Philadelphia - Day Tripper Guide
# 076-Boogie Ben's Neighborhood, Day Tripper Self-Guided Tour
Spot Hero Parking
Parking - South 4th Street & Chestnut Street is a convenient parking area, just around the block from the starting point at the Franklin's Court and just three blocks from the last stop at 132 South 2nd Street, City Tavern.
Philly Town 76 has partnered with Spot Hero a digital parking reservation service that will connect you to available parking lots in the recommended parking area. You can reserve and pay for parking spaces with the available parking lots, parking garages and valet services in this area. Click on the Spot Hero Parking Icon, schedule the day and time of your Day Trip, make your choice and Book your parking.
Philly Town 76 has partnered with Spot Hero a digital parking reservation service that will connect you to available parking lots in the recommended parking area. You can reserve and pay for parking spaces with the available parking lots, parking garages and valet services in this area. Click on the Spot Hero Parking Icon, schedule the day and time of your Day Trip, make your choice and Book your parking.
|
Franklin’s Court, between 3rd & 4th, with entrances off of Market or Chestnut Street, is a wonderful place to start any tour of Ben’s city. This location is on the site where Ben lived from 1763 to his death in 1790. Unfortunately the building was demolished in 1812 but the foundation is still there. He called the court his “niche”. Today there is a modern ghost structure that outlines where the house and the print shop once stood. The museum is inside and down stairs. It is very well done, interesting and worth seeing. As you leave the court, head west towards Independence Mall where you'll make a right on 5th street . Follow 5th St. to Arch St.
Christ Church Burial Grounds is where Ben was laid to rest. It is just off Independence Mall at the corner of 5th and Arch Street. Right now, it is only open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 4. Take a stroll in the graveyard, and make sure you throw a penny on Ben’s grave.
TIP: If the grounds are not open, you can still see the grave site and throw your penny from outside the fence.
Just down Arch Street, east towards 4th, next to Ladder Company 2, in Girard Fountain Park, is the one-ton, 9' tall, James Peniston-sculpted bust of Ben, titled “Keys to the Community.” It is cast from 1,000 keys collected from local school children alloyed with brass name plates of fallen Philadelphia firefighters. It was partially funded by 1.8 million pennies donated from 500 area schools. |
|
|
,
Arch Street Meeting House, a beautiful Quaker property, is right across the street. I am pretty sure that Ben would have attended meetings here. The site of this place of worship has been continuously used by Quakers since 1682, when it was established by William Penn. There is a lovely, yet austere, little graveyard that has a few famous residents. One is Quaker Samuel Nicholas, 1744 – 1790, the founder of the Marine Corps, which is interesting considering Friends are pacifists. |
|
Betsy Ross’s House is on the next block. You may ask what connection was there between Betsy and Ben. Well, I’ll tell you. Betsy was a Quaker, and she fell in love with an apprentice, John Ross, who was an Episcopalian. Quakers frowned on inter-denominational marriages. The penalty for such unions was severe. On a November night in 1773, 21-year-old Betsy eloped with John Ross. They ferried across the Delaware River to Hugg's Tavern and were married in New Jersey. On their wedding certificate is the name of New Jersey's Governor, William Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's son.
Here’s another connection. On July 4th weekend, 2008, Philadelphia Major Micheal Nutter performed the ceremony to marry Linda Wilde, a Betsy Ross impersonator, to Ralph Archbold, the famous Ben Franklin impersonator. Their wedding rings were dark gold with bits of the American flag, a kite, a lightning bolt, and a key embossed. 
|
|
Fireman’s Hall Museum - Leaving Betsy’s place, you continue east a few feet, make a left on Bread Street, then a right on Quarry St, and right around the corner. To your left at 147 N 2nd Street is the hall. This old firehouse was renovated in 1902 and is one of the nation’s premier fire museums. Philadelphia is the birthplace of the first volunteer fire companies. In 1736, Benjamin Franklin created the first fire brigade, which was called The Union Fire Company.
--Around the corner, at 228 Race Street, on the corner of Bread St., is Paddy’s Pub Old City. This place inspired the one on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It’s a Dive Bar* and allows smoking. --
--Around the corner, at 228 Race Street, on the corner of Bread St., is Paddy’s Pub Old City. This place inspired the one on It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It’s a Dive Bar* and allows smoking. --
|
|
Elfreth’s Alley - A block south on 2nd is Elfreth’s Alley, a picturesque cobblestone street that is known as the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. I hear Ben had a lady-friend who lived there.
|
|
City Tavern is your next stop. 132 S 2nd Street, on the corner of Walnut. Just a short walk down either Front Street or 2nd, you will find City Tavern. This is an excellent spot for a pewter mug of beer and some authentic 18th-century grub. Ben Franklin frequented this establishment for informal meetings with The Founders since 1773. You’ll find this place quite delightful. The restaurant and its furnishings are period-style, as are the wait staff.
|
Dolly Todd Madison's House is just a block up Walnut, on the corner between 3rd and 4th. If you are hungry as you stroll down Walnut, stop in Freda's, 320 Walnut Street, for a fabulous bite to eat.
Dolly famously helped to define the role of the first lady and established many of the precedents that her successors would follow. She also decorated the executive mansion (White House) to reflect the importance of the presidency. The house is furnished to look as if the family still resided there and includes many 18th-century antiques. When the site is open, timed entry tickets are required. Past Todd's house, you can follow a path into a park where you'll find Carpenters Hall. |
|
Carpenters Hall is in a beautiful park between Walnut and Chestnut. Another favorite meeting place of Ben Franklin was the Carpenters Hall, where the craft guild has met since 1771. Ben formed the Library Company of Philadelphia there in 1731, becoming the first Library of Congress. In 1774, he and his friends also formed the military Light Horse Cavalry Troop and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The First Continental Congress listed the Colonies' grievances there and recommended a Second Congress meet in May 1775. Ben and the other Founders were very busy in this turbulent revolutionary time. Their quest for independence started here. In the same courtyard is the New Hall Military Museum, a small place but interesting nonetheless, with models, flags, weapons, and figures from our early armed forces. Your next stop is right across Chestnut Street.
|
National Liberty Museum
The NLM at 321 Chestnut Street brings liberty to life through stories of people whose character and courage have expanded liberty for all. The Museum's exhibits, educational experiences, and public programs inspire visitors to think about freedom as an ongoing human quest that we all share. The National Liberty Museum is now open for self-guided tours, with new hours, timed-ticketing, and updated health and safety procedures to ensure a worry-free experience for visitors. The brand-new exhibition Philly's Freedom: Artists Speak Out will be open soon. www.libertymuseum.org/visit |
|
|
The Museum of the American Revolution The Museum, at 3rd and Chestnut, has many hands-on displays, dioramas, life-size figures, and outfits the kids can dress up in. 1770s Philadelphia is brought to life with four immersive environments – a military encampment, a tavern, a place of worship, and a home. Children can also experience a variety of crafts, digital interactives, hands-on activities, and story time in the space. Throughout the Museum, encounter themed discovery carts, create at a “History in the Making” activity table, meet living historians, and more! |
First Bank of the United States is right down 3rd Street, on the corner of 3rd and Walnut. It was built in 1795 when banking was a Government function.
Side Story...My son won a $20 bet with the United States Secretary of the Treasury, who thought the first US bank was in NYC. Both of my grandsons now have $10 bills, which were autographed by the treasurer.
Hotels in Ben’s neighborhood:
- Wyndham Philadelphia Historical District, 400 Arch St., across form Ben’s Burial site.
- Philadelphia Marriott Old City One Dock Street catty-corner to the City Tavern
- Holiday Inn Express 100 North Christopher Columbus Blvd.
- Penn's View Hotel 14 North Front St.
Restaurants in Ben’s neighborhood:
Old City is an area between Walnut and Market from 6th Street to Dock Street. It is filled with bars, clubs and restaurants. From inexpensive luncheonettes and taverns to 5 Star elegance. Here are a few suggestions:
Old City is an area between Walnut and Market from 6th Street to Dock Street. It is filled with bars, clubs and restaurants. From inexpensive luncheonettes and taverns to 5 Star elegance. Here are a few suggestions:
- Positano Coast 212 Walnut St
- The Olde Bar 125 Walnut St
- City Tavern 138 S 2nd St
- Zahav 237 Saint James Plaza
- Buddakan 325 Chestnut St
*Dive Bar—This name goes back to the 1880s when some disreputable establishments were in the basement. You had to “Dive Below.” Nowadays, these neighborhood joints are old-style, shabby-type places that serve inexpensive drinks. The food may be questionable, and many times, smoking is allowed. But they are often where the locals hang out and always where the fun is.
COVID-19 restrictions, some of these places may not be open or have limited capacity. Food and Beverage establishments may have, curbside pickup, take-out and outdoor dining only.