Our 1.75-mile route will start at Front and Chestnut Streets from Penn’s Landing Great Plaza; immediately turn left (South) on Front Street; turn right (West) on Walnut Street; turn right (North) on 5th Street; turn right (East) on Chestnut Street; turn right (South) on 2nd Street; turn left (East) on Walnut Street; turn left (North) on Front Street; and turn right (East) on Chestnut Street and enter Penn’s Landing Great Plaza at the upper Chestnut Street Entrance/Exit.
You will pass many noteworthy buildings, often worthy of a visit themselves (on a day when you have time to linger!). Watch for:
Merchants’ Exchange. The Merchants’ Exchange, designed by William Strickland in 1831, is the oldest stock exchange building in the United States.
Old St. Mary’s Church.
Built in 1763, Old St. Mary's became the first Catholic Cathedral of the Diocese of Philadelphia in 1810. George Washington, John Adams and other members of the Continental Congress attended services at Old St. Mary's Church.
Bishop White House.
The Reverend Dr. William White, rector of Christ Church and St. Peter’s Church as well as the first Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania, lived in this house from 1787 until his death in 1836.
Todd House. Built in 1775, by lawyer John Todd and his wife Dolley Payne. Todd died in 1793 of yellow fever, after which Dolley married James Madison, who became the fourth President of the United States.
Old St. Joseph’s Church.
The first church was built on this site in 1733, enlarged in 1821 and rebuilt in 1838. During a period of church-burning during the Anti-Catholic Riots of 1844, this church emerged unharmed.
Dr. Benjamin Rush House Site. Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father of the U.S. He was a physician, writer, educator,
and signatory of the Declaration of Independence and attended the Continental Congress. Philosophical Hall. The American Philosophical Society was founded in 1743 as a home for thinkers about nature, machines, industry and governance. Members included George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Alexander Hamilton.
Old City Hall. The United States Supreme Court met here from 1791 until 1800 when the Capital of the United States was moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.
Independence Hall. The Declaration of Independence was signed here.
Carpenter's Hall. In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Carpenter's Hall
National Liberty Museum. This Museum was created to help combat America's growing problem with violence and bigotry by celebrating our nation's heritage of freedom and the wonderful diverse society it has produced.
