Historic Philadelphia

Community College of Philadelphia, providing
“Education for a Changing World,” is
the third largest degree-granting institution and
the only public institution of higher education
in the City of Philadelphia. An associate degree
granting institution with open admissions, its
mission is to provide access to higher education
to all who may benefit.
In 1965, the College opened its doors to its
first students. In the intervening years, over
400,000 students have attended classes at the
College’s main campus at 1700 Spring Garden
Street, as well as three Regional Centers, and
more than twenty neighborhood locations.
Student success is an important part of the
College’s history, as are the unique linkages
that the College’s main campus has to the
history of Philadelphia and the nation.
The area of the College’s main campus served
as one of William Penn’s Manors in the late
1600s. In 1734, the land was given to Andrew
Hamilton who built his home, Bush Hill, here.
The estate passed to his son James Hamilton,
Mayor of Philadelphia, where it housed
Philadelphia’s first fine art collection. Years later,
Vice President John Adams lived here.
In 1793, Bush Hill was involved in one of
the most dramatic events in Philadelphia
history when it was a quarantine hospital for
yellow-fever victims. In this capacity, the
mansion was under the direction of a compassionate
merchant, Stephen Girard, who went
on to become Philadelphia’s first millionaire.
Working with Girard to nurse and bury yellowfever
victims were two legendary black clergymen,
Absalom Jones and Richard Allen.
In the nineteenth century, the land served
manufacturing and industrial needs as site to a
carpet factory, iron works, and eventually home
to the largest railroad-manufacturing center in
America, the Baldwin Locomotive Works.
Prior to its college role, the site was home
for the third U.S. Mint where the nation’s
coinage was produced. In 1972, the United
States Government gave the Mint building to
the College.
Today, at this historic site, the College provides
seamless transfer to four-year institutions,
workforce development, and career training.
Students can choose from over seventy career
and transfer programs leading to associate
degrees or certificates. Those pursuing fouryear
degrees benefit from the College’s transfer
articulation agreements with colleges and
universities throughout the nation.
The College also provides direct educational
services to hundreds of area employers through
its Business and Industry programs to address
a variety of educational, training, and service
needs. Additionally, the College offers numerous
meeting accommodations, video conferencing,
and satellite up/down link capabilities.
For more information, visit Community
College of Philadelphia on the web at
www.ccp.cc.pa.us. or call 215-751-8000.
COMMUNITY
COLLEGE OF
PHILADELPHIA
QUALITY OF LIFE
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