Our History
From a Founding Father's folly
to America's oldest diamond district
Start the walk
Walk through time
Tap a year, use the arrows, or swipe to travel through the Row's story.
728 Sansom Street
The engraver who hosted Edgar Allan Poe
Long before the diamonds, this block was home to engravers, and the most famous of them was John Sartain.
Philadelphia's leading portrait engraver moved into 728 Sansom Street in 1848 and later bought 730 next door for his studio. He's often called the "Father of Mezzotint Engraving" in America.
Sartain was a close friend of Edgar Allan Poe and welcomed him into his home here on Sansom Street. Sartain's own magazine published Poe's poem "The Bells" in 1849, shortly after the poet's death.
Did you know?
Take a guess, then tap a card to reveal the answer.
From the archives
The Row through the lens
More than a century of photos. Pick an era to jump ahead, or tap any photo to see it bigger.
Photos from the University of Pennsylvania's 2016 Jewelers' Row Studio report. Each photo's owner is credited on it.
Come see the history for yourself
Walk the brick-paved block, look up at the old row houses, and visit the jewelers who keep the story going.
History drawn from the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania's 2016 Jewelers' Row Studio report.
Historic portraits and prints are in the public domain via Wikimedia Commons. "Today" photo: Ajay Suresh, CC BY 2.0.