The Road to Revolution: A Colonial Philadelphia Walking Tour

Every building in Philadelphia has a story to tell. The materials, technology, and styles in vogue when these buildings were constructed might reveal one story, while the people who designed, built, lived, and worked in them often add a narrative of their own. Come with me on this walking tour to hear about the events that took place in and around Philadelphia’s Old City buildings. Along the way, I’ll tell you about the individuals who shaped the city from its beginnings to American Independence.

Starting in Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street in America, you’ll walk the same streets as Philadelphia’s founding fathers and mothers to Independence Hall. The American Revolution will loom large, as will the founding of our government, in which Benjamin Franklin had a large role to play. He’s the only person to have signed the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance, and the Treaty of Paris. You’ll also hear about Alexander Hamilton’s time in Philadelphia and the scandal he was involved in. And you’ll learn about the city’s first fire marks, and a bit about the architectural styles of this time period, including Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival.

Along the way, you’ll see:

• Christ Church, where George Washington, Betsy Ross, and Deborah Franklin all worshiped at some point
• Fragments of Franklin Court, and the sections where Ben Franklin spent the last years of his life
• Carpenters’ Hall, the first craft guild in America and home of the First Continental Congress
• First Bank of the United States, created by Alexander Hamilton, which sparked the beginning of the two party system
• Second Bank of the United States, which looks Grecian in style
• The Liberty Bell, where you’ll hear its story and discover what it commemorates
• Independence Hall, home of the Declaration of the United States and the Constitution

So come with me on this fun and fact-filled journey through Colonial Philadelphia. I promise you an interesting adventure!