America's Founding Fathers Footsteps Philadelphia Self-guided Walking Tour
Places: 27 POIs
Distance: 1.66 mi
Duration: 1h:27m
GPS-guided narration through
Your Smartphone
Tour #441
About this English self-guided 1h:27m walking tour in Philadelphia
Welcome to Historic America’s Founding Fathers Footsteps tour of Philadelphia. We’re glad you could join us! I’m Aaron, your guide (but I also respond to professional history nerd). This is the part of the tour where I fit in my shameless plug for our website (www.historicamerica.org) and invite you to use the #historicamericatours on social media while traveling alongside us today.
This tour is a biographical journey telling the stories of America's Founding Fathers by exploring the sites where they lived and worked here in historic Philadelphia. Here, America’s founding generation oversaw a revolution, wrote our founding documents and gave birth to a young republic. From Betsy Ross’s House, to the grave of Benjamin Franklin, to the assembly room where George Washington became America’s general - this tour is packed with larger-than-life Americans and their most memorable moments.
To get started, find your way to the intersection of Market & 2nd Street - near the 2nd Street subway station.
A quick note before we begin: Our tour is designed to help you see Philadelphia’s most famous sites no matter when you visit! We will not go inside any buildings, but many of these sites are free and open to the public on most days during regular business hours. However, some sites (like inside Independence Hall) require a free, timed ticket and a security check. If you’d like more information about operating hours and tickets to Independence Hall, you can visit the Independence Visitor Center on Market Street.
- 1For the best experience, begin at the tour's recommended starting point and follow the stops in order.
- 2Want to start somewhere else? Simply use Start At on the tour screen, before tapping Start Tour, to begin from any stop.
- 3Need to detour or skip a stop along the way? Tap Tour Assistant (
![UCPlaces AI Bot Icon]()
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
) to use Force Play, Skip, and Back, for full flexibility.
Route Preview
- Category
- Language
- Mode
- Region
- Country
- City
Places (POIs) visited during this tour
Place #1
![Map Pin]()
Recommended Starting Point
Distance: 0.43mi
, Attraction : None
2nd St Station, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
You’ve Arrived
Hello! I’m Aaron Killian for Historic America and I’m excited to be your personal tour guide and storyteller today! Whatever mode of transportation you use to get here, a good starting point for today’s tour is the intersection of Market & 2nd Street - nearby the 2nd Street subway station. Once you arrive, note the open lawn area on the northwest corner of the intersection. Keep this patch of green to your left as you walk north along 2nd street. This will lead you to the first attraction on our tour, Christ Church, which you’ll see to your left front as you walk up 2nd Street.
As you walk, I’ll talk. Today’s Founding Fathers Footsteps tour will introduce you to the personal stories of America’s founding generation, by exploring the actual sites where they lived and worked here in historic Philadelphia. We'll see the home of Betsy Ross, the grave of Benjamin Franklin, the place where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and so much more. Alright, now that I’ve set the scene, the story will continue as you near Christ Church.
As you walk, I’ll talk. Today’s Founding Fathers Footsteps tour will introduce you to the personal stories of America’s founding generation, by exploring the actual sites where they lived and worked here in historic Philadelphia. We'll see the home of Betsy Ross, the grave of Benjamin Franklin, the place where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and so much more. Alright, now that I’ve set the scene, the story will continue as you near Christ Church.
Place #2
![Map Pin]()
Distance: 0.36mi
, Attraction : Christ Church
101 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA
The Founding Fathers
As you walk up 2nd, to your left, you should see the red brick exterior of Christ Church - a terrific place to begin our journey today, since this historic church hosted scores of America’s founding fathers & mothers for worship services throughout the revolutionary era. Position yourself so that you have a good view of the church.
Though it may not seem like it today, at the time of the American Revolution, Philadelphia was the most important city in America. With 38,000 inhabitants, it was also the most populous. New York was a distant second; Washington, DC didn’t exist until 1800. Boston was certainly an important commercial city, but not the seat of culture and government like Philadelphia. What happened in this city from the early 1700s through the early 1800s didn’t just change American history, it changed the world we live in today - and the people who worshipped at Christ Church were many of the people who helped make that change. The building of Christ Church itself was a landmark moment in the history of colonial America, and a jewel in Philadelphia’s crown.
