Women's History Walking Tour Philadelphia: Untold Stories

The women who built Philadelphia, told by someone who knows them

This walking tour of Philadelphia centers on the women—founders, doctors, artists, activists and LGBTQ leaders—whose contributions shaped the city but rarely appear in the standard history. A live guide leads you past the Liberty Bell and President's House, through the Gayborhood and Camac Street, uncovering Hannah Callowhill Penn's forgotten legacy, Ona Judge's escape from George Washington, the first women physicians, and the Red Rose Girls artist collective. The tour runs roughly two hours and is wheelchair accessible on request.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Philadelphia's women's history

• Hear about founder Hannah Callowhill Penn
• Take picture with the Liberty Bell
• Learn Ona Judge's escape story
• Visit America's first hospital and women doctors
• Discover LGBTQ leaders in the Gayborhood
• Explore Camac Street women's artist club

The Experience

The tour starts at the Liberty Bell Center and moves through the sites where Philadelphia's women made their mark. You'll hear about Hannah Callowhill Penn, the female founder whose name disappeared from the city's founding story, and get the chance to photograph the Liberty Bell itself. From there the route takes you to the President's House, where Ona Judge—an enslaved woman in George Washington's household—engineered her own escape to freedom, a story that reframes what "founding" actually meant.

The walk continues to America's first hospital, founded in 1751, where the guide explains how women broke into medicine when the profession was closed to them. You'll move through the Gayborhood to learn about LGBTQ leaders who shaped the city's culture and politics. The final stretch takes you to Camac Street, where the Red Rose Girls—a collective of women artists—built a studio and workshop space where they collaborated, taught each other, and created work that defined Philadelphia's art scene. The whole route is built around the places these women actually worked and lived.

A local guide leads the tour in English, and the pace suits all fitness levels. Children from age 6 are welcome. If you need wheelchair access, let the operator know when you book and they'll arrange it. Public transit stops are nearby if you want to add another neighborhood to your day before or after.

What’s included

• A knowledgeable local guide leading the entire walk in English.
• access to the Liberty Bell Center and President's House exteriors and their surrounding sites.
• stories about Hannah Callowhill Penn, Ona Judge, women in medicine, the Red Rose Girls artists, and LGBTQ leaders in Philadelphia.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Beyond the Bell Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you've already done the standard Independence Hall tour and want the stories it skips—the women founders, doctors, artists, and activists who shaped Philadelphia.

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Top questions

Who was Hannah Callowhill Penn and why don't most tours mention her?

Hannah Callowhill Penn was the female founder of Philadelphia whose role in establishing the city was written out of the standard history. This tour centers her legacy and explains how her contributions shaped the city's early identity, something you won't hear on the typical Independence Hall tour.

What was Ona Judge's escape and why does it matter?

Ona Judge was an enslaved woman in George Washington's household who engineered her own escape to freedom—a story that complicates the "founding fathers" narrative. The tour tells her story at the President's House, the site where she lived and planned her freedom.

How long is the tour and can I fit other things into my day?

The tour runs roughly two hours, which leaves you time to grab lunch, visit a museum, or explore another neighborhood before or after. It's designed to move at a steady pace without rushing, so you're not exhausted by the end.

Is the tour accessible for people who use wheelchairs?

Yes, the tour is wheelchair accessible upon request. Let the operator know when you book so they can confirm the route works for your needs and make any necessary arrangements.

What makes this tour different from the standard Philadelphia history walks?

This tour centers women—entrepreneurs, doctors, artists, activists and LGBTQ leaders—whose stories don't appear in the typical George Washington and Benjamin Franklin tours. You'll hear about the Red Rose Girls artist collective, women physicians, and other figures who shaped the city but are rarely mentioned in mainstream history.

Can children come on this tour?

Children from age 6 are welcome. The guide tells stories that engage younger listeners, and the two-hour length is manageable for kids who can walk and listen for that span of time.