Old City Philadelphia History Tour with Washington Tent Show

Discover the birthplace of America’s independence on a guided tour of Philadelphia. Explore Independence National Park, Old City, and learn the fascinating history of this historic city.

Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • The Signer - Your tour begins in the Signer’s Garden at the statue of The Signer. This statue honors all the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, symbolizing the enduring spirit of freedom they represent today.

  • Independence National Historical Park - Explore numerous historical landmarks such as Independence Hall, Congress Hall, and Old City Hall. Your guide will explain their history and highlight their significance in the development of modern-day Philadelphia, the United States, and global democracy.

  • Independence Mall - Home to the National Constitution Center, Independence Visitors Center, and many highlights of Independence National Park. As you stroll through and soak in the atmosphere, our guide will share its history and provide useful information about the park and surrounding neighborhoods.

  • Independence Hall - This iconic building, featured on the $100 bill, is a symbol of democracy for Americans and people around the world. On our tour, we’ll view Independence Hall from the outside, discussing the philosophies, challenges, and achievements of the Founding Fathers who worked here during the nation’s inception.

  • Congress Hall - The original meeting place for the United States Congress, this building is one of the adjacent structures to Independence Hall.

  • Old City Hall - Hear stories about this magnificent building, its role in shaping modern democracy, and the founding members and philosophies of our country.

  • Liberty Bell Center - Discover the history (and debunk some myths!) of the Liberty Bell and its use over the years, inspiring movements from abolitionists to suffragettes to civil rights activists.

  • Carpenters’ Hall - We’ll visit the iconic Carpenters’ Hall, where the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was founded. This site is also crucial to American Independence, as it hosted the first Continental Congress. You’ll hear many stories about this cornerstone of American history as we admire the building from the outside.

  • Museum of the American Revolution - One of Philadelphia’s newest museums offers an incredible look at the stories, artifacts, and people that shaped the American Revolution. We’ll go inside to see a presentation of George Washington’s War Tent, which was present during many critical moments of the Revolutionary War. After the tour, you’ll have the opportunity to purchase a discounted ticket to explore the rest of the museum.

  • Elfreth’s Alley - As the oldest continuously-occupied residential street in the United States, this street is a beautiful glimpse into history, with architecture dating back to the early 1700s. The unique brickwork, narrow homes, and distinctive features make it a national treasure.

  • Betsy Ross House - You’ll pass by the Betsy Ross House, named after the famous seamstress and flag maker who is said to have sewn the first American flag. We’ll clarify the many myths surrounding this “Founding Mother.”

  • Benjamin Franklin’s Grave - Walk past the burial site of America’s most renowned inventor as you stroll down Arch Street.

  • The President’s House - Our next stop is the President’s House, where iconic American figures like George Washington and John Adams lived while serving as President. You’ll also learn about the slaves who lived here and how it’s still an active archaeological site, a rarity in a city’s downtown area.

What's Included
  • Fascinating stories of America’s most historically significant city
  • A knowledgeable local expert guide
  • An unforgettable journey through the historic heart of Old City Philadelphia
  • A donation to a local non-profit historic organization
  • Discounted entry in the Museum of the American Revolution at the time of your choice after the tour
  • See a presentation that features the tent that George Washington lived in the majority of the war
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Additional food and drink.
  • Souvenirs or personal shopping.
Additional Information

Philadelphia holds a revered place in American history, and it’s easy to see why! This city is the birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. It was Philadelphia that acted as America’s capital before the establishment of Washington DC. It is here where the American flag was developed, where Ben Franklin verified that lightning was a form of electricity, and where the cherished Liberty Bell rang, cracked, but still remains a symbol of liberty. These are just a handful of the ways that Philadelphia has influenced the shaping of the United States. Come and join a guided walk through Independence National Park, down the cobblestone avenues of Old City, passing numerous buildings, statues, and monuments, and delving into the history you thought you knew. Your local guide will distinguish reality from myth, and you’ll be fascinated by Philadelphia’s extraordinary history.

Location
Signer's Garden
Chestnut Street
Your guide will meet you at the Signer’s Statue in Signer's Garden; 498 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.9
(668 Ratings)
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Suzannemk6919sj
Aug 31, 2024
Fantastic tour - Nina was a fantastic tour guide. The tour went at a good pace. Lots of factual, fun information provided with regards to the places visited. Washingtons tent presentation very interesting. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone
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Portersix
Aug 30, 2024
Fascinating & Fun Philadelphia Walking Tour - Highly recommend the Philadelphia History & Highlights tour! What a great way to kick off our Labor Day weekend getaway. David, our tour guide, was super knowledgeable & friendly. We booked a private tour for our family of seven which allowed David to customize our itinerary according to our interests. We especially enjoyed visiting the Arch Street Meeting House, viewing the beautiful Tiffany mosaic mural, strolling down Eldreth Alley & seeing & learning so much more of the rich history of our nation’s first capital.
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Quest56595727128
Aug 24, 2024
A walk thru history. - Caroline is awesome. My husband and I had a great time. We were leary of a walking tour, but we enjoyed a great and informative experience.
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P1647zyjohnb
Aug 16, 2024
Great Walking Tour!! - Carla was so knowledgeable and welcoming. We had an amazing experience exploring the history of Philadelphia and highly recommend this tour with Carla!
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Bbrul3
Aug 16, 2024
Fun walking tour - Nina is a fun guide. An enjoyable and informative tour around this area of Philadelphia. There are several historic sites and the city has interpreted locations of buildings no longer existing very well. Washington’s tent was surprising fascinating
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Dean
Aug 16, 2024
Great tour with insightful commentary. - Carla was an excellent tour guide. Perfect for kids and family. We found this to be a surprisingly interesting introduction to Philadelphia..
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Csof58
Aug 15, 2024
Walking history tour of Philadelphia - Wonderful guide named Marty took us on a 2 1/2 hour walk thru early Philadelphia history. Liberty Bell, Washington's Tent, Independence Hall, Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, and more.
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Karrie
Aug 10, 2024
Great tour - We thoroughly enjoyed walking through Philadelphia’s old town with David as our guide. He was fun, knowledgeable, and great at storytelling. We also appreciated all of his food recommendations.
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Linda285
Aug 10, 2024
History came alive! - David did a fantastic job of reminding us what we all learned in US history class! He gave us the back stories to each building and stop, along with answering a variety of Philly-specific questions. Good sense of humor and handled our 13-person group with ease. Great job!
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Kyleagriesheimer
Aug 9, 2024
Cannot Recommend Enough! - My husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to do what turned into a private tour with Tom. We were walked through Philly's incredible colonial history in an easy to understand way. Tom is incredibly knowledgeable about the history behind this city and has a real passion for sharing it with everyone he meets. As someone who has visited this city on many occassions I felt that I leanred so much more than I expected to on this tour. He had many local recommendations and was a real joy to spend our morning with. Thanks so much for such an amazing kick off to our trip! We cannot recommend enough!!!
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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