Take the Path to Independence, starting in Society Hill

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. We begin at Philadelphia’s oldest surviving tavern, a 1700s watering hole once a lively stop for sailors and dock workers from Dock Street. Arrive a little early to enjoy an ale and get into the colonial spirit before the tour sets off.

   15 min

2. Walk beneath the Shambles, the oldest open-air market structure still standing in Philadelphia.

   5 min

3. Built between 1758–1761 in Society Hill, this elegant Georgian church was attended by early US leaders and stands almost unchanged since the 18th century.

   10 min

4. Admire the stately Federal-style mansion once owned by wealthy merchant Henry Hill and later by Dr. Philip Physick, the “Father of American Surgery.” You’ll see one of Society Hill’s best-preserved 18th-century façades and its charming garden setting, a reminder of the neighborhood’s early elite.

   5 min

5. Pause outside the elegant Society Hill residence where James Madison lived while serving in the Continental Congress.

   Passes by

6. See the grand Georgian mansion of Samuel Powel, Philadelphia’s last colonial mayor and a trusted host to Washington, Adams, and Franklin.

   Passes by

7. Stand before the refined Society Hill home once connected to Governor John Penn and statesman Benjamin Chew. Its dignified façade hints at the wealth, influence, and political tension that surrounded Philadelphia’s Loyalist leadership during the 1760s and 1770s.

   5 min

8. Stand at the site of Philadelphia’s most influential colonial tavern, once a bustling hub for delegates of the First Continental Congress. Imagine the clatter of tankards, heated debates, and late-night strategy sessions that shaped the Revolution.

   5 min

9. Stroll through this peaceful garden honoring Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration and a leading Patriot voice in Philadelphia. From here you can view the Bicentennial Bell, gifted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976, a fitting reminder of how far the city had come since the Revolution Rush helped inspire.

   10 min

10. See the historic hall where the First Continental Congress met and the colonies first coordinated their response to British rule.

    5 min

11. Admire the monumental Greek Revival building that once housed the nation’s central bank.

    Passes by

12. Stand in the landscaped square where Philadelphians gathered to hear the first public readings of the Declaration of Independence.

    10 min

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 3 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Know before you go

How it compares in Philadelphia

• Its from-price is 51% below the median of the 266 experiences we list in Philadelphia.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 116 of 266.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Philadelphia

Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city and the birthplace of American independence, with Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, museums and markets.

Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn and was the capital of the United States for a decade in the 1790s. In Independence National Historical Park, Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776 and the Constitution drafted in 1787, is a World Heritage site, and the Liberty Bell is displayed nearby. Elfreth's Alley, a lane of small 18th-century houses, is among the oldest residential streets in the country.

Top-ranked sights in Philadelphia: Liberty Bell Center, Carpenters' Hall , President's House.

See all 266 experiences in Philadelphia