Second Story Tours

04/16/2024

With a last name like "Franklin," you might think William was a great hero of the Revolutionary War. But it's actually the opposite.

William Franklin, son of Benjamin Franklin, was the Royal Governor of New Jersey when the Revolutionary War started. But instead of siding with Ben and the colonists, he sided with the enemy. He went to jail for being a Loyalist. From jail, he sent letters to the British trying to help their side.

When the war was over, William went to live in England. He and his famous father never made up, and Benjamin Franklin left him nothing in his will when he died.

03/19/2024

Sarah "Sally" Wister was a fifteen year old Quaker from Philadelphia who kept a journal from 1777 to 1778. Over a period of nine months, Sally recounts her experiences with many Continental Army officers during the Revolutionary War. Her journal is filled with genuinely charming and frank observations.

03/12/2024

Who was Peggy Shippen?

Margaret "Peggy" Shippen was born into high society in Philadelphia in 1760. At 19, she married a dashing officer in Washington's Army and the man who's name would later become synonymous with the word "traitor" - Benedict Arnold. He had been passed over for promotions, and was becoming disgruntled.

Together, they hatched a plan. They decided to help the British capture an American fort. They passed coded messages to Peggy's close friend, Major John Andre', a British spy.

Portrait of Peggy Shippen (wife of Benedict Arnold) with one of her children, c. 1785
But General Washington found out, and traveled to their home to confront them. Peggy faked an illness, giving Arnold time to flee. Though they both escaped to safety in England, Major Andre’ did not. He was hanged for his part in the plot.

02/22/2024

One of the first African American artists to gain international acclaim was Henry Ossawa Tanner. Born in 1859, Tanner's father was a reverend and his a mother had escaped slavery via the Underground Railroad. Tanner attended the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia before moving to Paris where he felt greater freedom from racism.

​Learn more about this incredible artist at the Philadelphia Museum of Art's website and see his masterpiece, "The Annunciation." https://philamuseum.org/collection/curated/henry-ossawa-tanner

01/17/2024

Today, January 17, is Benjamin Franklin's birthday. We know him as one of America's Founding Fathers, but did you know his family was divided? William Franklin, who was born out-of-wedlock to an unknown mother, was Benjamin Franklin's oldest son and Royal Governor of New Jersey (a post his famous father helped him get). But when it came time to choose sides, William stayed loyal to the British. Ben's daughter, Sally, however, rallied the women of Philadelphia and raised money for the Revolutionary cause. She and her friends made 2,000 shirts for the soldiers in Washington's Army, who badly needed them.

12/22/2023

Want to try a historic cocktail this holiday season? Try making a Hot Toddy, a popular colonial drink with roots in 17th century India. There are many recipes, but the classic version is hot water, bourbon, honey and lemon juice. You can also include maple syrup or star anise for an added bit of flavor.
Read more about the history of cocktails: https://www.diffordsguide.com/encyclopedia/2294/cocktails/a-brief-history-of-cocktails #:~:text=Some%20popular%20drinks%20that%20made,)%2C%20and%20Sangarees%20(like%20the

12/14/2023

On December 14, 1799, George Washington died at his home in Virginia. Curiously, several other heads of state died on December 14, as well including James V, King of Scotland (1542), Carlos III, King of Spain (1788), and Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria (1861).

12/08/2023

In 1974, Rabbi Abraham Shemtov had an idea: to light Philadelphia's first public menorah right in front of Independence Hall. Read about how this practice spread across America to become the Hanukkah tradition we know today.
https://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/2778619/jewish/How-the-Chanukah-Menorah-Made-Its-Way-to-the-Public-Sphere.htm

It was a frigid Saturday night during Chanukah of 1974, when Rabbi Abraham Shemtov had the unusual, perhaps wild, idea of lighting a menorah right in front of Independence Hall, which houses the Liberty Bell, the icon of American freedom.

12/05/2023

11/23/2023

Though, President Abraham Lincoln gets most of the credit for making Thanksgiving an official holiday, a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale had been working on it for decades. As early as 1827, Sarah had been calling for a national holiday, and started a letter writing campaign that lasted 36 years. On September 28, 1863, she wrote to President Lincoln, and just five days later, on October 3, 1863, he issued the Thanksgiving Proclamation, calling all Americans to observe the holiday. This portrait of her, painted by James Reid Lambdin, was done around 1831.

11/21/2023

Up close and personal with the Morgan Log House, a Montgomery County treasure.
#ᴍᴏɴᴛɢᴏᴍᴇʀʏᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʏᴘᴀ

11/17/2023

For fall charm, check out the gorgeous Peter Wentz farmstead in Lansdale. #ᴍᴏɴᴛɢᴏᴍᴇʀʏᴄᴏᴜɴᴛʏᴘᴀ

11/14/2023

Hopocan, also known as Kageshquanohel or Captain Pipe to English speakers, was a chief in the Lenape tribe of Pennsylvania. Like many indigenous people, he wanted to remain neutral during the Revolutionary War. After his family was killed by American colonists, he reluctantly allied with the British, and moved westward to Ohio.
Hopocan worked with Congress after the War to preserve lands for his people, but they continued to be pushed further and further west by encroaching American settlers. By 1830, the Indian Removal Act, signed into law by Andrew Jackson, pushed the Lenape and many other tribes west of the Mississippi River.

