Founded in 1682, Philadelphia has long stood at the heart of American history and culture. As the meeting place of the First and Second Continental Congresses and the nation’s temporary capital, the city played a defining role in the fight for independence and the founding of the United States. Not far from the city lies Valley Forge, where 12,000 Continental soldiers under George Washington’s command endured the brutal winter of 1777–1778—a turning point in America’s struggle for freedom. Join historian Denver Brunsman, an expert on Colonial and Revolutionary America, for a two-day exploration of the nation’s former capital and its Revolutionary legacy.
Begin in Old City, the beating heart of Revolutionary ideals. At the Museum of the American Revolution, a guided tour brings to life the experiences of soldiers, women, African Americans, Native Americans, children, and others whose lives were transformed by the war for independence. Enjoy a lunch-and-learn session with museum educators discussing Philadelphia during the revolution.
Inside Independence Hall, a National Park Service ranger leads you through the Assembly Room, where the Continental Congress declared independence in 1776 and where the U.S. Constitution was debated and signed in 1787. Look for the Rising Sun Chair, which George Washington sat in as he presided over the Constitutional Convention.
Just blocks away, tour the Powel House, home of Samuel and Elizabeth Powel. Their soirées drew many of the era’s leading figures, including Washington. Elizabeth Powel—educated, insightful, and politically astute—became one of Washington’s closest confidants before, during, and after his presidency.
Continue to Christ Church, founded in 1695 and attended by many of the revolution’s most notable participants, including Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Betsy Ross. Then visit Christ Church Burial Ground, where Franklin, Samuel and Elizabeth Powel, Benjamin Rush, and Philip Syng Physick rest among other prominent Philadelphians. Dinner is at Moshulu, an iconic four-masted tall ship docked at Penn’s Landing, which spent decades transporting cargo across the globe before turning into a dining destination.
A morning walking tour through Old City immerses you in colonial history, winding along cobblestone streets such as Elfreth’s Alley, one of the oldest continuously inhabited residential streets in the United States.
Conclude at Valley Forge National Historical Park, where the Continental Army transformed from a struggling militia into a disciplined fighting force. On a guided driving tour, trace the hardships and triumphs of the 6-month encampment that proved pivotal to America’s independence. Visit Muhlenberg’s Brigade, where regiments led by Brig. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg built their huts during the encampment, and Washington’s Headquarters, the stone house where George and Martha Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and other members of Washington’s “military family” lived and planned through the bitter winter.
Know Before You Go
- Cost includes bus transportation, lodging, all activities, and the following meals: one breakfast, two lunches, and one dinner
- Tour departs by bus from the Mayflower Hotel, Connecticut Ave. and DeSales St., NW, with a pickup stop at I-495 exit 27 carpool lot at about 7:40 a.m.
- Single-room supplement $90 (factored into the Single Room Member and Single Room Nonmember pricing).
- Singles registering at the double-room rate are paired (on a nonsmoking basis) if possible, but must pay the single-room supplement otherwise.
- Detailed information is emailed to registrants about four weeks prior to departure.
- Participants are advised to purchase travel insurance for overnight and multi-day tours from a provider of your choice. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents that require last-minute cancellations.
General Information
- The tour departs by motorcoach from downtown Washington, DC with a designated secondary pick-up outside the city. Content delivered by the study leader on the way to the destination, after the secondary pick-up, is an integral part of the study tour experience. Meeting the group once the tour is en route is discouraged.
- Smithsonian Associates is a mask-friendly environment. Please feel free to bring and wear a mask at any time during a tour, both for your safety or the safety of others.
- As we aim to move away from single use water bottles, guests are strongly encouraged to get in the habit of bringing their own reusable water bottle on tour.
- For additional tour information:
