Hidden City Philadelphia

Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture.Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture. Trees and vines have engulfed the gravestones in some areas, giving the place the atmosphere of a lost city in the jungle. Almost every style of tomb can be found here, from Egyptian Revival to Art Nouveau. Guests will learn about the role of cemeteries as a place for leisure in the Victorian era, as well as the influence of the Freemasons. Part wilderness and

A personal and historical presentation of 1950's working class Philadelphia street culture. Not to be missed!What was it like--really like--to grow up Catholic in the blue collar, North Philly neighborhood of Hartranft in the 1950s? It sure wasn’t Leave it to Beaver, or Happy Days or sock hops and doo wop or any of the other cultural tropes that dominate our understanding of the decade.The neighborhood still hummed with industry; there were tanneries, machine shops and textile mills, along with the massive factory complexes of the Stetson Hat Company and the Schmidt’s Brewery. St. Edward the Confessor, at 8th and

Jerry Silverman will lead us on a tour of the MFL, trolley lines, BSL, Patco, and subways...what is no longer is and what never was.We’ll begin at 30th Street Station and learn some Market Street Elevated Railway history, hop on a subterranean trolley to City Hall, then transfer to the Broad Street Line.  We'll travel the subway south to the stadiums, and north to Fern Rock where the subway actually exits the tunnel. From there we’ll take the Broad-Ridge Express Spur to 8th and Market, then board PATCO to Camden and back.Along the way, we’ll check out the eagles salvaged

Our once-a-season, bicycle-based field trip exploring Philadelphia's 500 million years of geologic history!Hidden Geology Bike Tour Meet in the garden of the American Philosophical Society, southeast corner of 5th and Chestnut across the street from the Monaco Hotel It's back! Our once-a-season, bicycle-based field trip exploring Philadelphia's 500 million years of geologic history, which is all around us yet rarely seen. We'll start in Old City near Independence Hall, ride to the beautiful and scenic banks of the Schuylkill River, and then on to historic RittenhouseTown on Wissahickon Creek. We'll stop at a number of locations along the way, where

Jerry Silverman will lead us on a tour of the MFL, trolley lines, BSL, Patco, and subways...what is no longer is and what never was.We’ll hop on the Broad Street Line south to the NRG bi-level station, then north to the outdoor Fern Rock terminal and storage yards. The tour includes a quick ride on the subterranean trolley around City Hall, and the Broad-Ridge Express Spur to 8th and Market. Finally, we board PATCO across the Ben Franklin Bridge to Camden and back to Broad and Locust.Along the way we’ll check out old subway cars rusting away at Fern Rock

Jerry Silverman will lead us on a tour of the Broad Street Line, Ridge Avenue Spur, and the PATCO line, to learn about the Philly subways. We'll travel the subway south to the stadiums, and north to Fern Rock where the subway actually exits the tunnel. From there we’ll take the Broad-Ridge Express Spur to 8th and Market, then board PATCO to Camden and back.Along the way, we’ll check out the eagles salvaged from the demolished NYC Penn Station, old subway cars rusting away at Fern Rock Station, an abandoned revenue train platform, ghost stations, and more. Plus, Jerry will

Jerry Silverman will lead us on a tour of the Broad Street and Ridge Avenue Subway lines, as well as the PATCO line to Camden.Jerry Silverman will lead us on a tour of the Broad Street and Ridge Avenue Subway lines, as well as the PATCO line to Camden. The theme is what is no longer, and what never was. We'll travel the subway south to the stadiums, and north to Fern Rock where the subway actually exits the tunnel. From there we’ll take the Broad-Ridge Express Spur to 8th and Market, then board PATCO to Camden and back.Along the

Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture.Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture. Trees and vines have engulfed the gravestones in some areas, giving the place the atmosphere of a lost city in the jungle. Almost every style of tomb can be found here, from Egyptian Revival to Art Nouveau. Guests will learn about the role of cemeteries as a place for leisure in the Victorian era, as well as the influence of the Freemasons. Part wilderness and