11/07/2023

10/17/2023

In 1777 after the Battle of Germantown, George Washington's defeated army camped in Whitemarsh, Pennsylvania near Hope Lodge before departing for their long winter stay in Valley Forge.

November 4 from 10am to 4pm, visit Historic Hope Lodge for a family-friendly event commemorating the encampment, including colonial crafts, food trucks, historic brews, military demonstration and more. Visit Hope Lodge's website to learn more: https://www.historichopelodge.org/encampment #:~:text=Halloween%20Lantern%20Tours-,1777%20Whitemarsh%20Encampment,encamped%20in%20the%20Whitemarsh%20Hills.

10/10/2023

Looking for great books for your students that make history fun and accessible? Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales are a series of books created to make history more exciting for kids. This best-selling series of graphic novels covers all kinds of historical topics including the Underground Railroad, trench warfare during World War I, spies like Nathan Hale, and more. Great for ages 8 to 12!

10/05/2023

October is a great time to book our popular one-hour tour, Revolting Philly!

Written for kids ages 8 and up, Revolting Philly explores the gross side of life in the Colonial era. Learn about smallpox, leeches, personal hygiene and more.

"The perfect mix of entertaining, historical, and gross. If you’re thinking of going on a ghost tour, do this instead!" - Visitor

Book in the evening or the daytime. Visit us to read more about Revolting Philly! https://www.secondstorytours.com/walking-tours

10/03/2023

Indigenous Peoples' Day is October 9!

During the American Revolution, Indigenous People found themselves stuck between two enemies. In the beginning, the Six Nations (an alliance of six tribes in New York state), tried to stay out of the fight. But as the War drew closer, they were forced to make a decision.

Most tribes sided with the British, but some, including the Oneida and Tuscarora, chose to join the Americans.

Learn more about Indigenous People at the Museum of the American Revolution's Indigenous Peoples' Weekend. See traditional Haudenosaunee dancers, watch the Oneida film, The People of the Standing Stone, make a wampum belt, and more.
October 9 - 11 at the Museum of the American Revolution.

09/26/2023

On September 26, 1777, the British Army captured Philadelphia! There were British soldiers everywhere! People who were loyal to the Crown were happy; people who wanted liberty were unnerved; and those who wanted to stay neutral like Quakers? Well, they were caught in the middle.
Lydia Darragh was a Quaker woman who lived in Philadelphia in 1777. When British soldiers knocked on her door, demanding to use her house for a secret meeting, she had to let them in. What could she do? It was unfair, but it was the law. One of many British laws that the Revolutionaries were against!
Find out more about Lydia Darragh and other people of the Revolution on one of our tours of Revolutionary Philadelphia! Fall date are still available! Contact us today! www.secondstorytours.com

09/12/2023

We are so excited to announce that Second Story Tours has partnered with Historic Hope Lodge in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania to provide our signature-brand of fun, interactive tours of the historic Georgian mansion! We will be giving one-hour tours every Sunday at 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM from September 17 through October 29. Check Historic Hope Lodge's website for ticketing information: www.historichopelodge.org

Time travel from Colonial America to the Roaring 20’s as we compare the lives of the original Quaker owner to the couple who saved the mansion from the wrecking ball. It will be a uniquely Second Story Tours experience!

07/20/2023

Visit www.secondstorytours.com/public-tickets for more information to purchase tickets!

07/01/2023

Visit SecondStoryTours.com for tickets and info!

06/27/2023

Have you ever heard of The Public Universal Friend?

They were a non-binary religious leader who tested the conventions of gender over 200 years ago in colonial America.

Learn more about this incredible person at the New-York Historical Society's website: https://wams.nyhistory.org/settler-colonialism-and-revolution/settler-colonialism/public-universal-friend/

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Life Story: The Public Universal Friend The Public Universal Friend The Publick Universal Friend. Courtesy of Yates County History Center. Note: Out of respect for the subject

06/20/2023

Ah, the Good Ol' Days, when leeches were a totally normal medical treatment and a summer treat might be tomato ice cream. Learn all about the gross side of life in the colonial era on our one-hour evening walking tour, Revolting Philly!

For a limited time, use the code FUN2023 to get $2 off each ticket purchased! Visit our website for tickets and info: www.secondstorytours.com

06/16/2023

Looking for things to do with the kids? Try our Family Fun Walking Tour! For a limited time, use the code FUN2023 and get an additional $2 off each ticket you purchase!
Visit our website for details: www.secondstorytours.com
See you in Revolutionary Philadelphia!

05/25/2023

STARTING MEMORIAL WEEKEND: REVOLTING PHILLY WALKING TOUR! Designed especially for families, this one-hour evening walking tour visits some of the most historic places in Philadelphia where our guides tell stories about the "revolting" side of life in colonial era. SPOILER ALERT: It was way scarier than any ghost story! Become a participant on this interactive tour as you learn about yellow fever, leeches, hygiene habits, and how to give a smallpox inoculation.

Click here to learn more! https://www.secondstorytours.com/public-tickets

Second Story Tours offers student field trips and walking tours of Philadelphia that present a “se

05/18/2023

ANNOUNCING Philly’s only walking tours designed especially for families!

Bring your kids and join us for these one-of-a-kind experiences in Old City! Try your hand at colonial games, learn a colonial trade, and join the Continental Army on our Family Fun Tour. Interested in something… darker? Join us for our evening experience, Revolting Philadelphia, and learn why life in colonial Philadelphia was way scarier than any ghost story.

Click here to learn more or visit our website: www.secondstorytours.com