City Cast Philly logo

Philly History

From the Archives: Girl Scout Season Origin

Posted on June 6, 2023   |   Updated on September 30, 2025

Girl Scout cookie season is one of my favorite times of the year! Did you know that it originated in Philly? In the early 1930’s, Philadelphia Girl Scouts held a cookie sale to benefit a local children's nursery and orphanage.

The Girl Scout cookie sale historical marker is on 1401 Arch Street. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)

The Girl Scout cookie sale historical marker is on 1401 Arch Street. (Brittany Valentine/City Cast Philly)

Philadelphia’s sale was unique because a scout’s parents worked for the Philadelphia Gas and Electric Company on Arch Street, which allowed them to bake the cookies in the company's oven.

It was also the first time a troop sold cookies to the general public. This quickly became a tradition for local troops, and by 1936, the Girl Scouts adopted the annual cookie sale as a national program.

What part of Philly history should I cover next?

Share article

Hey Philly

Stay connected to City Cast Philly and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.
OR BROWSE PAST ISSUES
Advertisement image

Philly History

See All
Philly HistoryJuly 13

Phillies' Home Run Derby History

Philly brings the heat to the annual MLB power-hitter competition.

Citizens Bank Park, which hosts the Philadelphia Phillies, is animated by fans in the stands and players on the field. A cloudy sky with blue peeking between the wispy white clouds makes for a perfect day of baseball.
Philly HistoryJune 29

Joe Frazier Is Philly's Real-Life Boxing King

Smokin’ Joe Frazier made history as a heavyweight champion

Smokin' Joe Frazier takes a swing at Muhammad Ali in a giant black and white photo on a black wall in. To the left and right other art pieces are on the walls and on a small television in the front left of the photo.
Philly HistoryJune 15

A Dive Into the Musical Impact of The Mann and Dell Music Centers

As the Highmark Mann Center for the Performing Arts celebrates a milestone on the cusp of the country's semiquincentennial, we look back...

Concertgoers sit outside at the Mann
Philly HistoryJune 8

How the Phillies Helped Found the Nation’s First Professional Soccer League

The short-lived team was an effort to fill baseball stadiums during the offseason.

A newspaper clip centered on an orange background
Philly HistoryJune 1

The First Successful Sit-In for LGBTQ+ Rights Was in Philadelphia

The act of civil disobedience against discrimination occurred before the more widely known Stonewall Riots, which are considered the cata...

A marker at the former 17th Street location of Dewey’s stands at 219 S. 17th St. (Siani Colón / City Cast Philly)
Philly HistoryMay 19

Who Is Ona ‘Oney’ Judge?

A new holiday honors one woman’s brave escape to freedom even as there are efforts to erase that history.

Names on a stone wall: Austin, Paris, Hercules, Christopher Sheels, Richmond, Giles, Oney Judge, Moll, Joe
Philly HistoryMay 7

How Philly’s Fairmount Park Came To Be

Starting with just a large hill that left William Penn in awe, Fairmount Park is now the largest landscaped urban park in the world.

Archival photo of Boathouse Row and Fairmount Water Works along the Schuylkill River
Philly HistoryMarch 17

How St. Patrick’s Day Started in Philly

Philadelphia’s annual parade celebrating Irish culture just happened on Sunday, a tradition dating back over 200 years.

Boathouse row lit with green lights along the Schuylkill River at night

The latest in Philly

Sponsored

Moving to Philadelphia? What to Check Before You Pick a Neighborhood, Book a Truck, and Sign a Lease

With this guide, you can move to Philadelphia, move from another place to Philadelphia, or just see if living in Philadelphia fits your d...

Wellknown Moving Company Logo
Keep It LocalAugust 6

The Only Thing Better Than Coffee? Coffee With Plants

Here are our favorite Philly spots where you can get your caffeine fix and your plant fix in one trip.

A display of plants in ceramic pots inside Artesano Cafe in Manayunk.
Keep It LocalAugust 6

This Plant and Coffee Shop Serves One of Philly's Most Unexpected Menus

Inside both locations of The Ground, you’ll find a variety of tropical houseplants with diverse light options.

Six open-faced toasts from The Ground Rittenhouse served on white plates, which sit on a green table surrounded by plants.
Philly, ExplainedJuly 31

Prove Your Weekly Philly Knowledge

Pop quiz, Philly! It’s that time again to test your knowledge on local trivia.

Facing a large crowd of fans, The Phillie Phanatic mascot holds a sign that says "Welcome LeBron."
Philly's BestJuly 31

How To Spend August 2026 in Philly

The semiquincentennial may officially be behind us, but Philly’s keeping the party atmosphere going through the rest of this summer.

Eight plates of sandwiches with seeded buns of different varieties placed in a circle on a table.
Food & DrinkJuly 30

Your Guide to New Restaurants, Bars & Cafés in Philly

Philly’s local culinary scene is constantly growing and changing. Here’s a recap of some of the restaurants, bars, cafés, and other delic...

Six pastries are laid out on a metal tray with wax paper, a person wearing all black holds the tray with their left hand
Keep It LocalJuly 30

2nd Street Festival Celebrates 16 Years on Aug. 2

Over 40,000 people are expected to experience the three-quarter-mile stretch of Second Street packed with local food trucks, artists, str...

A view of the 2nd Street Festival in Northern Liberties, with hundreds of people in the streets and vendors stationed under white tents along the sides of Second Street.
Keep It LocalJuly 30

Our Favorite Places to Shop in NoLibs

We have a guide to the Northern Liberties shops that deserve a spot on your festival itinerary.

Shelves inside Ray’s Reusables display sustainable products, including empty mason jars, natural scrubbing brushes, bees wrap, stasher reusable bags, chopsticks, metal straws, and laundry bags.