Walk with us up this vein of architectural and historical gold, from Spring Garden Street to Temple University.One hundred years ago, North Broad was THE signature place to live in Philadelphia. Enormous mansions, such as the Widener home, a vibrant Jewish neighborhood, and great high schools that were the pride of this neighborhood. We'll uncover secrets in and around Temple U, and learn about famous auto showrooms and car-related factories which lined this beautiful boulevard. After years of decline following World War II, investment has brought the reopening of the mind-boggling Metropolitan Opera House and the stately yet strange creation

Our once-a-season, bicycle-based field trip exploring Philadelphia's 500 million years of geologic history!Hidden Geology Bike Tour Meet in the garden of the American Philosophical Society, southeast corner of 5th and Chestnut across the street from the Monaco Hotel It's back! Our once-a-season, bicycle-based field trip exploring Philadelphia's 500 million years of geologic history, which is all around us yet rarely seen. We'll start in Old City near Independence Hall, ride to the beautiful and scenic banks of the Schuylkill River, and then on to Manayunk where we will have a tasty snack before returning to Center City. We'll stop at

Discover how and why Philly became such an industrial colossus, along with what caused its decline.We called ourselves “The World’s Greatest Workshop,” and there was almost nothing we didn’t make here, from silk stockings to locomotives. It didn’t last, of course, but some of the workshops and mill buildings from that era have managed to survive. Join Hidden City project director Pete Woodall as we explore remnants of Philadelphia’s industrial past, making our way from Northern Liberties to Olde Kensington and back again. We’ll visit the former sites of Stetson Hats, Schmidt’s Beer and Gretz Beer, plus former hosiery mills,

Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture.Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture. Trees and vines have engulfed the gravestones in some areas, giving the place the atmosphere of a lost city in the jungle. Almost every style of tomb can be found here, from Egyptian Revival to Art Nouveau. Guests will learn about the role of cemeteries as a place for leisure in the Victorian era, as well as the influence of the Freemasons. Part wilderness and

For stunning late Victorian Gothic Revival architecture combined with fascinating social history, it's tough to beat Church of the AdvocateFor stunning late Victorian Gothic Revival architecture combined with fascinating social history, it's tough to beat Church of the Advocate at 18th and Diamond, the final stop on this tour but the first thing we want to tell you about (we didn't want to bury the lede!). The church's progressive social practices began at its founding with the abolition of "pew rents" and reached their height in the 1960s and 70s when it hosted the Conference of Black Power, the Black

See ghost signs and learn of the businesses behind them, from lettered signs on building facades to those embedded in the sidewalks."Ghost Signs" are faded and often forgotten business and advertisement signs, usually found on the front or sides of buildings. The effects of decades of weather, neglect, and cover-up attempts have diminished their eye-catching glow, but they still provide a window into the past, revealing generations of a building's history and uncovering fascinating stories of our city. These signs can be found all over Philadelphia, but a large concentration of them are in the Old City neighborhood. Join Hidden

Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture.Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture. Trees and vines have engulfed the gravestones in some areas, giving the place the atmosphere of a lost city in the jungle. Almost every style of tomb can be found here, from Egyptian Revival to Art Nouveau. Guests will learn about the role of cemeteries as a place for leisure in the Victorian era, as well as the influence of the Freemasons. Part wilderness and

Tour Historic RittenhouseTown and participate in papermaking at America's first paper millOn this HC Field Trip, we visit Historic RittenhouseTown for a tour of the grounds, including the 1707 Homestead, 1753 Bake House, and a papermaking workshop.Established in 1690 along Paper Mill Run, a tributary of the Wissahickon Creek, the Rittenhouse Mill was the first paper mill in British North America. Around it, bloomed the early industrial community known as Rittenhouse Town. Working with rags from Germantown residents, the Rittenhouse Mill made paper that was sold to printers in nearby Germantown, Philadelphia and New York for use in Bibles and

Our once-a-season, bicycle-based field trip exploring Philadelphia's 500 million years of geologic history!Hidden Geology Bike Tour Meet in the garden of the American Philosophical Society, southeast corner of 5th and Chestnut across the street from the Monaco Hotel It's back! Our once-a-season, bicycle-based field trip exploring Philadelphia's 500 million years of geologic history, which is all around us yet rarely seen. We'll start in Old City near Independence Hall, ride to the beautiful and scenic banks of the Schuylkill River, and then on to Manayunk where we will have a tasty snack before returning to Center City. We'll stop at

