Philadelphia: Women's History Walking Tour & LGBTQ Stories

★★★★★★★★★★

5.00

(108 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“Did you know Hannah Penn basically ran Pennsylvania?” That’s how our guide kicked things off, right outside Independence Hall — I was still fumbling with my coffee lid. The city was waking up, street sweepers humming past, and there we were, talking about a founder I’d never heard mentioned in school. Our guide (Jules — she wore Doc Martens and had this contagious laugh) pointed to the old brickwork and started weaving stories that felt oddly close, like they’d been hiding under the surface of all these famous places. I remember the smell of soft pretzels drifting from a cart as we headed toward the Liberty Bell Center. Someone in our group joked about “cracking” the patriarchy — Jules just grinned.

We stopped at President’s House, where the air felt heavier for a second as Jules told us about Ona Judge and her escape from George Washington. There was this pause after her story — not dramatic, just honest silence while we looked at each other. A couple walked by holding hands, and it hit me how many layers Philly has if you’re paying attention. Later we ducked into America’s first hospital (founded 1751 — I only remembered because Jules made us guess), where she talked about women doctors fighting for space in medicine. The walls smelled faintly like old books and antiseptic.

By the time we reached Camac Street, sunlight bounced off wet pavement (it had rained earlier), and Jules led us to this tucked-away artist club where women used to gather — The Red Rose Girls apparently painted right here. We wandered through the Gayborhood too; rainbow flags everywhere, people chatting on stoops. Jules shared stories about Barbara Gittings and other LGBTQ leaders who helped shape Philly’s culture. Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel so connected to these stories — or to laugh so much along the way.