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Revolution and the Founders: History Tour of Philadelphia

Revolution and the Founders: History Tour of Philadelphia

Overview

This tour visits The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton's homes, and sites of numerous Founding Fathers including Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Madison, Monroe, and others. Every guide has a history degree.

City: Philadelphia

Thu 03 Apr

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $29.00

Make a reservation

Thu 03 Apr

Starting at $29.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Runs every morning and every afternoon rain or shine

Short 2-hour introduction to historic Philadelphia with a historian to walk with and orient you

Every Guide Has a History Degree

Essential tour of Revolutionary Philadelphia historic sites and highlights

Liberty Bell, Franklin; Sightseeing- best of Phila for first-time-visitors

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult

What To Expect

Liberty Bell Center

Come with us as we visit The Liberty Bell, perhaps the most famous symbol of American Liberty in the National Historic Park. Peak tourist season can often see lines of destination seekers stretched well around the corner for this monumental icon of American Independence taking close to one hour to traverse. Our historians give to you all of the essentials of The Liberty Bell’s creation and formation in to an icon of liberty from the exterior of the Liberty Bell pavilion, with clear and detailed directions to enter the interior should you choose to invest the additional hour on return. Commissioned in 1752 the bell cracked on its initial test ring and was re-casted two years later by local workman John Pass and John Stow with the lettering, "Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof," a quote from the King James Bible referring to the jubilee when enslaved persons were freed and debts forgiven every fifty years.

Independence Hall

We will visit Independence Hall: the building where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. An essential icon of American democracy and founding of These United States the Independence Hall complex is a bastion of tourism and requires (free) timed entry passes and a recommended two hours additional time for exploration of the center of the complex’s interior chambers. We keep your tour moving quickly, to give you the best, most important essential highlights and significant points of the structure including clear and simple instruction on traversing the complex further on return should you choose. Subject to crowds and closures we pit-stop quickly inside of the East Wing of the Independence Hall Complex: the very oldest and most historic part of the structure: which served as The Supreme Court Chambers while Philadelphia was our nation’s capital.

The President's House

We will visit America's first "White House" where President's George Washington and John Adams both served tenure when Philadelphia was capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. Foreign dignitaries and members of congress and senate frequented The President House for official and unofficial business. Benedict Arnold lived also in the structure as Military Governor in Philadelphia after the British evacuation of the city during the American War for Independence.

Congress Hall

We will visit Congress Hall, a historic structure which hosted two presidential inaugurations (Washington and Adams) and was the home of U.S. Congress from 1790 to 1800, when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States.

Franklin Court

We will visit Franklin Court, a complex of museums, structures, and historic sites within Independence National Historical Park, and home to Benjamin Franklin during his tenure in the Constitutional Convention. We will discuss there the life and times of one of America's most prolific individual's and statesman (Benjamin Franklin) who when contemplating revolution against the British crown said, "Gentleman we must hang together, or surely we will all hang separately."

New Hall Military Museum

We will visit the location of America's first Pentagon, where American military strategy and intelligence was formulated during the American Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin Museum

We will discuss the life and times of American Patriot Benjamin Franklin, from his electrical experiments, printing and publishing activities, to his life as a statesman.

B. Free Franklin Post Office

We will visit the Benjamin Franklin Post Office & Museum, the only Colonial-themed post office operated by the United States Postal Service. It is a living portrayal of a bygone Colonial lifestyle, and it is the only active post office in the United States that does not fly the American flag (because there was not yet one in 1775 when Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster General). The postmark "B. Free Franklin" is still used to cancel stamps. The museum on the second floor features displays of postal history and memorabilia.

Carpenters' Hall

We will visit Carpenters' Hall, the site of the First Continental Congress in 1774, where on three nights in December 1775 Benjamin Franklin meet in secret meetings with John Jay, Fancis Daymon, and the French spy Julien Achard de Bonvouloir. The meetings eventually led to negotiations for French support of the colonists. The colonies likely would not have been able to win the Revolutionary War without French aid. Over the winter of 1777 British forces occupying the American capital during the War for Independence and occupied this building.

First Bank of the United States

We will visit the First Bank of the United States. Championed by Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury, the First Bank of the United States was founded in 1797 and is significant for its architectural design.

Second Bank of the United States

Modeled on Alexander Hamilton's First Bank, the Second Bank of the United States was chartered by President James Madison in 1816 and lost its charter under Andrew Jackson's presidency in 1834. We will discuss here Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson: and famous duels fought by both men among other things.

American Philosophical Society Museum

The American Philosophical Society was founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin two years after the University of Pennsylvania, with which it remains closely tied. Early members included George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Paine, David Rittenhouse, Nicholas and Owen Biddle, Benjamin Rush, James Madison, and others. We will discuss here as we walk by, Franklin, University of Pennsylvania, and America's first surgical center adjacent to the structure here.

Library Company of Philadelphia

Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731, the Library Company is the first institution in the world to lend materials to members of the public. We will discuss, as we walk by, the history of the site and historic location...and early statesman frequenting the location.

Todd House

We will see the home of future First Lady Dolley Madison, where she lived with her first husband, John Todd, from 1791-93. Built in 1775, the Dolley Todd House site reflects the lifestyle of the middle class in 18th century Philadelphia which we will get a glimpse in to.

Philadelphia Visitor Center

Check-in and revolutionary history introduction at the beginning of our historic walking tour.

Grim Philly Twilight Tours

Every guide has a history degree. Most are history teachers and American History Professors.

Show 13 more stops

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (1000)

38jeffreyk

Mar 2025

This tour is excellent for newcomers to Philadelphia who are looking for a comprehensive overview of the must-see historical sites related to the Founding Fathers. Our tour guide was Kyle. He is a passionate and knowledgeable history buff who makes the tour engaging and informative. He has a particular interest in James Madison so If you have any James or Dolly Madision questions, he is your man. I would recommend doing this tour early in your trip and then returning to some of the sites that interest you (e.g. Independence Hall, Liberty Bell or the Benjamin Franklin museum) later on so you can go inside and spend a bit more time exploring.

480kimberlees

Mar 2025

great walking tour with a clever docent! all six of us, including three teenagers were fully engaged. places to sit if tired, and nice walking pace appropriate for all sorts of people.

Crystalclearomaha

Mar 2025

Bill was phenomenal. He didn’t talk about history he made us feel like we were living in history. Wear comfy shoes, bring some water, and enjoy the moment.