Toynbee Tiles Philadelphia

Resurrect Dead

Holly from Philadelphia

"Are you familiar with the "Toynbee Tiles"? I don't know really know the story, but you can find them everywhere in Philadelphia - and the Estern US..."

Toynbee Tiles are an enigma, a decades-old mystery that seems to be the work of one anonymous artist whose original goal was to start a human colony on Jupiter. No, really.

What are they? They are colorful and intricate tiles placed in streets all over Philadelphia. How did they get installed? Not really sure.

They carry the artist's ideas about humanity's possible future where humans can be reborn on Jupiter in a heavenly sort of afterlife. I think.

I started noticing these tiles around Philly when I was a kid in the '80s and '90s. I'd cross an intersection and find a tile beneath my feet. A few blocks away - another one. Then years later, I noticed them in New York City. Apparently they are all over the Eastern US. Many of the tiles are still around today for you to discover.

Philly is the epicenter of Toynbee tiles, and one photographer and researcher has gone through the painstaking effort of mapping them all out. Visit his website to see the map!

You may also be interested in the documentary film called Resurrect Dead about the Toynbee tiles.

To see some for yourself, take a walk on Chestnut Street starting at 16th, ending at 12th. There's a tile in most intersections.

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Philadelphia Spotter Holly

About me I'm a travel professional, writer and photographer. I grew up in the Philly area, moved as far away as I could when I was 18 (Hi, Alaska!), then went to college in Hawaii, and finally returned to Philly for good in 2011. I am happy to spend my life exploring the world, whether it's across an ocean or down the street. Why Philadelphia I knew I loved Philly when I came home from living across the country. I got on the Septa train at the airport and the man in front of me turned around and excitedly said, "You see the Iggles play last night?" Then wi...

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16th & Chestnut St

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no-price

Oct 4, 2025

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