Offbeat Philly is dedicated to making the history of Philadelphia and its surrounding area interesting and accessible to visitors and locals alike.
History is rarely as neat and tidy as our textbooks make it out to be. History is surprising, cruel, funny, inspiring, and above all - very messy.
We talk about what's being quietly removed from our National Park Service displays. The stories that complicate the narrative. The details that don't fit neatly into anyone's version of patriotic mythology. This is history before it gets sanitized for mass consumption.
Whether we are exploring the founding narratives of the United States or searching for long forgotten stories both literally and figuratively below the surface, we approach history with curiosity and nuance.
Our past impacts our collective future. When we engage with history honestly, with open minds and hearts, we can build a better future and a better world.
Keep History Messy.
Author of an Atlas Obscura article about Eastern State Penitentiary
Featured on several podcasts including Spirits and Ye Olde Crime
BA in History from The College of Wooster
B. Mus. Ed in Public School Teaching from The College of Wooster
International Tour Management Institute Certification
Certified LGBT Business Enterprise by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides
National Council on Public History
Survivor of the West Philly Sinkhole Summer