Disease and Erasure: An Audio Tour of Philadelphia

Duration40m - 1h 10m

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

Philadelphia has been burying its dead for 300 years, and then forgetting where it put them. On this self-guided audio tour, you'll trace what happened to the city's lost graveyards, from potter's fields and epidemic victims to graves discovered under parking lots.
The tour starts at Washington Square, one of William Penn's original five parks, which holds an estimated 4,500–7,500 bodies beneath its manicured lawn. From there, you'll wind through the streets of Old City, past the site of Benjamin Franklin's grave and the National Constitution Center, before heading north toward Franklin Square, where an 1830s church cemetery and it's tombstones were just buried under the dirt. Along the way, you'll discover how a clandestine 1950s archaeological dig under Washington Square – kept secret for political reasons – unearthed a soldier who may or may not have been American. The tour ends at the site of the First Baptist Burial Ground.

What's included

Lifetime access to this tour in English before your booking date and after it
Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Flexibility to explore at your own pace with a self-guided GPS tour
App for Android and iOS
Directions to the starting point so that when you’re in the right place, the tour will start

Smartphone and headphones
Transportation
Food and drink
Personal expenses for admission fees not included during the tour

What to expect

Independence Hall
Pass by

Pass the redbrick facade of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both debated and signed. You'll hear how this birthplace of American democracy sits just blocks from mass graves the city spent centuries trying to forget.
Benjamin Franklin's Grave
Pass by

Stand near the site of Benjamin Franklin's grave, one of Philadelphia's most visited resting places. You'll learn how even Franklin's own burial history gets complicated, from disputed remains to the 15 bodies later found beneath his London home.
Franklin Square
Pass by

Walk through Franklin Square, one of Penn's original city parks, now home to a carousel and mini-golf course. You'll discover that an 1830s church cemetery and its tombstones were quietly buried under the dirt here, hidden beneath the park's cheerful surface.
Betsy Ross House
Pass by

Explore the Betsy Ross House, dedicated to the seamstress credited with sewing the first American flag. You'll hear the strange story of her disputed grave, and why the people meant to exhume her body couldn't produce it.
Arch Street Meeting House
Pass by

Visit the Arch Street Meeting House, one of the largest Quaker meeting houses in the world. You'll learn that an estimated 20,000 people lie buried here in unmarked graves, making it one of the city's largest forgotten cemeteries.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

This tour starts at Washington Square. Before arrival, please install the mobile app and use the code provided on your confirmation ticket. Detailed starting point instructions are available after downloading.

End point

Tour ends at First Baptist Burial Ground

Additional information

Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

From

$9.99 per person

Check availability & book

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts
Instant confirmation
You'll choose your date and travelers and pay on viator.com. Prices vary by date, group size and option.

Operated by VoiceMap Audio Tours · Booked through Viator

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