Philadelphia Architecture Tour: From the Gilded Age to the Postmodern Present

Join me on a self-guided GPS audio tour that’ll open your eyes to the full range of Philadelphia’s architecture, spanning every American style from the 1850s to the present. One of the richest periods artistically, it was also one of the wealthiest. Mark Twain called these years the “Gilded Age” because America’s economy boomed and vast fortunes were rapidly made.

Gilded Age styles like Second Empire Baroque, High Victorian Gothic and Romanesque all compete for your attention on this tour. The styles they gave way to as we entered the 20th century are eye catching too, like Beaux Arts, Art Deco, and International Style. Then from the 1970s we enter the Postmodern era, where almost anything goes architecturally – and that’s where we still find ourselves today.

Some of the tour’s highlights include:

• Learning how to distinguish different architectural styles
• Discover some of the city’s finest public art
• Hearing stories about the most prominent architects of the Gilded Age
• Visiting a department store unlike most others

Along the way, I’ll tell you plenty of interesting but not strictly architectural stories about Philadelphia and its buildings too.

I look forward to having you join me on this adventure!