Landmarks Tours Guided Architecture Walking Tours of Philadelphia & the Region African American Philadelphia A century ago, Philadelphia's 7th Ward was a bustling microcosm of African American life.  Follow the footsteps of W. E. B. DuBois, pioneering sociologist and resident of the neighborhood, to discover the sites, buildings and institutions of this historic community.  See the Royal Theater, St. Peter Claver's Church and Mother Bethel Church, home of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and burial place of its famous founder, Philadelphian Richard Allen. Around Washington Square Walk around one of William Penn's original planned public parks.  Learn how this square was earlier used as a burial ground for over 1,200 Revolutionary War soldiers, then as a potter's field before receiving its present name in 1825.  See The Athenaeum, the first Italian Renaissance building in the US, and learn how the Square became home to this city's publishing industry in the early 20th century.  Today, many of these former publishing buildings are being transformed into residences as Washington Square serves as an important gateway to the nearby residential Society Hill neighborhood. Art Deco This popular early 20th century style, synonymous with the Jazz Age, has been described as having one foot in the past and one foot in the future.  Its sleek appearance foretells the debut of Modernism while its use of Mayan and Aztec motifs echoes the past.  Among Philadelphia's outstanding examples featured on this walk is the flamboyant WCAU Building on the 1600 block of Chestnut Street, now home to the Art Institute of Philadelphia.  Avenue of the Arts Although William Penn envisioned a grand civic boulevard for Broad Street, he would be dazzled by today's "Avenue of the Arts" with its rich assortment of building styles and functions.  Marvel at the ornate Frank Furness-designed Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, celebrating Victorian eclecticism at its best.  Gaze upward to the dramatic glass canopy of the new Kimmel Center, designed by Rafael Vinoly and, in between, see grand late Victorian and Beaux Arts commercial buildings.  See how Penn's late 17th century vision lives on. Beaux Arts Philadelphia Explore outstanding examples of late 19th century and early 20th century architecture influenced by the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris.  From monumental structures along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to equally grand but more intimate residences in Rittenhouse Square, see why Philadelphia is often described as the "Paris of the US." Ben Franklin's Philadelphia Celebrate the 300th anniversary of this most famous "adopted" Philadelphian's birth by following in his footsteps through colonial Philadelphia, beginning at the site of his home and print shop, Franklin Court, creatively commemorated by the acclaimed firm of Venturi, Rauch, Scott Brown in 1976.  Explore the other significant sites of the birthplace of our nation and learn how American architecture, too, was born here.  Discover some of the earliest style-conscious public buildings: Georgian, Federal and Greek Revival.  Then learn about the recent new projects that have transformed Independence Mall. Benjamin Franklin Parkway This grand boulevard, named after Philadelphia's most famous citizen, is Philadelphia's early 20th century contribution to this nation's City Beautiful Movement and connects the downtown to Fairmount Park, fulfilling William Penn's vision of a "greene countrie towne."  View the grand neoclassical structures that house this city's cultural, educational and commercial institutions and hear about plans for the new home of the renowned Barnes Foundation on Philadelphia's version of the Champs de L'Elysees. Chestnut Hill Take a leisurely stroll through this bucolic "Garden City" neighborhood, a suburban setting within the city limits.  Learn how the Pennsylvania Railroad extension to this area, spearheaded by Henry Howard Houston in the 1880s, created this style-conscious development and later, with his son-in-law, George Woodward, continued it into the1920s.  Explore this haven of late Victorian, Arts & Crafts, English Cotswalds and Modern residences and see how it emerged as a desirable and complete neighborhood. Chestnut Street Stroll Where else but Philadelphia can you view three centuries of American architecture along a single street on just one tour?  The tour begins at Independence National Historical Park in front of the new Independence Visitor Center and continues along Chestnut Street to fabulous City Hall on William Penn's original Center Square.  En route, more than 300 years of American architecture will unfold in front of you. City Hall & Center Square Explore the exterior of the most magnificent example of French Second Empire architecture in the US,   City Hall, the largest municipal building in the country and the tallest masonry structure in the world.  Its monumental design celebrates Philadelphia's industrial reputation as "The Workshop of the World" and its location provides this city with a strong "sense of center."  Circling around City Hall, you will experience a wide array of late 19th century and early 20th century commercial buildings and learn about Philadelphia's transformation into a modern, post-World War II commercial city for the 20th & 21st centuries.  