The church itself dates all the way back to 1695 - and the building you see today opened in 1744 with the steeple being placed atop the church in 1754. It’s almost 200 feet high, and at the time, it made Christ Church the tallest building in the colonies and later the United States (a record it would hold for over 50 years)! This is a fact that no doubt impressed many of the founding generation who worshipped inside the church. You might know some of their names, George & Martha Washington, John & Abigail Adams, Betsy Ross, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush and dozens of members of the Continental Congress & Constitutional Convention. On our journey today, we’ll be sharing many of their stories with you! If you wish to pause the tour and explore the church, feel free. Our tour continues on.
Now continue up 2nd street as I talk about timelines. As we make our way through the stories of various founders today we’re going to be jumping around the early American timeline quite a bit. So let’s review a couple key points in order to keep everything clear as we move long.
Before 1775, the American states were colonies of Great Britain - but they grew tired of Britain’s taxation policies and under the leadership of a band of radical patriots, the states united in staging a rebellion and declaring independence from British rule in 1776. That declaration was made here in Philadelphia by a group known as the Second Continental Congress - so named because (chronologically) they came one year after the First Continental Congress. Both Congresses were made up of representatives from across the colonies and they met here in Philly in order to coordinate a resistance against unjust British rule. The rebellion would last until 1783, at which time the treaty of Paris was signed and the United States officially won their freedom. The former colonies became free, fiercely independent states and they were loosely held together by a weak central government (organized under a system called the Articles of Confederation). In 1787, a convention of state delegates was called to create a new system. That convention met here in Philadelphia - in the same building where the 2nd Continental Congress had declared independence. The convention would produce the Constitution of the United States which laid down the rules of the new, strengthened, federal government and within a few years of its creation that same federal government would (temporarily) reside in Philadelphia from 1790-1800. So our tour today is going to jump around within that crowded hour of American history which took place here in Philly - from the revolution, to the constitution, to the young Republic. Make sense? Ok.
I’ll meet you up ahead at the intersection of Arch & 2nd.
Though it may not seem like it today, at the time of the American Revolution, Philadelphia was the most important city in America. With 38,000 inhabitants, it was also the most populous. New York was a distant second; Washington, DC didn’t exist until 1800. Boston was certainly an important commercial city, but not the seat of culture and government like Philadelphia. What happened in this city from the early 1700s through the early 1800s didn’t just change American history, it changed the world we live in today - and the people who worshipped at Christ Church were many of the people who helped make that change. The building of Christ Church itself was a landmark moment in the history of colonial America, and a jewel in Philadelphia’s crown.
The church itself dates all the way back to 1695 - and the building you see today opened in 1744 with the steeple being placed atop the church in 1754. It’s almost 200 feet high, and at the time, it made Christ Church the tallest building in the colonies and later the United States (a record it would hold for over 50 years)! This is a fact that no doubt impressed many of the founding generation who worshipped inside the church. You might know some of their names, George & Martha Washington, John & Abigail Adams, Betsy Ross, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush and dozens of members of the Continental Congress & Constitutional Convention. On our journey today, we’ll be sharing many of their stories with you! If you wish to pause the tour and explore the church, feel free. Our tour continues on.
Now continue up 2nd street as I talk about timelines. As we make our way through the stories of various founders today we’re going to be jumping around the early American timeline quite a bit. So let’s review a couple key points in order to keep everything clear as we move long.
Before 1775, the American states were colonies of Great Britain - but they grew tired of Britain’s taxation policies and under the leadership of a band of radical patriots, the states united in staging a rebellion and declaring independence from British rule in 1776. That declaration was made here in Philadelphia by a group known as the Second Continental Congress - so named because (chronologically) they came one year after the First Continental Congress. Both Congresses were made up of representatives from across the colonies and they met here in Philly in order to coordinate a resistance against unjust British rule. The rebellion would last until 1783, at which time the treaty of Paris was signed and the United States officially won their freedom. The former colonies became free, fiercely independent states and they were loosely held together by a weak central government (organized under a system called the Articles of Confederation). In 1787, a convention of state delegates was called to create a new system. That convention met here in Philadelphia - in the same building where the 2nd Continental Congress had declared independence. The convention would produce the Constitution of the United States which laid down the rules of the new, strengthened, federal government and within a few years of its creation that same federal government would (temporarily) reside in Philadelphia from 1790-1800. So our tour today is going to jump around within that crowded hour of American history which took place here in Philly - from the revolution, to the constitution, to the young Republic. Make sense? Ok.
