Early Financial History of Philadelphia and the Future of the First Bank of the US- Sold Out
As the financial epicenter of the newly formed United State government, Philadelphia’s banks played a leading role in paying for supplies and later debts from the Revolutionary War and funding the War of 1812
As the financial epicenter of the newly formed United State government, Philadelphia’s banks played a leading role in paying for supplies and later debts from the Revolutionary War and funding the War of 1812. Banks provided loans to operate businesses and construct buildings, roads, and other infrastructure to both commercial businesses, governments and individuals.
Learn about prominent Philadelphians Robert Morris, Stephen Girard, and Nicholas Biddle who were highly involved in forming and promoting national financial policies from 1770’s to the 1860’s.
This tour will discuss the role of United State chartered national banks and Pennsylvania chartered state banks involved in the complex financial transactions that existed before there was a uniform national currency established by the National Bank Act of 1864 and signed into law by Abraham Lincoln.
This tour will end at the First Bank of the US followed by a presentation by the Independence Historical Trust who will share plans for the new exhibits. The program will conclude with a Q&A and refreshments.
Meet at the center of Welcome Park at 129 Sansom Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
This program is created in partnership with the Independence Historical Trust. Independence Historical Trust, a 501(c) 3, is a philanthropic organization that partners with Independence National Historical Park, the national park that protects, preserves and interprets Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and the 54 plus historical acres located in the City of Philadelphia.
Going Uptown- Sold Out
Once home to the city’s great late 19th century and early 20th century industrialists, North Philadelphia has become the center of African American intellectual life in PhiladelphiaOnce home to the city’s great late 19th century and early 20th century industrialists, North Philadelphia has become the center of African American intellectual life in Philadelphia. See some of the original houses and institutions including the Wagner Institute of Science, Baptist Temple, the Russell Conwell house, and much more as we explore this area’s grand Victorian past.
This tour will stroll down the Historic Diamond Street corridor and conclude at the Church of the Advocate, known as one the best examples of a Gothic Revival church, and for their rich history in the activism for African American civil rights.
Public Art, Landmarks, and Transformations along the Schuylkill – Sold Out
The Schuylkill River received its name because of the confluence; groves of trees, sycamores, and oaks once obscured the entrance of the SchuylkillThe Schuylkill River received its name because of the confluence; groves of trees, sycamores, and oaks once obscured the entrance of the Schuylkill. In Dutch, Schuylkill means “hidden stream”. This 130-mile corridor over the years has shaped the lives and landscape of Philadelphia. Learn about the changes and development along the lower Schuylkill River and the industrialization that followed in historical landmarks, and public art spanning the early 18th to the mid-19th century. This tour was developed in partnership with the Association for Public Art (formerly the Fairmount Park Art Association).
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 futureThis 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.
Take a Tour of Tourison in East Mt. Airy – Sold Out
Ashton Tourison, Sr. was born in Mt
Ashton Tourison, Sr. was born in Mt. Airy in 1851 to a former captain in the Civil War. Beginning in the 1870s, he had a grand vision for and confidence in the future of Mt. Airy. In approximately 1904, he purchased 125 acres between Chew and Stenton Avenues, from E. Durham Street to Meehan Avenue, and advertised his plan for Sedgwick Farms as “stone-built homes, planned on an architectural idea that makes each different from the other, yet in perfect harmony with all.” Along with creating timeless beauty, he provided “practical houses incorporating core values of space, air, light, comfort and good taste.” With these core values in mind, this walking tour will tell the story of Ye Sedgwick Farms Company comprised of Tourison, together with his four sons, and reminds us to ask ourselves how we feel about the importance of incorporating these values in our built environment today. This singular family’s vision provided us with a legacy of beautiful, enduring architecture, comprised of a variety of designs mostly in the form of Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Neo-Georgian and Victorian.
Please note, this tour runs approximately two hours and is about a two mile walking distance with a small hill. Be sure to dress accordingly and wear comfortable shoes.
Meet at the Lovett Memorial Library at 6945 Germantown Ave, Philadelphia PA 19119 (MAP)
Parking is available nearby the library or at the Acme Parking lot across the street.
