A few of our opportunities have been extended through June – GuruWalk: History Swiftly, North to the World, Philadelphia Historic Architecture Tours (PhillyPHAT), and Tours with TR. Sign up today!
Spring is here, and we are kicking off our spring shadowing initiative (less experienced guides shadowing veteran guides on tour). Before heading out, be sure to read our shadowing etiquette guide. Corporate members interested in offering shadowing opportunities should contact Marianne Ruane president@phillyguides.org. The opportunities will run through May, so sign up today!
— Founding Footsteps Tours
Tim McAleer, the owner of APT corporate member Founding Footsteps, is willing to have guides come out to shadow the Old City Historic Walking Tour at no cost. When booking online, use code ATPGUIDES. (Probably was meant to be ‘APT’ not ‘ATP’ – if the code as written doesn’t work, try APTGUIDES.) He also said that any guides wishing to shadow a trolley tour should text him at 215-888-2267, and he will try to get them on, pending availability.
— Grim Philly Twilight Tours
Joe Wojie, the owner of APT corporate member Grim Philly, is willing to have guides come out on the Revolution and Founding Fathers history tours at no cost. Email Joe at joe@grimphilly.com with your cell phone number, and he can create a complimentary registration. One shadow guide can attend per tour, on Sundays at 10 am and possibly Mondays and Tuesdays at that time as well. If there is enough interest, he may also allow guides to shadow some of the other Grim tours.
— GuruWalk: History Swiftly
Tom Swift, the owner of APT corporate member GuruWalk: History Swiftly, is willing for guides to come out on his Essentials: The Best Free Highlight Tour of Philadelphia and More free of charge. He can accommodate 1 or 2 people on May 10 and over Memorial Day weekend. His tours begin at 10:15 am and anyone interested can email him at history.swiftly@gmail.com and he will provide all the details.
— Liberty and Co. with Tricorne Tours
New APT corporate member Kyle Jenks is offering shadowing opportunities with his tour “Philadelphia’s Society Hill Stroll: A Walking Conversation with James Madison.” Step back into history with this informative 120-minute walking experience of Philadelphia’s charming Society Hill, led by the Father of the Constitution, James Madison. This immersive stroll offers a unique glimpse into 18th-century Philadelphia as Madison and his wife Dolley would have seen it. With stops at significant sites throughout Society Hill, the tour combines storytelling and conversation, illuminating Madison’s perspectives on the American Revolution, the Constitutional Convention, and life in the young republic. Those wishing to shadow can use the code APT20 to get the tour at a discounted rate of $32. All tours run from 1-3 pm: April 19, May 3, 17, 24-26.
— North to the World
APT members are welcome to shadow tours in North Philadelphia with APT corporate member North to the World. Fairmount Park Walking Tour is May 25, 2 pm. The June tour schedule will be on their website soon and will include a Father’s Day Boxers Trail Walk & Talk on June 15 at 2 pm and a NEW North Philly Mural Arts Tour on June 29. Tours are always pay as you wish for APT members. Contact Judith Robinson northtotheworldphl@gmail.com to sign up.
— Philadelphia Historic Architecture Tours (PHAT)
Reid Addis of APT corporate member Philly PHAT is offering guides the opportunity to shadow his architecture-themed tours for free. Email Reid phillyphattours@gmail.com to arrange.
— Tours by Foot
APT Corporate member Tours by Foot will offer shadowing on its Independence Mall, Ghosts of Philly, and Secrets & Scandals tours. Book through the website and use code JENN15 for 15% off the $39 price. Contact Jenn Hensell jenn@freetoursbyfoot.com with any questions or concerns. Positive reviews would be greatly appreciated!
— Tours by TR
Tom Rosenberg of APT corporate member Tours by TR is offering guides the opportunity to shadow his weekend tours for $15. Those interested should contact him directly info@toursbytr.com for all of the information.
— WeVenture
We are unveiling a new 90-minute version of our Old City history tour. We would like to feature these for the special APT shadowing tours, so that we can get some traction with reviews. These tours are offered at 2 pm and 5:30 pm daily. We don’t have the tour up on our site yet, but it is up on TripAdvisor. If anyone wants to read a description of it, they can do that here. If any APT members want to join this tour, they should email us at info@we-venture.com or call us at 215-280-3746 to book. We will apply a discount and charge them $10. Once the tour is up on our site (which should be any day now), they will be able to book directly with the special code (which will be WVAPT). Members should NOT book the tour through TripAdvisor. The site is just so they can read the description. Only caveat is that at least one guest from the general public must book the tour for it to run.
— Philadelphia Then and Now, with Jim Murphy
THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS PASSED
April 12, 11 am – 2 pm
Meet in front of Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Street
Stroll through Old City and Society Hill and experience more than 300 years of history in two hours (or a little more on this shadow tour.) We’ll cover: safety, courtesy, how Philly is still revolutionary, President’s House, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Dream Garden “Tiffany Mosaic”, Washington Square, back of Independence Hall (Lincoln, John Barry), American Philosophical Society statue, Carpenter’s Hall, Market Street, Tamanend statue, Christ Church, and Arch Street Meeting House. If time permits, we’ll go by 3rd and Pine to discuss busybodies, fireworks, Flemish Bond, and more.
Bonus: 9 unique Philly things I try to include on all tours, if possible, and a memory aid for Philly streets south of Market St.
This is the way I’ve developed my own core tour from years of writing stories for publications, writing a book, and doing 50+ blogs. I hope our guides find it helpful. No charge, and no tips. Just bring your enthusiasm. It’s my gift as a thank you to all the guides who have helped me over the years. To me, it’s the APT way of sharing knowledge. Send an email murfman1@comcast.net to register.
Jim Murphy joined APT in 2012; certified in 2013; first joined board in 2015; left after several years; then came back years later. Took 11 years to write the book Real Philly History, Real Fast. Today, March 28, almost four years after its publication in the middle of COVID, it was # 2 on Amazon’s Best Sellers List of Philadelphia Travel Books. (It moves up and down on the list daily.)