Muhammad's Temple of Islam #12
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Pennsylvania's first Nation of Islam place of worship. Former home of the African American Muslim community of Philadelphia during the 1950s and 1960s under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad. Malcolm X and Imam Wallace D. Muhammad were administrators and teachers here.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
This building was Pennsylvania's first Nation of Islam house of worship and the heart of Philadelphia's African American Muslim community through the 1950s and 60s. Under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad, it drew notable teachers and administrators—including Malcolm X and Wallace D. Muhammad—during a pivotal period in Black religious and political life. The temple served as a gathering place for faith, education, and community organizing.
Why it matters
As a center of the Nation of Islam during the civil rights era, the temple links Philadelphia to a national story of Black self-determination, religious life, and the rise of leaders who shaped twentieth-century America.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- African American Museum in Philadelphia3.1 mi away · 701 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Bridgette Mayer3.2 mi away · 709 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- National Constitution Center3.3 mi away · 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Independence Visitor Center3.3 mi away · 599 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Liberty Bell Center3.3 mi away · 526 Market Street, Philadelphia
- Congress Hall3.3 mi away · Philadelphia, PA
Attractions
- American Bandstand0.6 mi away
- Philadelphia Zoo0.8 mi away
- Pennsylvania Railroad, Connecting Railway Bridge1.0 mi away
- Discovery Center at East Park Reservoir1.4 mi away
- Rocky Steps1.5 mi away
- The Universal Sphere2.2 mi away
Food & drink
- Burger King3.1 mi away
- Philly Pretzel Factory3.1 mi away
- Munchie’s Cafe3.1 mi away · 728 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
- El Azteca3.2 mi away
- Park’s Salad Bar3.2 mi away
- Lamberti Pizza & Market3.2 mi away · 707 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Places to stay
- Residence Inn Philadelphia Center City2.6 mi away · 1 East Penn Square, Philadelphia, PA
- The Notary Hotel2.7 mi away · 21 North Juniper Street, Philadelphia
- Days Inn Philadelphia Convention Center - Philadelphia2.7 mi away · 1227 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Cambria Hotel Philadelphia Downtown - Center City2.7 mi away · 219 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City2.7 mi away · 237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
- Holiday Inn Express2.7 mi away · 1305-11 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA
Places data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hours and details change — call ahead.
Own a business near here? Add it to the map.
Related people
- · Elijah Muhammad
- · Malcolm X
- · Wallace D. Muhammad
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
Freedom Now Rally
Philadelphia, PA · est. 2010
On August 3, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood at this Philadelphia intersection and addressed a crowd of 10,000. His "Freedom Now" tour carried the movement into the Black neighborhoods of northern cities — Philadelphia, Chicago, Cleveland, Boston — to thank supporters, raise funds, and bolster local civil rights efforts. King's aim was to knit a broad coalition around the shared struggles Black communities faced across the country.
Stephen Smith (1795-1873)
Philadelphia, PA · est. 1991
Born enslaved in 1795, Stephen Smith purchased his own freedom and went on to become one of the wealthiest African Americans of his era, amassing a fortune in coal, lumber, and real estate. He poured his means and influence into the abolitionist cause and philanthropy, most notably as the principal benefactor of the Stephen Smith Home for the Aged, which stood on this site. His life bridged the worlds of business, activism, and charity in the decades surrounding the Civil War.
African American Baseball in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA · est. 1998
For more than eight decades, Black baseball thrived in Philadelphia, from the Pythians and Excelsiors of 1867 to the great professional clubs of the twentieth century. The Philadelphia Giants claimed early championships, the Hilldale club won the 1925 Colored World Series, and the Philadelphia Stars competed in the Negro National League. These teams built a proud institution while the major leagues remained closed to Black players.
Paul Robeson (1898-1976)
Philadelphia, PA · est. 1991
Paul Robeson was a rare figure of towering talent — a football star at Rutgers, a Columbia-trained lawyer, and then a world-renowned concert singer and actor celebrated for his interpretations of African American spirituals. His outspoken activism on race and labor drew fierce backlash during the Cold War, and his career and travel were curtailed for years. He spent his final years in quiet retirement at this Philadelphia home.