Cheltenham Township, as it exists today, is the product of over 300 years of history. The interactions of numerous generations have created a tapestry of events and people that have shaped both the physical and cultural development of the Township. The story of Philadelphia’s first suburb is filled with names of local, regional, and national significance. The physical manifestation of this history is the unique building stock that lends Cheltenham its sense of place and character. It is the express desire of the Township to promote and preserve these historical artifacts through the expansion of regulatory tools and historic preservation efforts.  As one of the oldest communtites in Pennsylvania, Cheltenham Township is rich in history. It is home to the oldest house of continuous residency in Pennsylvania, Wall House. It was home to the state's only training ground for Black troops during the Civil War, Camp William Penn. Cheltenham also served as a major stop on the Underground Railroad. The early development of Old York Road and the railroad connected Cheltenham with the rest of the Philadelphia area. Cheltenham also served as the home of some of the wealthiest people in the history of the United States, most notably, John Wanamaker, Peter Widener, William Lukens Elkins, John B. Stetson, Henry W. Breyer, Jr., Cyrus H.K. Curtis, George Horace Lorimer, among others.