Philadelphia 2276

(Commemorated May 2026)

We descend from those who first walked here and those who declared freedom here, those denied it, those who fought for it and those who defend it still.

Between two rivers, we remain a city of immigrants and makers, where plain dealing mixes with creativity, invention and love of neighbor. We honor no tool before the people it serves. Hoagies endure.

Come what may, Philadelphians still walk, sit on steps and solve more problems than we create. We build to last and put art on the walls.

They do not all love us, but they remember us. We will still boo you.

What’s this all about?

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, let’s take the opportunity to look ahead another quarter millennium.

What will Philadelphia be like in the year 2276?

We, the residents and stakeholders who love and hope for this city, can help shape that future — if we take an active role in helping imagine it.

That’s the project Technical.ly embarked on, with the support of the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial. We created an initial draft in 2024 with feedback from 100 stakeholders, then printed it out on large boards. Throughout 2025, we brought it to community events all over the city, from the Northeast to West Philly to Center City to South Philly and beyond. We got specific feedback from hundreds of individuals, with a wide variety of backgrounds and ages ranging from 5 to 85.

As we interacted with residents, we were struck by the optimism. No matter their take on the present, most Philadelphians believe our city 250 years from now can be a better place for more of us.

In May 2026, with additional support from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, we unveiled the final vision statement at the Technical.ly Builders Conference during Philly Tech Week, where — in partnership with Mural Arts and artist Sean Martorana — we invited attendees to help paint a mural commemorating this vision.

Thanks to everyone who contributed! Here’s to another 250 years of the American experiment in its original home.