Walking Tour of Philadelphia’s Headhouse Square

This tour has been cancelled due to the weather. Tickets are available for our Headhouse tours on May 13th and June 3rd.

Back by popular demand! Join the Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Preservation Corporation on Saturday, Apr. 29, for a historical walking tour of Philadelphia’s Headhouse Square, led by researcher and writer Michael Schreiber. 

This area of South Second Street, became a central marketplace in the 1740s, serving the fast-growing area around Society Hill. In subsequent years, a colorful assortment of men and women could be seen within the market shambles — farmers from the “Neck,” French and Haitian pastry cooks, Irish revolutionaries, gentlemen merchants, foreign diplomats, and tavern brawlers and thieves. Schreiber will describe many of these characters and their adventures.

Tour participants will meet at the plaza at 2nd and Lombard at 1 p.m. (If it is raining, we will meet under the Shambles on 2nd Street, between Lombard and Pine). The tour should take under two hours. The tour will be limited to 30 people; if more apply, the organizers will consider repeating the event on a date to be determined. Rain or Shine. Tickets are $15 each.

Things to Note:

• Be sure to bring water and wear comfortable clothing.
• Try to arrive early. The tour will depart promptly at 1 pm.
• There aren’t any public restrooms on the tour route.
• If COVID restrictions are in effect, we will contact you to let you know what to expect.