Several types of 1,8-diphenylanthracene derivatives were synthesized and their photophysical properties in the solid state were determined. A relatively high fluorescence quantum yield (phi(f) = >0.83) was observed for the 1,8-di(4-fluorophenyl)anthracene 1f in the solid state. The mechanofluorochromic phenomenon of the 1,8-diphenylanthracene derivatives was observed and the three types of mechanofluorochromic behaviors (i.e., mechanochromic, fast partial self-recovery, and non-mechanochromic at room temperature) were observed depending on the substituents on the phenyl rings.