#Cool free stuff to do near me for free#

Philadelphia’s original city plan included five public squares. TIP: Don’t miss a mural of Edgar Allan Poe just across the street from the house.

#Cool free stuff to do near me for free#

You can tour the house for free Fridays through Sundays, from 9 a.m. Located in the Northern Liberties neighborhood and managed by the National Park Service, the Edgar Allan Poe Historic Site is the only remaining Philadelphia home of the influential author and is where he is believed to have penned some of his most iconic works, including The Black Cat. The American Philosophical Society Museum is the oldest learned society in the United States, founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin for the purpose of “promoting useful knowledge.” Visitors can see the collection of manuscripts, rare books, photographs, and more.Ī post shared by PHLCVB Edgar Allan Poe House

The first floor of the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History features the “Only in America” gallery - an exhibit that illustrates the choices, challenges and opportunities Jewish Americans encountered on their path to remarkable achievement. Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History Fireman’s Hall is a unique museum of firefighting and fire-safety tips, and more, located just steps from Elfreth’s Alley.ĩ. Philadelphia is the birthplace of the first volunteer fire company, created in 1736 by Benjamin Franklin. Admission to the Burial Grounds is $5 for adults and $2 for children, however you can catch a glimpse of Benjamin Franklin’s gravesite through a steel fence along Arch Street. Christ Church’s Burial Grounds are located nearby at 5th and Arch streets and is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin. You can stand in the same church where the founding fathers worshipped, in the heart of Philadelphia’s Old City. Enjoy the beautifully preserved homes and walk the cobblestone streets to see what life was like for early American settlers.Įxplore Elfreth's Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the nation, for free, in Philadelphia's Old City. Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Old City’s vibrant streets is America’s oldest continuously inhabited residential street, Elfreth’s Alley. Storytellers at 13 teak benches found within the grounds of Independence National Historical Park and at other sites in Philadelphia’s historic district share quick tales filled with interesting historical insights into the surrounding area for free while visitors sit and relax. NOTE: Carpenters’ Hall is closed for a preservation project.ĥ. Step back into the past with a tour of this building. Huff for PHLCVB.Ĭarpenters’ Hall was the site of the First Continental Congress in 1774, a temporary field hospital during the Revolutionary War, and so much more. Tickets are free, but there is a non-refundable processing fee of $1 per ticket.Ĭarpenters' Hall is another free-to-visit historic site within Independence National Historical Park.

NOTE: To obtain free timed tickets to tour Independence Hall, guests must reserve their tickets in advance online at or by phone at 1-87. Visitors can also tour Congress Hall, where George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States. Must-sees include Independence Hall, the building where the Declaration of Independence and U.S.

on Fridays and Saturdays, Memorial Day through Labor Day). Stop in for other FREE amenities, including regional maps and brochures, historical films, cell phone charging stations and WiFi access. Multilingual visitor services representatives are available to assist with any trip-planning needs, including on-site ticketing for more than 100 tours and attractions. Start off at Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market streets, in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic mile, at the official welcome center of the region and gateway to Independence National Historical Park. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center and the President's House Historic Site are all free experiences available in Independence National Historical Park.