During the urban renewal initiatives of the 1950s and early 1960s, approximately 25 percent of the structures in Society Hill were demolished. Under the direction of city planner Edmund Bacon, many commercial, institutional, and Victorian-era buildings were removed to make way for large-scale residential redevelopment. This transformation was anchored by I. M. Pei’s design of
Archives: Walking Tours
Baldwin Park
The Baldwin Park neighborhood is the area between 16th and 21st Streets and between Vine and Spring Garden Streets, i.e. the neighborhood within two blocks of Baldwin Park. This two-hour walking history tour will look for remnants of the Lenape, William Penn’s Springettsbury Manor, Andrew Hamilton’s Bush Hill estate, Robert Morris’ failed canal project, the
West Chester
Thomas U. Walter first came to West Chester in 1830 as an employee of the renowned Philadelphia architect William Strickalnd. The contacts he made then led to his first commission in 1831 – the Market Street Market and Head House – for which the Borough paid him $7. By the time Walter left for Washington,
Woodmere’s Maguire Hall
Maguire Hall Honored at the 2026 Preservation Achievement Awards, take a tour at Woodmere’s newly renovated Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art & Education. Formerly known as St. Michael’s Hall when owned by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, Maguire Hall, highlights the strengths of the Museum’s collection with 14 new galleries showcasing contemporary art by
Wyck and Grumblethorpe
Tour two historic landmarks in Germantown honored at this year’s Preservation Achievement Awards, Wyck Historic House and Grumblethorpe. Wyck Historic House (10:00 am-11:30am) Meet at the entrance of Wyck, 6026 Germantown Ave (map) As one of Philadelphia’s oldest homes, dating back to 1690, Wyck is a National Historic Landmark that housed nine generations of the
Bryn Athyn Cathedral, and Glencairn Museum Tour
Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, was founded as a religious community in the late nineteenth century by members of a Christian denomination known as the New Church. Just a mile from the Philadelphia border, this small borough is home to some of the area’s most remarkable architecture, buildings that reflect the religious faith and vision of the
Rittenhouse Square Sacred Sites
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. You’ll also learn how these buildings are used by and for the community
Tacony
Join us for a tour of the historic neighborhood of Tacony! A hidden gem in Northeast Philadelphia, Tacony can trace its roots back to the very first European settlers in Pennsylvania. Today, its historic architecture and unique stories connect residents and visitors to times gone by. Discover the site of the first solar powered steam
Landmarks of Central Germantown
Explore the architectural and social evolution of Central Germantown, tracing its journey from its founding by Daniel Pastorious, into a fashionable Victorian railroad suburb and a bustling 20th-century commercial hub. Stop by landmarks such as Grumblethorpe, The Germantown Boys & Girls Club, Germantown Friends School, and more. The tour concludes by celebrating Germantown’s modern identity
Philly’s Historical Social Clubs Unveiled
Welcome to Philly’s Historic Social Clubs Unveiled, a look behind the unmarked doors and stately facades of the city’s private clubs, many of which are rarely open to the public. On this self-guided, open-house tour, you will see how seven institutions have navigated the challenges of the modern era, preserving some of the city’s most
