The Secrets of Old Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt
- Most Popular
- private
- adults
- outdoor
Ever try team-building time travel?
This hunt takes you back to colonial times and the tumult of 1776. On this whirlwind tour your team will uncover the secrets of hallowed historic places—as well as less legendary but quirky and strange sights. You’ll be challenged to answer tricky, amusing questions about what you find.
Don’t worry if you can’t tell Ben Franklin from Ben Affleck: the hunt requires no previous knowledge. You just need to use your wits and work well with your team.
Highlights on the historic Philly scavenger hunt include…
- Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and a vanished art gallery between them
- Carpenter’s Hall, where the Continental Congress first met, and a cat lurks
- The site of Ben Franklin’s home (and its “privy”)
- City Tavern, where the Founders whined and dined
- Dolley Madison’s digs in elegant Society Hill
- Washington Square, with an Unknown Soldier and countless unknown graves
Along the way, you might be challenged to take creative team photos, such as the one below (we think they are spelling the word tree…)
Do people like this hunt? No. They LOVE this hunt. Scroll down to see a small sampling of five-star reviews from our many happy hunters since our first Philly hunt in 2002.
An International Edition is available for groups with participants whose first language isn’t English. They will find easier words, less slang, and we make the Revolutionary period history easy to follow.
The Kids Edition is great for school field trips, with the kids and the adult chaperones teaming up on a game that will have them all having a great time. We’ve delighted more than 50 school groups with just this hunt.
Contact us to learn more about this popular team-building scavenger hunt—and find more fun in Philadelphia!
The Murder in Old Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- outdoor
Can you solve this historic district murder mystery?
Egads! There’s been a murder near Independence Hall—and the victim was the Watson Adventures staffer who had created a hunt for your group. Before he died, he left a disturbing clue behind: a star drawn on the ground, in his own blood. Figure out what it means, along with the other puzzling clues linked with secrets in the neighborhood, and you just might prevent an international incident with disastrous consequences.
Along the way, you’ll also uncover the secrets of the historic district and Society Hill area, where many a surprising detail turns out to be integral to solving the case. The trail of clues leads from Washington Square to City Tavern, from St. Peter’s Church to Ben Franklin’s privy, from Market Street to Pine Street.
You’ll need to make sense of cryptic hints, crack a code, and send a text message to the dead man. No pressure or anything, but the fate of the free world just might hinge on your teamwork.
The Secrets of Old Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt for Kids
- private
- kids
- teens
- outdoor
Recommended by GoCityKids.com
Kids and adults join forces on a fun, funny scavenger hunt in the historic heart of Old Philadelphia. You’ll follow a path of clues in the area around Independence Hall and answer tricky, entertaining questions about what you find. This game is especially well suited for school groups that want to walk—and skip and hop—in the Founding Fathers’ footsteps.
Along the way, you might uncover…
- The bygone burial ground beneath Washington Square
- Powel House, where Alexander Hamilton enjoyed music (though probably not rap)
- The streets of Society Hill, where Founding Fathers—and Mothers—lived, strolled, and gossiped
- Dolley Madison’s house on a street with blocks of stone for getting into carriages
- The site of Alexander Hamilton’s home
- The Signer’s Garden, on the site where George Washington sat for a portrait
- Carpenters’ Hall, where the Continental Congress first met
- The First and Second Banks of the United States
- Library Hall, home of a philosophical society founded by Benjamin Franklin
- The Merchant Exchange Building, where cargo, real estate, stocks and more traded hands
- Benjamin Rush Garden, site of the home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Previous knowledge not required; new knowledge joyfully acquired
If you’ve got a group of kids itching for a hilarious, time-traveling adventure, this is the hunt for you. No previous knowledge of the neighborhood or its history is required: you just need sharp eyes and good teamwork. The questions are crafted to foster conversation and give each member of the team a chance to show off their talents.
The game is suitable for kids ages 7 and up. Each team must include at least one adult. The game typically lasts 90 minutes.
Share with your students an experience they will remember and talk about long after their field trip to the heart of historic Philly.
