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Offered languages
- English
*new tour for America's 250th with exclusive access points*
Join a 90-minute walking tour that begins at Philadelphia’s oldest remaining tavern, winds through Colonial Philadelphia's most picturesque cobblestone streets in Society Hill, and concludes within Independence National Park in Olde City. Learn how artisans, merchants, printers, clergy, and other locals shaped public opinion in the struggle between Patriots and Loyalists from 1754 to 1776.
Owned, operated, and guided by a local.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Meet at the corner of Spruce & 2nd Street next to Philadelphia's oldest remaining tavern, Man Full of Trouble. Arrive early to enjoy the tavern!
Our tour ends where America's declaration for Independence began ... in Independence Square near Commodore Barry's statue next to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.
Itinerary
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1
We begin at Philadelphia’s oldest surviving tavern, a 1700s watering hole once a lively stop for sailors and dock workers from Dock Street. Arrive a little early to enjoy an ale and get into the colonial spirit before the tour sets off.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2
Walk beneath the Shambles, the oldest open-air market structure still standing in Philadelphia.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
3
Built between 1758–1761 in Society Hill, this elegant Georgian church was attended by early US leaders and stands almost unchanged since the 18th century.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
Admire the stately Federal-style mansion once owned by wealthy merchant Henry Hill and later by Dr. Philip Physick, the “Father of American Surgery.” You’ll see one of Society Hill’s best-preserved 18th-century façades and its charming garden setting, a reminder of the neighborhood’s early elite.
5 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
(Pass by)
Pause outside the elegant Society Hill residence where James Madison lived while serving in the Continental Congress.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See the grand Georgian mansion of Samuel Powel, Philadelphia’s last colonial mayor and a trusted host to Washington, Adams, and Franklin.
Admission ticket free -
5
Stand before the refined Society Hill home once connected to Governor John Penn and statesman Benjamin Chew. Its dignified façade hints at the wealth, influence, and political tension that surrounded Philadelphia’s Loyalist leadership during the 1760s and 1770s.
5 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
6
Stand at the site of Philadelphia’s most influential colonial tavern, once a bustling hub for delegates of the First Continental Congress. Imagine the clatter of tankards, heated debates, and late-night strategy sessions that shaped the Revolution.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free -
7
Stroll through this peaceful garden honoring Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration and a leading Patriot voice in Philadelphia. From here you can view the Bicentennial Bell, gifted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976, a fitting reminder of how far the city had come since the Revolution Rush helped inspire.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
8
See the historic hall where the First Continental Congress met and the colonies first coordinated their response to British rule.
5 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
(Pass by)
Admire the monumental Greek Revival building that once housed the nation’s central bank.
Admission ticket free -
9
Stand in the landscaped square where Philadelphians gathered to hear the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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