William Birch’s prints of Philadelphia, issued in 1800, are the first series of views of any American city. They give us a unique visual record of Philadelphia at a time when it was the most important and sophisticated city in the western hemisphere. Each print shows a vibrant scene with the buildings providing a stately backdrop for the bustling activity in the streets. They provide us with both a physical picture of the city and a feel for its texture and vitality. Notice the delegation of Native Americans strolling down the street. As Philadelphia was at this time the capital of the United States, such delegations of Indians were a common sight in the city.

The New Lutheran Church was located on the east side of Fourth Street, just north of Arch. It had originally been built in the 1760s, but it burned the day after Christmas, 1794. This print shows the rebuilt structure which stood until 1869.

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