Training

“A Guide’s View of Philadelphia,” the APT annual lecture series, is the city’s only officially recognized training program for “professional and informed” guides (per City Council 2013 Proclamation). The series includes informational lectures on Philadelphia’s history, culture, and architecture from colonial times to present day as well as sessions on tour guiding techniques.

In 2023 the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) is departing slightly from its traditional lecture series format to offer a mixture of lectures and tours from February 24-26. The certification exam will be offered Saturday March 4. New and experienced guides can practice site presentations on Sundays March 5 and March 12.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24

10 am – 12 pm, “William Penn and Religious Diversity” lecture
by David Krueger, APT Certified Tour Guide and Executive Director of Dialogue Institute at Temple University
at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks 114 Market St.

2 – 4 pm, “Independence National Historical Park” tour covering the President’s House, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Philosophical Society/Library Hall, Second and First Banks of the United States, Carpenters’ Hall, and Franklin Court. Basic historical facts will be presented along with some African American perspectives.
by Bob Branch, APT Certified Tour Guide who has worked as a storyteller, writer, and first person interpreter at Historic Philadelphia for over 10 years.
start The President’s House, SE corner of 6th and Market Streets
end The Bourse, entrance on 5th Street between Market and Chestnut Streets

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25

Choose one of two tours

1. 10 am – 12 pm, “Old City” tour
by Carla Stine, APT Certified Guide
start and end The Bourse, entrance on 5th Street between Market and Chestnut Streets

2. 10 am – 12 pm, “Society Hill and Religious Diversity” tour
by William Benkert, APT Certified Master Guide
start and end The Bourse, entrance on 5th Street between Market and Chestnut Streets

2 – 4 pm,  “The Seventh Ward to the World” lecture
by Judith Robinson, Foundation for Architecture Certified Tour Guide who is presently a docent at the Historic Church of the Advocate. She is a public oral historian/researcher, specializing in Afro-American history, and has created tours with Hidden City and Jane’s Walk.
at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks 114 Market St. 

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26

10 am – 12 pm, “Six Buildings” lecture. Philadelphia is justifiably famous for its wide variety of outstanding architecture. Guides can use this architecture to talk about the history of Philadelphia. Buildings exist in context – they are influenced by the buildings that came before them, and they in turn set the stage for buildings that come after them. Buildings are also a doorway to the many stories of people that help create the building and the people who spend their lives in the building. This lecture will focus on six Philadelphia buildings, or groups of buildings, and discuss the people and forces that created them, as well as their impact on Philadelphia history and culture.
by Warren Williams, APT Certified Tour Guide and retired architect who spent most of his career designing and managing architectural projects for SEPTA. He has been giving tours of Philadelphia architecture for the past 25 years as well as teaching classes in Temple’s OLLI program and lecturing for Philadelphia’s Road Scholar program.
at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks 114 Market St. 

2 – 2:45 pm, “Powel House” tour
by George Boudreau, APT member, historian and author, whose published work includes Independence: A Guide to Historic Philadelphia. From 1996-98, he served as historic site manager and director of programs at Powel House, where he oversaw the restoration of all museum rooms and an expanded interpretation of the site.  He is a nationally certified interpreter, currently working on a book entitled Interpreting Historic Sites.
at Powel House, 244 S. 3rd Street

3 – 4:30 pm, “Panel Discussion” covering tour guiding techniques, the business of guiding, and how to handle difficult situations while leading a tour.
by select APT Certified Tour Guides and members of the training planning committee TBD
at Powel House, 244 S. 3rd Street

SATURDAY MARCH 4

10 am – 12 pm, Tour Guide Certification Exam. Pre-registration and payment in the APT Store required. Those taking the exam are highly encouraged to purchase the HANDBOOK for studying (for sale in the APT Store).
at Philly’s Gourmet Steaks 114 Market St.

SUNDAY MARCH 5

Site Presentation Workshop given by seasoned guides with discussion on how to create more inclusive narratives. More details coming soon.

SUNDAY MARCH 12

Site Presentation Workshop for new guides. More details coming soon.

PRICING