Philadelphia Graffiti Pier: A Love Letter to the City’s Underground Arts

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If you can’t find the entrance to Philadelphia’s Graffiti Pier at first glance, that’s on purpose. The abandoned Conrail pier, originally used as a coal loading dock until the late 70’s, hides behind jersey barriers and a fence that sometimes blocks access.

Beyond the semi-hidden entrance stands crumbling concrete walls, marked by spray-painted political statements, messages of hope, and even memorials to those who have passed.

The support columns at the Philadelphia Graffiti Pier on the Delaware River.

Please note that the site is still private property (for now) and visiting is officially trespassing, although is rarely enforced.

A History of Philadelphia Graffiti

While many assume that the modern art of graffiti hails from the streets of New York or London, street art actually began right here in Philadelphia with Darryl McCray, known by his tag, “Cornbread.” In 1967, Cornbread popularized the idea of “getting up,” or gaining notoriety, through the language of graffiti.

Spray painted mural of a portrait of a man in the 1800s, Edgar Allan Poe
Tribute to local boy Edgar Allan Poe

You can find graffiti in almost any city, but Philly distinguishes itself by not only being the first, but also by maintaining a unique style that remains extremely difficult to duplicate and even harder to read if you are not accustomed to the style of writing.

This style is referred to as “wickeds.” To the untrained eye, a wicked looks like scribbles on a wall. Wickeds, however, make up a small portion of Graffiti Pier’s walls. The constantly updated urban gallery consists mostly of throws, the most common graffiti style that looks like thickly outlined bubble letters, and pieces, a graffiti style that depends more heavily on images than lettering or hand styles.

Graffiti on concrete columns

Pieces can be a lot easier for the novice graffiti viewer to digest, but the skill and artistry of wickeds and throws should not be overlooked.

A woman tagging a wall with spray paint
Woman tagging near wickeds and throws

With such a rich history, the future of the Delaware River waterfront property has many locals nervous but hopeful. The DRWC, the group behind successful revamps like Spruce Street Harbor Park and Cherry Street Pier, have already spent about a year surveying Port Richmond and Fishtown residents on their ideas for the property.

Recent Changes on the Pier

While the site has been a free-for-all for street artists since the early 90’s, there is new momentum to create a permanent solution for Graffiti Pier. In the summer of 2024, a small section of the pier fell into the river. Nobody was injured in the collapse, however, it has put pressure on the site’s owner, Conrail, to make more permanent plans for the pier. And the community is putting renewed pressure on the DRWC (Delaware River Waterfront Corporation) to provide a safer environment for visitors that simultaneously respects the historical nature of the space.

View of the Philadelphia skyline and the Delaware River
View of downtown from the pier

What we know so far about the future of the pier’s renovation project is that Studio Zewde, a Black-owned design firm, is in charge and they are aiming to change as little as possible about the local landmark. They strive to provide more safety measures, allow greater waterfront access for visitors, and add essential elements such as seating, restrooms, and trash cans.

Beyond that, it is not 100% certain what changes will go into effect over the next few years, but the people have a say in the matter. To make your thoughts heard, you can visit the project’s website.

Spray painted tags on support columns at the pier
Tags on the support columns

However, in a sign of good news, DRWC received a $2 million federal grant in January 2023 to begin the first phase of construction. The goal is to connect Graffiti Park to the broader Circuit Trails initiative, an 800-mile connected network of trails across the Philadelphia region (including Montgomery and Bucks County) as well as South Jersey.

And in September 2024, the site’s owner, Conrail, has said would sell the property to DRWC for development by the end of the year. The official announcement is expected in November 2024. The goal is to have the park completed in 2025 in time for the 100th anniversary of the pier, which was built in 1925.

Whatever final form the new park takes, it will have commanding views of the Delaware River, the Philly skyline, and will be one of the best outdoor places in Philly. In a city that is filled with parks, arboretums and gardens, graffiti pier will be unique and a highlight of street art in Philadelphia.

Visiting Graffiti Pier

Octopus mural

Ready to plan your visit? You can find this urban art gallery at the intersection of E. Cumberland Street and Beach Street.  There is ample parking along the two streets. Word to the wise, stick to the trails or stock up on calamine lotion—there’s poison ivy throughout the site. Bug spray is also a really good idea in the summer.

If you do venture to the site, be a good citizen. Pack out your trash, including any empty spray paint bottles. Don’t vandalize or destroy any of the wooden or concrete structures.

Finally, remember, visiting is officially trespassing (for now). The site is still private property, even if enforcement is inconsistent.

2 thoughts on “Philadelphia Graffiti Pier: A Love Letter to the City’s Underground Arts”

  1. This is a nice write up! I moved to Philly in ’96 (for college) and may have heard about Graffiti Pier but not much. It came up in a conversation today, so I looked for more info about it and *poof* here’s this delightful description of its history, a crash course on graffiti, and some scope on the future of this landmark. Thank you!

  2. Thank you for spotlighting the rich history of graffiti (urban street art) and its roots in the City of Brotherly Love.
    With so much gentrification ruining Philly’s originality, hopefully organizations will find a way to sustain this property so that it can be a cultural hub for many more generations of artists and tourists!

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