I’ll meet you up ahead at the intersection of Arch & 2nd.
Read More
Tour itinerary stops | Additional places you'll see on this self-guided tour
Place 1
You’ve Arrived
Place 2
The Founding Fathers
Place 3
Arch & N 2nd St.
Place 4
Betsy Ross
Place 5
Ben Franklin Part I
Place 6
James Madison
Place 7
Thomas Jefferson Part I
Place 8
Thomas Jefferson Part II
Place 9
Market & 6th Street
Place 10
Martha Washington & Abigail Adams
Place 11
George Washington
Place 12
John Adams
Place 13
6th & Sansom
Place 14
Commodore Barry
Place 15
Walnut & 5th
Place 16
Robert Morris
Place 17
Dolley Madison
Place 18
South 4th Street
Place 19
Samuel Adams
Place 20
Alexander Hamilton
Place 21
George Washington Part II
Place 22
Chestnut Street & Entrance to Franklin Court
Place 23
Benjamin Franklin Part II
Place 24
Exit from Franklin Court & Market Street
Place 25
Musical Walk down 4th Street
Place 26
Chestnut & 4th Street
Place 27
The Founding Fathers Part II
Click below for full access to this tour
Have any questions about this tour? Or a general travel / self-guided tours question? That's completely natural
+ How long does this tour take?
Most travelers complete this tour in approximately 1 to 1.5 hours, depending on pace, time spent at each stop, and optional detours. Having said that, please remember that self-guided tours are extremly flexible (you can start, pause, continue anytime) and everyone has their own pace.
+ What does this tour include?
This self-guided walking tour includes 27 stops, covering top attractions such as You’ve Arrived, The Founding Fathers, Arch & N 2nd St., Betsy Ross, Ben Franklin Part I.
+ Where does the tour start?
The tour starts at You’ve Arrived (Address: 2nd St Station, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA). You can begin the tour there or join from any stop along the route.
+ What type of tour is this?
This is a self-guided walking tour designed to be completed on foot through walkable areas and city highlights.
+ Can I do this tour at my own pace?
Yes, this is a self-guided walking tour, so you can start anytime and explore at your own pace. You can pause, skip stops, or spend more time at places that interest you. You can even split it into multiple days. Explore however feels right for you.
+ Is this a walkable tour?
Yes, this tour is fully walkable and designed to follow a comfortable route through pedestrian-friendly areas.
+ Do I need anything in order to take the tour?
There is one thing that you need - A mobile phone (with the UCPlaces app installed and active location services, and a cellular data plan with a decent signal for downloading the tour) and comfortable walking shoes! But here are some recommendations for a great experience: 1. Make sure your phone is fully charged and bring a mobile charger/battery. 2. Bring earphones for the best experience. 3. Bring a bottle of water and dress appropriately according to the weather forecast.
+ How will I navigate from point to point during the tour?
The tour uses GPS-based navigation through the UCPlaces app, with automatic audio playback and step-by-step directions between stops. Just follow the route (cross streets carefully using crosswalks) and listen to the audio guide. Use the resume feature to continue the from where you recently stopped (or closed the app). Easily skip or go back to stops.
+ Is this tour suitable for families or groups?
Yes, self-guided tours are ideal for families and small groups, allowing everyone to explore comfortably without being tied to a fixed schedule.
+ What makes a self-guided tour better than a guided tour?
Self-guided tours are more flexible, affordable, and personalized. You can avoid crowds, choose your pace, and focus on the stops that interest you most.
+ I installed the app and it's now asking for GPS and media access permissions, why?
The app is your tour-guide, it needs to know where you are located on the map to be able to trigger the points of interest. It also needs access to audio and media files to provide you with this experience.
+ What happens if there are unexpected roadblocks or navigation issues?
We have been working hard to deliver a great experience. Though you may run into unexpected obstacles (the world is constantly changing), our app has multiple features and mechanisms in place to help you overcome them, including: AI assistance, force play an audio if you can't reach the stop, skip or return to stops, automatic rerouting and more.
+ Can I take the tour in my language?
Though all of our tours are primarily in English, many tours are muyltilingual (including: Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, Japanese, Hebrew, French, Arabic and more...). The tour language options depend on the specific tour - You can easily check which languages are available in the tour screen!