This tour was created and researched by Elise Rivers, Esq., who worked in the field of historic preservation in the 1990’s as Assistant Director of Preservation Worcester in Massachusetts and Executive Director of Landmark West, an historic preservation non-profit advocating for the upper west side of Manhattan. Her passion for beauty in architecture has never waned, and she was inspired to put together this walking tour, a
After living in, and loving her own Tourison home. She is grateful for the extensive archives of Historic Germantown, without which this tour would not exist.
Members: $15
Non-Members: $20
Victorian 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 1880sThis 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.
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 writersWilliam 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.
Emergence of a Modern Metropolis
Experience the transformation of Philadelphia from America’s 19th century engine of industry to a 21st century capital of business and cultureExperience the transformation of Philadelphia from America’s 19th century engine of industry to a 21st century capital of business and culture. This 2-hour tour explores Philadelphia’s diverse range of architectural styles and building technologies from the 1860s to the present, detailing the social, economic, and political forces that shaped the modern cityscape.
Underground Philadelphia
Discover the Philadelphia Plan which gave us two Art Deco masterpieces, the monumental 30th Street Station and Suburban Station, the first all-underground rail terminalDiscover the Philadelphia Plan which gave us two Art Deco masterpieces, the monumental 30th Street Station and Suburban Station, the first all-underground rail terminal. The tour starts at 30th Street Station and proceeds via trolley to 19th St. From the Comcast tower lobby descend into an underground concourse network to the site of The Fashion District (formerly known as the Gallery), before ending at Reading Terminal and the Marriott Hotel. Along the way, lament the loss of Broad St. Station and learn about the 1905-mid-50s trolley and subway lines, the Broad Street subway (1928), the Commuter Rail Tunnel (1984), and the former Reading Terminal, now part of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
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 citySituated 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.
Jewish Immigrant Philadelphia
Relive the Philadelphia experience of Eastern European Jews who settled, at the turn of the 20th century, in the area from 2nd to 6th Streets and Spruce Street south to Christian StreetRelive the Philadelphia experience of Eastern European Jews who settled, at the turn of the 20th century, in the area from 2nd to 6th Streets and Spruce Street south to Christian Street. Explore their synagogues and homes and learn about their thriving marketplaces that became prominent businesses.
Camden’s Historic Cooper Street
The Cooper Street Historic District and adjacent campus of Rutgers-Camden are a living museum of American urban history
The Cooper Street Historic District and adjacent campus of Rutgers-Camden are a living museum of American urban history. Surviving nineteenth-century residences and later commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings tell the story of Camden’s emergence as an industrial powerhouse and the impacts of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and urban renewal. Within six blocks, highlights of this walk will include a rare row of 1850s working-class rental properties, the 1869 mansion of Philadelphia advertising pioneer F.W. Ayer, Camden’s first luxury apartment building, the distinctive public art of Johnson Park, and surviving buildings of the RCA-Victor factory complex. We will see residences individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places for their architectural merit and a variety of approaches to preservation and adaptive reuse.
This tour will be led by Charlene Mires, Professor of History and Director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities at Rutgers-Camden. She leads the Learning From Cooper Street project, which involves students in documenting past residents of properties on Cooper Street and in the area of the Rutgers-Camden campus.
Chestnut Hill
Take a leisurely stroll through this bucolic “Garden City” neighborhood, a suburban setting within the city limitsTake 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 the 1920s. Explore this haven of late Victorian, Arts & Crafts, English Cotswolds and Modern residences and see how it emerged as a desirable and complete neighborhood.
Classical Philadelphia
Discover the Philadelphia known as “The Athens of America” in the early 19th centuryDiscover 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.
Queen Village
Explore this worker’s neighborhood and be amazed by its history because it predates William PennExplore 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.
Littlest Streets Fitler Square
Experience yet another intimate neighborhood within Center City, just southwest of Rittenhouse Square west of Broad StreetExperience 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.
Society Hill Sacred Sites
Due to its Quaker origins, Philadelphia has long been hospitable to worshipers of many faithsDue to 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.