Take the Path to Independence, starting in Society Hill

5.0 (3 reviews) 1 h 30 min Free cancellation

out of 5

3 reviews

5.0

Take the Path to Independence, starting in Society Hill — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Take the Path to Independence, starting in Society Hill, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This is the only walking tour through Society Hill, Philadelphia - America's largest concentration of Colonial-era homes.

Join a local resident on this 90-minute walking tour that begins at Philadelphia’s oldest remaining tavern (still open!), winds through Colonial Philadelphia's most picturesque cobblestone streets in Society Hill, and concludes at Independence National Park in Old City. Learn how artisans, merchants, printers, clergy, and other locals shaped public opinion in the struggle between Patriots and Loyalists from 1754 to 1776. And, enjoy Colonial architectural notes from an Urban Planner.

Owned, operated, and guided by a local.

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At a glance

Duration: 1 h 30 min
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 25 people
People per booking: 1–15
Audio guide: English
Operated by: Join, or Die! Walking Tour.

Ages: Children (0–6 years) · Youth (7–17 years) · Adults (18–110 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Government Fees

Not included

Not included: Alcoholic beverages: Tour begins next to Man Full of Trouble - Philadelphia's oldest tavern. Visit www.joinordietour.com to purchase drink + tour package.

Itinerary

Stop 1

15 min

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.
Headhouse/Shambles

5 min

Walk beneath the Shambles, the oldest open-air market structure still standing in Philadelphia.
Stop 3

10 min

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.
Stop 4

5 min Admission not included

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.
Stop 5

Passing by

Pause outside the elegant Society Hill residence where James Madison lived while serving in the Continental Congress.
Stop 6

Passing by

See the grand Georgian mansion of Samuel Powel, Philadelphia’s last colonial mayor and a trusted host to Washington, Adams, and Franklin.
Stop 7

5 min Admission not included

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.
Stop 8

5 min

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.
Benjamin Rush Garden

10 min

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.
Stop 10

5 min Admission not included

See the historic hall where the First Continental Congress met and the colonies first coordinated their response to British rule.
Stop 11

Passing by

Admire the monumental Greek Revival building that once housed the nation’s central bank.
Stop 12

10 min

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

15 min

Tour ends right outside of Liberty Beer Garden on the Independence Mall.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Meet next to Philadelphia's oldest remaining tavern, Man Full of Trouble. Arrive early to enjoy an ale (or two) at the tavern!

End point

The tour ends at the Liberty Beer Garden, stop in for a drink with a great view of the historic Pennsylvania State House in the foreground.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

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

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.
The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.