Colonial Philadelphia Tour: Old City In Context

Enrich your understanding of Colonial Philadelphia during the dawn of the American Revolution

$380

Private

$85/pp

Semi-private

Book a Tour

Tour Details

About the Tour

Private Tour: $ 380
Semi-Private Tour: $ 85 /PP
Category: History, Orientation
Duration: 3 hours
Location: Philadelphia

Photos & Highlights

Get the full picture of Philadelphia through social, architectural, and political lenses including insider tips along the way
Led by a local historian
St. Peter's Church, Christ Church, Powel House, and Independence Mall

Tour Description

Founded in the 17th century by William Penn as a haven for persecuted Quakers, Philadelphia quickly became the most important city in America. By the dawn of the revolution it was the largest English-speaking city in the world outside of London. Covering some of the most significant sites in Old City Philadelphia, this Philadelphia History Tour explores the social and political mechanisms that defined the city and set the stage for the Declaration of Independence and the Continental Congress.

Philadelphia History Tour

We begin our Philadelphia History Tour with the plan of the city and a discussion of the critical figure of William Penn, founding father of the colony of Pennsylvania and architect—in a very real sense—of the city of Philadelphia. Using the plaza-scale plan of the city located near Second Street as our reference point, we'll look at how Penn's rational plan set the stage for an explosion of commerce and trade and the influx of immigrants from all over the world. As we make our way through the well-preserved historic core of the city, past buildings that still stand after more than 200 years, we'll look at some of the key themes that defined Philadelphia in those early years including Quakerism, religious tolerance, and unfettered trade.

A Glimpse at the Past in Historic Philadelphia

Our Philadelphia History Tour will take us into several historic houses and house museums along streets dating to the 18th century, and into some of the churches that played a role in the founding of the U.S. These may include Carpenter's Hall, Old St. Mary's, St. Peter's, and Independence Mall. As we walk we'll move forward through history to discuss how the city evolved socially, architecturally, and politically through the colonial period until the dawn of the revolution. As this area of the city saw the construction of some of the largest houses, we'll focus specifically on the emergence of a wealthy merchant class in the 18th century and how they defined the city at the dawn of Independence and through the war. On occasion, we may gain access to one of these historic homes that is normally closed to the public.

Take Aways

We will typically end our Philadelphia History Tour at Headhouse Market in Society Hill, a historic center of trade in the city that is today the most vibrant farmer's market in Center City. This walking tour is a good introduction to Philadelphia during the colonial period and exploration of the major sites in Old City south of Market Street.

To explore colonial Philadelphia in even more depth, we recommend our Ben Franklin Tour. For a look at late-19th century opulence, try our Philadelphia Architecture Tour.

Where You'll Start

Tour Experts

Tim

A native of Philadelphia, Tim Hayburn has long loved the history of his hometown. He formerly served as a tour guide in historic Philadelphia. Tim recently completed his doctorate in colonial American history with a focus on capital punishment in 18th century Pennsylvania from Lehigh University. Tim teaches US History at several of the area colleges.

Justina

Justina's master's degree in early American material culture from the Winterthur Program at the University of Delaware complements well her interest and love of sharing Philadelphia with visitors. At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, she works as Site Manager for Mount Pleasant and Cedar Grove, two historic homes in Fairmount Park administered by the Museum. She also designs programs and trains guides to share the Museums' collections with the public. Working with Museum curators, preservation professionals, and other stakeholders, she advocates for public access to and interest in local historic sites.

Joella

Joella Clamen holds a Bachelor's Degree in Philosophy and the History of Math and Science from the Great Books Program at St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School. She is taking a break from legal practice to indulge her passion for American history. Joella is a member of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides and has passed their examination to be a certified guide for historic Philadelphia. She is a currently a guide at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, a museum set in an fascinating former 19th Century Philadelphia prison. She has previously worked as a guide at the Physick House, Powel House, Christ Church, and Christ Church Burial Ground. In addition to guiding, Joella has been involved with a number of history-related writing projects, such as contributing biographical sketches to an educational initiative which examines the lives of New Jersey citizens during the American Revolution. Like so many in the tourism business, she is also working on a book: the story of two of the Delaware Valley's most fascinating, yet relatively unknown, 18th century business-women.

View more experts

41 Reviews

John was wonderful. My companion and I were both very familiar with Philadelphia while the third in our group was not. He was able to keep the content engaging and insightful for both audiences, moved with the flow of conversation, and had answers to all the questions we threw at him. For locals and tourists alike, I would highly recommend this tour!

Aashima

Apr. 24, 2019

Justina pitched perfectly for our family of 4: the children (aged 9 and 6) were a bit tired/jet-lagged and Justina did so much to engage them and keep them interested. And - as any parent will know - if the children are interested, the parents will enjoy the experience so much more too. She kept up the fun facts and anecdotes throughout the whole tour. It was a good day - I’m not sure it would have gone so smoothly if the weather had been wet. But then again, I’m confident Justina would have had some great ideas up her sleeve. There was a slight issue with our meeting point (which didn’t actially affect us, but could have done), as google maps seemed to be throwing up 2 alternative locations for the meeting point (City Tavern). Justina was aware and was letting Context know in any case.

Ann

Apr. 6, 2019

Although there was a plan Joella was always improvising giving more in depth detail and seeking opportunities to see places not originally planned. Thoroughly enjoyed this well worth the ticket price. Joelle is very knowledgeable and extremely pleasant. Joelle made our one day in Philadelphia very enjoyable. We came mostly to get a true sense of colonial America and we got it in spades.

Corina

Mar. 18, 2019

View more reviews

Tour Experts

All Context Experts are scholars or specialists in their field.