The Post Industrial City: Callowhill West District—walking tour

This guided tour with Harry Kyriakodis is sponsored by the Preservation Alliance and will take place Wednesday, June 1, 2011, starting at 6 PM (1.5 hour walk). It will focus on a four-block-wide swath of the city between Vine and Spring Garden Streets from 20th to Broad Streets.

The considerable history of this part of the city going back to the early 1700s will be discussed.

Learn how this neighborhood—a country estate in the early 18th century—had an important role in the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 and later became the center of American locomotive production, as well as home of the third Philadelphia Mint, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Community College of Philadelphia.

Major national figures who lived and worked here include William Penn, Andrew Hamilton (the original “Philadelphia Lawyer”), John Adams, merchant/mariner/millionaire Stephen Girard, plus industrialists Matthias Baldwin, William Sellers and Asa Whitney.

Numerous aspects of the industrial infrastructure, including bridges and abandoned railroad facilities, will be seen along the way.

Meet at the Starbucks, 20th and Callowhill Streets. The tour ends at Broad and Callowhill Streets.

Sponsored by the Preservation Alliance: $10 Adults; $8 Students; Free children 10 and under, accompanied by adult; $5 Preservation Alliance Members (please show your member card).

For more info: hkyriakodis@ali.org