design to be inviting, using bright colors to depict children and their families interacting with doctors in the hospital. The top of the number 1 is sky blue with puffy clouds.
At the bottom, the base of the sculpture is an aerial view of roads and cars, representing a rug pattern that doubles as a play surface.
“This is representative of a nostalgic thing for me. The road map carpet is like a staple of my childhood,” she said. “I’ve seen this in hospitals. I’ve seen it in day cares. I’ve seen it in a dentist office. I wanted that to be the base.”
Each “first-ival” has been scheduled for 2026. Dates and locations are available on Visit Philly’s website.
Artist Aaminah Rasheed paints a #1 sculpture representing Children’s Hospital of Philadelpha, the first children’s hospital in the United States. (Peter Crimmins/WHYY)