See ghost signs and learn of the businesses behind them, from lettered signs on building facades to those embedded in the sidewalks"Ghost Signs" are faded and often forgotten business and advertisement signs, usually found on the front or sides of buildings. The effects of decades of weather, neglect, and cover-up attempts have diminished their eye-catching glow, but they still provide a window into the past, revealing generations of a building's history and uncovering fascinating stories of our city. These signs can be found all over Philadelphia, but a large concentration of them are in the Old City neighborhood.Join Hidden City

Jerry Silverman will lead us on a tour of the Market Street elevated passenger railway and subway-surface carsThe tour begins with a short walk west along Market Street to understand the reason for submerging the original elevated structure and the trolleys back in the 50's. After riding the trolley from 33rd Street eastbound around City Hall to 13th Street, we check out the PCC car in the basement of SEPTA HQ at 1234 Market Street. Continuing on the Market-Frankford Subway/El east, we see the sun again at Spring Garden Station, view Northern Liberties and Kensington from above, pass the site

Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture.Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture. Trees and vines have engulfed the gravestones in some areas, giving the place the atmosphere of a lost city in the jungle. Almost every style of tomb can be found here, from Egyptian Revival to Art Nouveau. Guests will learn about the role of cemeteries as a place for leisure in the Victorian era, as well as the influence of the Freemasons. Part wilderness and

Tour the unique Gothic & Romanesque Bryn Athyn CathedralJoin us in touring the Gothic and Romanesque Bryn Athyn Cathedral. Built by over 300 local artisans during the height of the American Arts & Crafts Movement using old world craftsmanship, the cathedral is a monument to the Swedenborgian faith and a unique masterpiece. Learn of the details that make this nontraditional mix of architectural styles and materials such a wondrous sight to behold.This private group tour of the cathedral is available through special arrangement, so don't snoose on the opportunity. Meet at 900 Cathedral Rd, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009.Questions, concerns, conundrums?

Explore the neighborhood just blocks away from PAFA that so electrified Lynch's imaginationWhen David Lynch moved to Philadelphia in the late 1960, he discovered a city that was both terrifying and inspiring. Explore Callowhill, the neighborhood that so electrified Lynch's imagination, with two guides: Hidden City's Peter Woodall + Lynch/Eraserhood aficionado, Bob Bruhin. During this one-and-a-half hour walking tour, we'll delve into the area's industrial history, as well as the sights and sounds that inspired Lynch's movies, particularly Eraserhead.Questions, concerns, conundrums? Contact Hidden City project coordinator Alyssa Shea at ashea@hiddencityphila.org.

Jerry Silverman will lead us on a tour of the Broad Street and Ridge Avenue Subway lines, as well as the PATCO line to Camden.The theme is WHAT IS NO LONGER, AND WHAT NEVER WAS.Jerry Silverman leads us on a tour of the Broad Street and Ridge Avenue Subway lines, as well as the PATCO line to Camden. Travel the subway south to the stadiums and north to Fern Rock, where the subway actually exits the tunnel. From there, we take the Broad-Ridge Express Spur to 8th and Market Streets and then board PATCO for a ride to Camden and

See ghost signs and learn of the businesses behind them, from lettered signs on building facades to those embedded in the sidewalks"Ghost Signs" are faded and often forgotten business and advertisement signs, usually found on the front or sides of buildings. The effects of decades of weather, neglect, and cover-up attempts have diminished their eye-catching glow, but they still provide a window into the past, revealing generations of a building's history and uncovering fascinating stories of our city. These signs can be found all over Philadelphia, but a large concentration of them are in the Old City neighborhood.Join Hidden City

Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture.Mount Moriah is the largest cemetery in Pennsylvania, and home to some of our city’s finest grave architecture. Trees and vines have engulfed the gravestones in some areas, giving the place the atmosphere of a lost city in the jungle. Almost every style of tomb can be found here, from Egyptian Revival to Art Nouveau. Guests will learn about the role of cemeteries as a place for leisure in the Victorian era, as well as the influence of the Freemasons. Part wilderness and