Last month, the Organization of World Heritage Cities voted to name Philadelphia a World Heritage City—making it the first American metropolis to join an elite group that includes Paris, Cairo, and Jerusalem.

The idea to have Philadelphia named a World Heritage City was first sparked by a casual conversation in 2012 between Richard Hodges, former director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and John F. Smith III, chair of the Global Philadelphia Association. The Association developed a bid and led a successful two-year effort with the input of city government, business, and community leaders, including representatives of Penn.

Penn President Amy Gutmann serves on the board of the Philadelphia World Heritage Committee, which led the effort to petition the Organization of World Heritage Cities for the honor. David Brownlee, professor in the School of Arts & Sciences’ History of Art Department, served on the Executive Committee and Project World Heritage Working Group. The Penn National Resource Centers and the Penn Museum were among the very first members of the Global Philadelphia Association.

For more information, go to www.ovpm.org.