3rd and Chestnut Streets
(215)597-8974
Hours: Daily, 9:00am-5:00pm
Admission: Free
The Visitor Center, not to be confused with the Philadelphia
Visitor’s Center on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, is located
in Philly’s historic district, right around Independence
Square. The center is staffed by park rangers who are extremely
well-educated about the surrounding area and can answer even the
toughest questions and trivia. We recommended that you start
your tour of Colonial Philadelphia here, you’ll be able to
plan the rest of your day armed with the information provided by
these trained docents.
Be sure to pick up a brochure on Independence National
Historical Park, as it will help you identify the buildings and
provide background information on the important events that
occurred in each. There is also a half-hour movie about the
founding fathers, as well as a computerized exhibit, Promise of
Permanency, that gives you the chance to rule on legal battles
of the past.
Rounding out the center is a very comprehensive bookstore,
which is a great place to purchase mementos, as well as copies
of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The
Visitor Center is also the place to buy your tickets for Bishop
White House and John Todd’s house—admission includes an
hour-long tour of the two buildings. Very helpful and
informative, the center is definitely worth a trip.
