This photo album is part of the blog series, A Philly Foodie Explores Local History, which connects Philadelphia history with food-related treasures uncovered in the archive of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

This week, the series approaches the halfway point in its food history journey and turns to one of Philadelphia’s best-known historic food landmarks-- the 9th Street Italian Market!  With early beginnings in the 1880s when Italian immigrants began to settle in a neighborhood south of the original city center, the Philadelphia Italian Market is a collection of specialty food shops and outdoor vendors concentrated around 9th and Christian Streets.  Inspired by historic photographs and local family recipes in our archives here at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, series author Sarah Duda decided to connect with this historic Philly foodie neighborhood by shopping for fresh ingredients at the Italian Market and cooking a dish from Celeste Morello’s The Philadelphia Italian Market Cookbook: The Tastes of South 9th Street. Experience the market through a historical foodie's lense in the following photos!