Classical Philadelphia Discover the Philadelphia known as "The Athens of America" in the early 19th century.  Hear about some of this country's greatest neo-classical architects and learn why they turned to ancient Greece for inspiration in designing buildings for the new American democracy.  Significant highlights include the Second Bank of the US and the Merchant's Exchange, both designed by architect William Strickland.  Conshohocken (Montgomery County) Conshohocken became a major industrial site, thanks to its location along the Schuylkill River.  Some of the earliest well-known industries were Alan Wood Steel and Lee Tire.  See how this town is currently undergoing revitalization as a corporate center with development of its riverfront while many of its great Victorian homes that line the adjacent streets are being restored.  Doylestown (Bucks County) This tour begins in the county seat of Bucks County's "Cultural District" at the James A. Michener Art Museum that is ingeniously housed in what was the Bucks County Jail, built in 1885.  See the castle-like Mercer Museum and stroll quaint residential streets, lined with French Second Empire and Queen Anne Revivals before ending in the vibrant town center that attracts New York and Philadelphia tourists alike. East Falls Tour this early mill town, once known as Falls of Schuylkill.  Its residences, from worker rowhouses to grand, early 20th century mansions, trace the history of this picturesque neighborhood just minutes away from Center City.  As a commuter suburb within the city, East Falls is also known as the former home of Grace Kelly. Fishtown Situated to the northeast of Center City, Fishtown figured prominently in Philadelphia's great industrial age of the late 19th/early 20th century when it was developed to house many of the workers who were employed by the major industries that built factories in this part of the city.  Discover how Fishtown's residences are going through restoration as it becomes a sought after location in which to live.  Frankford Discover beautiful Victorian residences, churches, and public buildings in this historic neighborhood that developed along an old Native American trail.  See the commercial revitalization efforts of today's Frankford Avenue.  Learn about Frankford's early history that predates Philadelphia and how it figured prominently in this city's colonial past. Experience its tremendous growth during the city's industrial era, housing factory owners on one side of the Avenue and factory workers on the other side. Germantown This city neighborhood, dating to colonial times, underwent industrial development with the arrival of the Philadelphia, Germantown & Norristown Railroad in 1832 and this development continued rapidly with the arrival of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the 1880s. Learn more about this transportation impact and see some of Philadelphia's finest examples of Victorian eclecticism. Girard Avenue From Broad Street to Founder's Hall Explore some of Philadelphia's best examples of 19th century architecture and a neighborhood where many nouveau riche captains of industry lived.  Enjoy gloriously eclectic residential and commercial rows, the grand Church of the Gesu, and finish up at Founder's Hall at Girard College, one of the greatest expressions of Greek Revival architecture in the US. Girard Estate Trace the history of this South Philadelphia neighborhood from its origin as a colonial farm to the early 20th century planned development of "Ideal City Homes."  See outstanding examples of Bungalow, Colonial Revival and Spanish Revival residential styles. Haddonfield Colonial Village (Camden County) Enjoy the charms of historic Main Street USA and the tree-lined streets of elegant homes.  Learn how this New Jersey suburb grew from Native American trails into a Quaker community whose 18th century structures still grace the town. Haddonfield Victorian Suburb (Camden County) Learn how the railroad route from Camden to Atlantic City, opened in 1854, transformed the earlier colonial Haddonfield into a Victorian commuter suburb.  Explore its rich Victorian heritage and hear about its current preservation efforts. Haverford (Montgomery County) Originally a suburban village, Haverford was transformed by the arrival of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which allowed prosperous Philadelphians to build summer villas designed by prominent Philadelphia architects in its bucolic setting.  Highlights include grand late Victorian homes near the Merion Cricket Club, designed by Furness & Evans, and a stroll through the campus of Haverford College. Hotels of the Gilded Age Experience Philadelphia in the Gilded Age when wealthy industrialists turned to architecture to express money and power.  See the opulent Bellevue Stratford Hotel, now a mixed-use office building and luxury hotel; the Ritz Carlton Hotel, originally the Girard Trust Bank; and the acclaimed PSFS Building, now the Loews Hotel.  Learn how all three have been architecturally maintained and transformed into new uses. Jewish Philadelphia in Colonial Times Explore the city's Judaic heritage and learn about its importance in the growth and architectural development of Philadelphia.  Hear about Nathan Levy's connection to the Liberty Bell and the Jewish connection to Christ Church. Jewish Immigrant Philadelphia Relive the Philadelphia experience of Eastern European Jews who settled along South Street in the late 19th century.  