GuruWalk Original
Free tour

Free Walking Tour of Philadelphia’s Early American History

Duration: 3h
Languages: English
Guru: Thomas
Quality Verified Registered on July 29, 2022

My name is Tom and I am History Swiftly. I am a U.S. history teacher in a local, suburban school district and am passionate about teaching history and sharing that love of history. Over the last 20+ years as a teacher, I’ve taken students from Quebec City to Boston to Gettysburg to Annapolis to Washington. Philadelphia is always a favorite tour. You will find that I purposely schedule smaller group tours (compared to many of the larger tours offered in the city) so I can share all of the wonderful history and fun Philadelphia has to offer and offer recommendations on how best to see the city!

Show more
GuruWalk Original

GW Originals free walking tours are chosen by our staff among the best and are unique tours that you will only find on GuruWalk.

  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
  • Accepts electronic payment
    This tour allows payment by electronic means or credit card

Tour description

A Tour for Everyone!

Whether you’re a history geek or someone who’s never liked history… whether you’re a solo traveler, a local couple, a family of tourists, or a group of friends loving everything Philadelphia has to offer- you’ll have laughs and learn all about early American history on this in-depth tour of historic Philadelphia!   This extended tour will start or finish with a stroll through a beautiful residential area, Society Hill either before or after a tour of historic Independence Mall area and a visit all of great historic sites in Philadelphia.  


See More History:
This tour is more- more sites seen, more stories told, more time spent near Independence National Historical Park, Washington Square Park, Society Hill & Old City, and more steps on your watch. I will tailor this tour to your group’s interest; however, I enjoy providing about a 2.75-3 hour walking tour where you’ll see all of the important sites in the founding of our nation, and then we will venture off the beaten path to see so much more history.  On Sundays, this tour will make an effort to make a stop at Philadelphia's wonderful Headhouse Farmers Market to see local produce, baked good and brews, etc. from Philadelphia and the surrounding countryside. 
 
Smaller Group Size:
You will not find me giving tours to large groups. Because I enjoy going a little more in depth with this longer walking tour, I have capped the group size so we can travel into the less touristy spots as a smaller tour group.  I am always happy to offer personal suggestions on the best sites to see in the city to make your visit to Philadelphia a great memory.  If you are interested in a larger group tour, please feel free to contact me and I will work with your group to find a solution that benefits everyone!  Or, please see my other "Highlight" tour of historic Philadelphia which can accommodate a slightly larger group

https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/43536-the-essentials-the-best-free-highlight-tour-and-more-of-historic-philadelphia. 

Show more
Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    101 S Independence Mall E, Philadelph...
    101 S Independence Mall E, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
    Directions
  • 1
    Outside visit
    Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Museum Store
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Hill-Physick House
  • 3
    Outside visit
    St Peters Cemetery
  • 4
    Outside visit
    Head House Square
  • 5
    Outside visit
    Powel House
  • 6
    Outside visit
    Declaration House
  • 7
    Outside visit
    President's House Site
  • 8
    Outside visit
    Liberty Bell Center
  • 9
    Outside visit
    Independence Hall
  • 10
    Outside visit
    Washington Square
  • 11
    Outside visit
    Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery
  • 12
    Outside visit
    Carpenters' Hall
  • 13
    Outside visit
    First Bank of the United States
  • 14
    Outside visit
    Welcome Park
  • 15
    Outside visit
    Christ Church
  • 16
    Outside visit
    Elfreth's Alley
  • 17
    Outside visit
    Betsy Ross House
  • 18
    Outside visit
    Christ Church Burial Ground
  • 19
    Outside visit
    Independence Hall Visitors Center

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

26 ratings
5.0
By category
Professionalism
5.0
Fun
5.0
Expression
5.0
Quality
5.0
Route
5.0
Generic
5 stars
26
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Paula 01 May 2023
Quito

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Apr 2023
Tom was awesome, friendly, and answered all our questions. Despite the rain, the tour was great!
Thomas 25 Apr 2023

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Apr 2023
Amazing fun, knowledgeable and friendly guide!
Gema 23 Apr 2023
London

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Apr 2023
He's a great tour guide! Knowledgeable, fun and enthusiastic. One of the best ones I've ever had!
Beat... 21 Nov 2022

I absolutely recommended to do the tour with Thomas. He did the tour even it was only me, so I had a private tour. Thomas is amazing, he knows lots of things about the history of Philadelphia and he explained all of them with passion. Also he gave me really good recommendations about places to visit in Philadelphia after the tour and in Washington DC, my next destination. I really recommended Thomas to anyone that wants to discover Philadelphia, you won’t regret at all!
GUIDO 05 Sep 2022

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Sep 2022
Excellent tour A must do, to really know and visita Philadelphia. Everything was perfect. The información ,you can really notice and enjoy the passion Thomas has for Philadelphia.
Show 26 reviews

Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Accepts reservations up to 10 people.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Electronic or credit card payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Show more
See availability