Philadelphia Walking Tour: History of Money & Inflation in the US
Description
Why is everything so expensive? How did we go from using gold coins in the 17th century to using paper money today? How did our founding fathers think about setting up the young nation's monetary system? This tour aims to be both educational and entertaining and will cover the historical significance of sites such as the Museum of the American Revolution, the 1st Bank of the United States, the 2nd bank of the United States, The US Mint, Independence Hall, and the Benjamin Franklin's grave. Tour guide is a Philadelphian with a passion for history, the founding fathers of our Republic, and the current state of inflation and financial conditions today.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Tell stories about the 2 murals on the wall
External of first Bank of the United States
External of Second Bank of the United States
External of Independence Hall
External of US Mint
External of the Graveyard
External of US Constitution Center and Federal Reserve. Learn about 3rd US Central Bank of United States from 1913 to Present.
Tell about the Continental Dollar hyperinflation to fund war of Independence 1775-1779
Learn about the First stock exchange in Philadelphia and Gold and Silver usage in money in the US.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(6)
Fascinating !! We didn’t know what to expect, and a tour about banking in Philadelphia sounded dry. Boy were we wrong. Brian is a Philadelphia native, and this tour is his personal project, built from years of genuine passion for the subject. That shows in every stop. In less than ninety minutes, he takes you from the colonial currency chaos that preceded the Constitution, through Hamilton’s creation of the American banking system, all the way to the Federal Reserve and the inflation we live with today — and he makes every bit of it fascinating. His gift is making the abstract tangible. He pulls out side-by-side comparisons of historical and modern currency, walks you through an inflation chart spanning 1792 to today, and explains fiat money and the Nixon Shock in ways that suddenly make the dollar in your pocket feel like a living piece of history. Standing in front of the United States Mint while he tells these stories gives the whole thing a weight no classroom can match. Brian is warm, funny, and endlessly knowledgeable. This is not a franchise tour — it is one Philadelphian’s intellectual passion shared generously with anyone willing to walk and listen. Five stars. And would do it again.
Loved this tour. Got to see main sites (1st bank, carpenters hall, ind hall) and learn something about money. Great experience!
Brian is a very knowledgeable and interesting guide. I learned a great deal and enjoyed the tour. Recommend!
Brian took on an interesting, important and challenging topic. I learned a great deal and the tour stimulated my interest in learning more. Although Brian’s perspective is not my own, I found it is stimulating that he offered a point of view.
Really interesting tour with a lot of interesting nuggets. It made me think about how much money changed over US history, and never would have guessed so much happened in Philly. Tour guide Brian did great job. Highly recommend!
This was such a fun and informative tour. The tour started with two questions and both were answered by the end of the tour. I thoroughly enjoyed it! There is quite a bit of walking, so please wear comfortable shoes. Unfortunately, both the USMint and Federal Reserve buildings were closed for reconstruction during my time in Philly and during the 250 America celebration (dumb timing in retrospect). Also, not all of the slavery signs have been put back where they were previously.
