We offer two tours of Philadelphia's rich Black history.
Beyond comparison the most exciting and fact filled 2 hours adventure offered in Philly. Learn about the history of Black Philadelphia while soaking in the fullest array of our nation's most important and historical monuments and sights. With a focus on the city's early history, Black Philadelphia Walking Tour will bring to light every detail of Philly's Black past.Â
Tour 1: Original Black History Tour of Old City
Meet your guide Raina, Mijuel or Alphonso (holding a red, black and green flag) in front of the Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Street, Philadelphia.
Every Saturday at 2:00pm.Â
RSVP in advance required.
Call 267.702.3479 for more information.
Hear about Black American’s role in the history of the nation's foundation. Take a journey to Congo Square, visit the unmarked graves of free and enslaved victims of the yellow fever epidemic. See where the Fugitive Slave Act was passed in 1793.Â
Hear about Martha Washington’s enslaved handmaiden who emancipated herself and others who traveled along the underground railroad. Learn about the Old London Coffee Shop where humans were inspected and sold into slavery. Walk in the footsteps of enslaved people, abolitionists, slaveholders and founding fathers. Hear about prominent early African-Americans.Â
Beyond question the most in-depth, authentic, and entertaining tour offered on the eastern sea board! A must see in Philadelphia.
Tour passes by: Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, The President’s House, Congress Hall, Old City Hall, First U.S. Supreme Court Building, American Philosophical Society Museum, Independence Square, Washington Square, Congo Square, Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier, the former location the Philadelphia Prison Site & the oldest continuous piece of land owned by people of African descent.
Tour 2: Seventh Ward Tour
Meet your guide Raina, Mijuel or Alphonso (holding a red, black and green flag) in front of Mother Bethel AME Church, 6th and Lombard Streets, Philadelphia.
Sunday at 2:00pm.Â
RSVP in advance required.
Call 267.702.3479 for more information.
Philadelphia’s famous Seventh Ward was a thriving and bustling community populated by many Black Philadelphians as well as immigrants from the end of the 18th century until the 1960s. By 1900 the Ward was home to approximately 30% of Black Philadelphians. Boasting the largest Black population in the city, the Seventh Ward was the epicenter of Black culture and home to many past and present African-American schools, churches and institutions as well as abolitionists, educators, athletes and political and women’s civil rights activists.The Seventh Ward was so fascinating that W.E.B Du Bois traveled to Philadelphia to conduct his study of Philadelphia’s Black population residing in the ward. Staying in the Seventh Ward, Dr. Du Bois conducted door-to-door in-depth interviews with Black Philadelphians from all walks of life. He witnessed economic, educational, and political discrimination. We will visit the site where W.E.B Du Bois penned his book, "The Philadelphia Negro", published in 1899.
Through this tour, you will visit many of these sites and experience first-hand the remnants of this section of the city. Although this neighborhood went through massive transitions, losing most of its Black residents, in the 1960s due to urban renewal and gentrification, many of the institutions, building, and homes of prominent residents that would have been familiar to Dr. DuBois or visited by him, still remain today. This is your opportunity to join us as we explore this still fascinating community that played a significant role in Black Philadelphia history.
All are welcome! Perfect for families! Perfect for solo travelers! Perfect for couples! Please wear comfortable sturdy shoes, we will be walking on cobblestoned streets. Please be aware that you need to be reasonably fit for the walk, and are responsible for your own safety. Taking part in the tour means you are participating at your own risk. You are also responsible for looking after your own belongings.
Bookings for private tours, wedding parties, conferences, family reunions, summer camps, and large and small groups available.
FAQ:
Q: Do you have tours during the week?
A: Yes, we offer tours during the week by request. Please reach out to us at 267-702-3479 or info@blackjourneyphiladelphia.com.
Q: What happens if it rains, will the tour be cancelled?
A: The tour is light rain or shine. We recommend bringing an umbrella or poncho. If the weather is extreme, we will notify the participants and offer a full refund or the opportunity to reschedule.
Q: Where can I park?
A: There is very limited street parking. Also there is a parking lot under the Independence Visitors Center. https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/autoparkÂ
Q: Should we tip our guide?
A: Yes, while tips are not required, they are greatly appreciated.Â
