Philadelphia: A Walk Through History

Welcome to Philadelphia, birthplace of the United States 250 years ago and one of America’s most dynamic cities today. These guided walks will introduce you to the people who helped shape the nation and the places where they lived, worked, and made history. There are familiar names--it’s impossible to tell America’s origin story without mentioning Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson--but not all the stories you’ll read about them are well-known. You’ll meet lesser-known individuals--including women and enslaved Africans--who risked their lives and liberty because they believed in government for the people, by the people. With author Natalie Pompilio as your guide, these walks present history in a friendly and fascinating way, including details that make these history-makers relatable. They were ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances who couldn’t foresee success but were willing to sacrifice for a more just way of life for all.

Award-winning journalist Natalie Pompilio has lived and written in Philadelphia for more than 20 years. After staff positions at newspapers including The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Philadelphia Daily News, Natalie began freelancing in 2007 and has had newspaper and magazine articles published nationally and internationally. Her Philadelphia-centric publications include the children’s book Philadelphia A to Z with photographer Jennifer Zdon; More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell with Jane Golden and Robin Rice; Walking Philadelphia: 30 Walking Tours Exploring Art, Architecture, History and Little-Known Gems with photographer Tricia Pompilio; and This Used to Be Philadelphia with photographer Tricia Pompilio. Natalie lives a mile south of the Liberty Bell in a three-story brick rowhouse located on an alley off an alley.