Explore their humble synagogues and homes and learn about their thriving marketplaces that became prominent businesses. Lewis & Clark in Philadelphia Follow in the footsteps of these important early American explorers where their historic trek began 200 years ago and learn about the buildings and institutions, past and present, that lined this early phase of their route. Littlest Streets East of Broad Stroll a charming labyrinth of streets west of Washington Square, a village-like setting right in the heart of Center City, developed in the mid 19th century.  Experience an intimate "hierarchy of streets" where the larger style-conscious houses are on the main streets, the smaller scale houses built for the aspiring middle class are on the middle-sized streets, and what was worker housing is on the smallest alleys.  See Philadelphia as a "livable" city at its best. Littlest Streets Fitler Square Experience yet another intimate neighborhood within Center City, just southwest of Rittenhouse Square west of Broad Street.  Learn about the early Irish settlers and other immigrants who first settled here and about their industrial ties to the nearby Schuylkill River. Manayunk Often referred to as the "Manchester of America," learn about this former mill town's industrial development along the Schuylkill River canal that was opened in 1825, connecting Philadelphia to the interior coal regions of Pennsylvania.  See examples of early immigrant housing then stroll along Main Street's late 19th century commercial buildings and enjoy the fruits of its recent renaissance. Media (Delaware County) Media was planned in the 1850s as the seat of Delaware County.  Discover architecture dating from the Federal era, see lavish Victorian homes and enjoy the beautifully restored Beaux Arts/Art Deco Media Theater before experiencing the renaissance of its commercial district. Merion (Montgomery County) Explore suburban Merion Station, one of several communities developed along the storied Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad.  View magnificent estates, grand houses and a spectacular botanical park. Narberth (Montgomery County) Discover the quintessential American small town.  Enjoy its bustling town center and stroll quaint quiet streets of Victorian homes nestled among 20th century bungalows, cottages and twins.  See why this Main Line community has become so desirable for young families seeking a suburban location with an urban feel. Norristown (Montgomery County) Norristown is the oldest of the four suburban county seats, tracing its history to 1784.  Learn about this borough's industrial and commercial development and how it reflects the impact of the country's transportation movements: canals, railroads, trolleys and highways.  See the historic Montgomery County Courthouse that has evolved architecturally from the 1850s to the present. North Philadelphia Once home to the city's great late 19th century and early 20th century industrialists, this neighborhood has become the center of African American intellectual life in Philadelphia.  See some of the original houses and churches and learn how Temple University has committed itself to life in this community. Northern Liberties William Penn stipulated that 10,000 acres north of the original city become "liberty lands."  Once home to many of the city's breweries, this funky, culturally diverse neighborhood today is the home of many artists and writers.  See the old and the new and make note of the many little neighborhood eateries along the way. Old City Explore colonial Philadelphia and walk some of its original streets.  See famous Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously occupied street in the US, and experience the walking/mercantile city, as well as a later generation of Victorian structures.  Learn how this area remained the center of Philadelphia's commercial, retail and governmental activities until the city finally moved "westward" to Center Square in the mid/late 19th century. Old City Sacred Sites Through architecture, learn how religion affected 18th century society on this tour of the city's oldest religious structures: from the simple design of the Arch Street Friends Meeting House built in 1804 to the exquisite Georgian-style Christ Church built 1727-1741. Phoenixville (Chester County) Phoenixville, today a beautifully restored residential community, has the largest number of historically certified buildings in Chester County.  In its earlier days, it was an important center of industry and transportation along the Schuylkill River.  Discover its charm and learn about recent revitalization efforts. Queen Village Explore this worker's neighborhood and be amazed by its history because it predates William Penn.  Queen Village was developed in the 1630s,  first as a Dutch settlement, later becoming home to a large influx of Swedish settlers.  Visit one of the few remaining 17th century structures in Philadelphia today, Gloria Dei Church.  