More Pennsylvania Firsts

1791: The first public canal company, the Schuylkill and Susquehanna Canal Company, was chartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1791: The first carpet factory in the U.S. was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


1792: The first U.S. Mint was established in Philadelphia by the U.S. Congress.

Address: United States Mint, 151 N. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106-1886; 215-408-0110. Web: http://www.usmint.gov.

1794: Charles Wilson Peal, Joseph Cerrachi, William Rush, and others formed the first society for the promotion of fine arts in the U.S., the Columbianum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1796: Binney & Ronaldson formed the first type foundry in America at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1804: Charles Eneu Johnson established the first printing ink factory in the U.S. at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


1805: The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the first arts institution in the U.S., was established in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was chartered on March 28, 1806.

Address: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts,
118 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102; 215-972-7600; Fax: 215-569-0153. Web: http://www.pafa.org.