Emergence of a Modern Metropolis
Experience the transformation of Philadelphia from America’s 19th century engine of industry to a 21st century capital of business and culture. This 2-hour tour explores Philadelphia’s diverse range of architectural styles and building technologies from the 1860s to the present, detailing the social, economic, and political forces that shaped the modern cityscape. It is divided into three parts:
Era 1 – Late Victorian / Post Civil War (1870 – 1890)
• A period of architectural eclecticism
• Stone-age building techniques (masonry) with lots of ornamentation
Era 2 – Birth of the Skyscraper (1890 – 1930)
• The adaptation of old forms to new functions (mass manufacturing)
• Steel-frame construction disguised behind traditional materials with some ornamentation
Era 3 – The Modern City (1930 – present)
• A period of Modernism & Post-Modernism
• Curtain wall building technique allows vast, minimalist, glass surfaces
Highlights include the spectacular Victorian interior of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art (PAFA); the soaring central court of Philadelphia’s first department store, Wanamaker’s; and the atrium of the Comcast Center.
Meet at the Paint Torch sculpture outside of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Broad and Cherry Streets (map).
In registering to attend this walking tour, you agreed to the following (Please note the updated changes as of April 20, 2022):
- During tours, facemasks will be optional for all individuals including the tour guide
- Facemasks may be required to enter buildings on certain tours. Please bring one with you in case it is needed
- Preservation Alliance walking tours utilize an audio system that transmits from a headset worn by the guide to earpieces worn by tour attendees. The equipment is thoroughly sanitized before and after each use. Tour attendees can also plug in their personal headsets or earbuds that use a standard headphone jack (Not compatible with Bluetooth or Apple earphones).
Space is limited. Advance registration required.
Email us at tours@preservationalliance.com for any questions or join the waitlist for a sold out tour!