Contact us to learn more about this historical scavenger hunt—and find more fun for kids in Philadelphia!
Hamilton: The Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- kids
- outdoor
Don’t miss your shot at this game starring Alexander Hamilton
Follow in the feisty Founding Father’s footsteps along the streets of Philly’s historic district, from Independence Hall to Society Hill, and discover the places where he worked, played, debated, fought, and (ahem) flirted. Your road map? A trail of clues and tricky, humorous questions about what you find.
You’ll love this game if you’re a fan of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical, or the Ron Chernow book that inspired it, or if you’re just curious about the Revolutionary War in colonial Philadelphia.
Along the way, you might see…
- Independence Hall, where Hamilton first served as a delegate to the Confederation Congress, allied himself with James Madison, and later signed the Constitution…and where Aaron Burr served as a senator
- City Tavern, where Hamilton rubbed elbows with politicians and gave a controversial speech on behalf of the elite, exclusive Society of the Cincinnati
- The former First Bank of the United States building, a linchpin in Hamilton’s economic plans for the new nation
- The home of Founding Father James Madison, Hamilton’s onetime ally—and later determined foe
- The site of the home of Maria Reynolds, with whom Hamilton had an infamous affair
- Benjamin Franklin’s print shop, which, under the direction of his grandson, published tirades against Hamilton
- Carpenters’ Hall, scene of the first Continental Congress
- The remains of the mansion of Robert Morris, the powerful financier who recommended that Hamilton become the first Secretary of the Treasury
- The Second Bank of the U.S., now a gallery of portraits of the Founders that includes Charles Wilson Peale’s rendition of Hamilton
And those are just a few of the highlights on this fun, history-packed tour. No knowledge of Alexander Hamilton or Philadelphia history is necessary.
Adult groups can book this hunt anytime. A Kids Edition of this game is available for private groups. It’s perfect for school field trips, birthday parties, and any other events where you want to amuse and entertain young revolutionaries.
The Haunted Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt
- private
- adults
- outdoor
BOO!
Sorry to startle you, but you might as well brace yourself now for this eerie adventure. On teams, you’ll answer devilishly tricky questions as you visit ghost-plagued buildings and secret cemeteries while learning the stories of the restless souls you might disturb.
Ghosts you might meet include…
- the spirits of 1776 in Independence Hall
- Ben Franklin (of course)
- the Hag of Pine Street
- the spectral poltergeist of St. Peter’s
- a Quaker that’ll make you quake in Washington Square
- the burning bride of City Tavern
…and various other apparitions, sudden chills, rustlings, and knockings.
The Old Philadelphia Mystery Scavenger Hunt for Kids
- private
- kids
- outdoor
Can you catch a criminal before it’s too late?
If you love a good mystery, this whirlwind hunt is for you. Explore Philadelphia’s colonial past as you solve clues and chase down a crazed killer—before he strikes again. The madman left clues about what he’ll do next, so you’ll have to crack a secret code in order to stop him. The city of Philadelphia is counting on you!
As you solve this mystery, you’ll get to explore the best of the historic Independence Hall area with your team. Along the way, you’ll learn about the Founding Fathers (plus a few of their wives), visit a head-splitting surgeon’s house, and pick up some colonial slang, among many more fun discoveries.
Whatever the occasion, from birthday parties to school field trips, this is a great game for bringing kids and adults together to learn about historic Philadelphia while making memories you’ll never forget.
Recommended for ages 10 and up. Each team must include at least one adult.
The Ghosts of Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt for Kids
- private
- kids
- outdoor
Kids and adults work together on this special edition of our popular Haunted Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt, with questions tailored for ages 7 and up. Your team will follow a trail of clues to discover creepy places that, according to legend, are haunted!
You’ll learn the stories the witnesses have told and people have passed down—and who knows, maybe you’ll meet the ghost of Ben Franklin or the Hag of Pine Street.
You’ll be challenged to answer tricky, fun questions about what you find along the way.
Starring: the spirits of 1776 in Independence Hall, a Quaker that’ll make you quake in Washington Square, the burning bride of City Tavern, and various other sudden chills, rustlings, knockings, and more.