Rittenhouse Square East Philadelphia's most fashionable address was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Enjoy today's ambiance and compare the grand homes designed for the robber barons to the understated, elegant residences on Delancey Street. Rittenhouse Square Sacred Sites Visit outstanding examples of religious architecture in the Romanesque Revival and Gothic Revival styles in the Rittenhouse Square area and trace the city's development west of Broad Street from the mid 19th century through the Gilded Age era. Rittenhouse Square West Contrast the many generations of high-rise apartment building architecture on the Square - representing every decade of the 20th century - with the smaller scale of the grand houses on nearby streets while walking past some of Philadelphia's most fashionable brownstones. Skyscrapers Old & New Penn Center, one of the country's most acclaimed examples of 20th century, post World War II urban renewal, is a lasting legacy of Edmund Bacon and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission.  Learn how this world-famous city planner based this commercial development complex on William Penn's vision that Market Street would be a commercial thoroughfare and see two generations of commercial architecture: Modern & Post-Modern. Society Hill Sacred Sites Because of its Quaker origins, Philadelphia has long been hospitable to worshipers of many faiths.  See history come to life when visiting reclusive St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, classical Old Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Romanesque Revival Mother Bethel Church, Georgian St. Peter's Church, and Gothic Revival St. Mary's Church. Society Hill Stroll Society Hill received its name from the "Free Society of Traders" who were granted a strip of land in this area by William Penn in 1683.  Take a leisurely walk through this country's largest, intact collection of original colonial and post-colonial residential architecture.  Learn about this neighborhood's mid 20th century renewal efforts and its contribution to establishing Philadelphia as a "livable" city. Spring Garden Stroll through this early city suburb, developed in the late 19th century, that was home to merchants, workers and even prisoners.  Enjoy a diversity of exuberant late Victorian homes and view the world-renowned Eastern State Penitentiary, built in the 1820s and studied by penal experts from Asia and Europe at that time. Spruce Hill Victoriana Walk tree-lined streets graced with homes that are crowned with Italianate towers and Queen Anne Revival gables.  Hear how public transportation encouraged development of this West Philadelphia neighborhood as a streetcar suburb. Subways, Railways & Stations Explore Center City's extensive transit system and its three main stations.  Start at 30th Street Station and proceed via modern trolley (tokens provided) to Suburban Station.  See downtown's underground concourse system and The Gallery before ending at Market East Station.  Along the way, become acquainted with the Market Street subway line, the Subway-Surface lines, the Broad Street subway line, the Commuter Rail Tunnel and its regional rail lines, and the former Reading Terminal, now the main entrance to the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  (The tour includes climbing stairs.) Tacony This city neighborhood was conceived and developed into a utopian manufacturing community by saw-maker Henry Disston.  Hear how this company town contributed greatly to Philadelphia's reputation as "The Workshop of the World," an industrial center well into the 20th century, and learn more about Disston's plan for this neighborhood that included a wide range of past and present housing types, churches, department stores, banks, a movie theater and music hall. Terra Cotta Ornament Terra Cotta - "baked earth" - is one of the oldest ornamental building materials.  Since the 19th century, many Philadelphia buildings have been adorned with terra cotta.  See extraordinary examples such as the polychrome Art Deco Metropolitan Building and One East Penn Square.  Look at up at the elaborately textured Crozer Building and hear about the technology used to make and preserve terra cotta. University of Pennsylvania Stroll the campus of one of the country's most prestigious Ivy League schools.  See old and new buildings designed by such notable American architects as Trumbauer, Cope & Stewardson, Furness, Kahn, and Venturi Scott Brown.  Hear about campus planning and the neighborhood's revitalization and enjoy the University's award-winning landscape. Victorian Philadelphia West of Broad Take in the total experience of Philadelphia during the magnificent Gilded Age era.  Begin at The Bellevue, opened in 1910 as Philadelphia's premier hotel, the Bellevue Stratford.  Learn about cultural, financial, commercial and civic institutions and private clubs, religious structures and the grand urban town houses and mansions in which wealthy Philadelphians lived during these opulent times.  Victorian Washington Square West Many of Philadelphia's most beautiful townhouses are located along Spruce and Locust Streets in this Center City neighborhood east of Broad Street.  Marvel at the Gothic Revival windows, Queen Anne Revival turrets, balconies, bays, garlands and gables designed by many prominent Philadelphia architects. West Chester (Chester County) It may be a small town but it has "grand classicism."  This charming, well-preserved county seat in the heart of beautiful Chester County boasts a wonderful array of classical architecture, designed by such important early Philadelphia architects as William Strickland and Thomas U. Walter.