The Founding Fathers of Philadelphia: Private 2-hour History Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia holds some of the nation’s most defining landmarks, and this private two-hour walking tour brings those pivotal moments into focus. The route follows the real places tied to four central Founding Fathers—Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and John Adams—while offering a deeper look at the city that helped shape the early United States.

The walk highlights Philadelphia’s essential role in the American Revolution and the struggle for independence. Key stops include Benjamin Franklin’s grave, the National Constitution Center, and Franklin Court, where Franklin lived and worked during his years in the city. Sites such as Christ Church and the first American post office reveal how colonial life, communication, and community influenced the emerging nation.

Further along, the tour brings you to the President’s House Site, where Washington and Adams lived while Philadelphia served as the temporary capital. A memorial here honors the enslaved Africans who lived and labored on the property. Carpenters’ Hall, the meeting place of the First Continental Congress, offers a tangible connection to the earliest stages of American governance.

Iconic symbols of independence—including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall—anchor the final section of the tour. As you move through the Historic District, the narrative expands beyond well-known stories to include Philadelphia’s role in the slave trade, the growth of its trade networks, and the city’s emergence as a major cultural and economic center in the decades following independence.

The tour concludes at the entrance to Independence Hall, leaving you with a clearer and more nuanced understanding of the people, decisions, and conflicts that shaped the United States from its earliest days.