Philadelphia Unveils Series of Sculptures Honoring Historic Firsts

Mural artists across Philadelphia are applying creativity to history. As part of the 52 Weeks of Firsts in 2026 initiative, these artisans are creating historic sculptures to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.

Over the course of the year, more than a dozen neighborhoods will feature the artworks, with sculptures marking the spot of history-making firsts in Philadelphia. The citywide 52 Weeks of Firsts honors the city's legacy as a place where many of the inventions and innovations we know today were conceived.

The No. 1 sculptures mark Philadelphia's historical firsts, including iconic items like the ice cream soda. Artists such as Roselyn Dooley have drawn on nostalgic inspiration to create the art adorning the 4-foot-tall pieces.

"For most visitors, particularly residents, they're going to learn stories they may have heard about when they were kids or that maybe they already knew, but there's just a whole bunch of stories that they'll learn that they've never heard before," Vince Stango, president of the National Constitution Center and co-chair of the Philadelphia Historic District's 250th committee, said to CBS Philadelphia. 

Artists like Alana Simone and Aaminah Rasheed are doing just that. Simone is honoring the establishment of the first Ronald McDonald House, while Rasheed is commemorating the establishment of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

"Since children are the focus, I tried to make it as colorful and inviting as possible," Rasheed told CBS Philadelphia about her work. "I believe children's health is extremely important to society, and I believe that the people at the Children's Hospital are basically responsible for the well-being of our future. I had a very severe case of asthma as a child, so I definitely was in and out of CHOP."

According to CBS Philadelphia, each mural artist is working on as many as two to three sculptures.