Dare to walk in the shadows of America’s most haunted history… without the sound of sippy cups or snack requests. Founding Phantoms is Philadelphia’s adults-only ghost tour—designed exclusively for brave souls 16 and older.
This chilling journey dives into the darker side of the Founding Fathers—uncovering ghostly legends, unsettling truths, and spectral secrets they hoped would stay buried. But that's not all...
We'll also descend into the eerie evolution of America’s healthcare system, where "breakthroughs" often came with a body count. Fatal mistakes. Fascinating discoveries. And plenty of things that go bump in the operating room.
If you're ready for a spine-tingling night of history, hauntings, and a few uncomfortable truths... we’ll be waiting in the dark.
Tour Options
9 PM
Itinerary
20 min
This hospital, whose purpose was to treat mental illness, was home to many inhumane experiments in an attempt to drive out the evil spirits once believed to be the cause of mental illness. Join us on a journey through the past as we discuss the evils that took place and the vengeful spirits that remain as a result
20 min
The Powel House was the home of Philadelphia's Mayor during the Revolution, Samuel Powel. Political dinner parties aren't the only historical events to discuss regarding this old home-turned-museum, as it is claimed to be the most haunted building in the city!
20 min
This building was the idea of the one and only Alexander Hamilton, and while his criminal history is nothing to scoff at, the true draw of this building for many paranormal enthusiasts is the belief that the ghost of Hamilton himself haunts its grounds! Come learn all about Hamilton's debauchery-filled life, maybe even from his spirit directly!
Highlights
All Fees and Taxes
What's included
Included
All Fees and Taxes
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
4.5
128 reviews
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107
4
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13
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Frequently asked questions
How long does Founding Phantoms Adult's Only Walking Tour take?
Founding Phantoms Adult's Only Walking Tour lasts about 1h 30min. The itinerary has 3 stops.
How much does Founding Phantoms Adult's Only Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $35 per person for this Philadelphia experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel Founding Phantoms Adult's Only Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is You will meet your spooktacular tour guide by the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier. Please look for the eternal flame and you are there.. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Founding Phantoms Adult's Only Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 30 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Reviews(128)
A
annamarier703
August 29, 2026
Guide did not show up, no resolution from company
Extremely poor experience. We signed up for a tour. About 15 people showed up at the meeting spot on time and no tour guide showed up for over 20 minutes. Multiple people called the booking number and they were unable to provide any explanation or resolution besides a "rain check" -- even though we were tourists and not able to come back another time.
Operator response
Thank you for sharing your experience. We’re very sorry your guide did not arrive and that your group was left waiting without a clear resolution. We understand that a rain check is not a practical solution for visitors who may only have one night in Philadelphia, and the communication you received did not adequately address the situation. We’ll be reviewing what happened with our team, as this is not the experience we want our guests to have.
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Jonathan M
August 14, 2026
DO NOT PAY FOR THIS, not worth your time or money
This company lacks ethics in every way.
The guides are trying to do their best, but the company and its "management" team keep changing things at the very last minute, everything is improvised and unprofessional; affecting both the guides and the guests.
This company clearly does not care about the experience, it's all about the money.
Guides: Do not think of working here, it's the worst "job" ever.
Guests: DO NOT hire this company, there are better ones out there
1 people found this helpful
3
319nicolash
August 13, 2026
Not the experience being advertised
I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere for a walking tour in Philadelphia. Based on what I observed, I have serious concerns about how this company operates and how its guides are treated.
The treatment of guides came across as exploitative, disrespectful, and at times outright mean. What makes this even more concerning from a customer perspective is the apparent lack of proper training for newer guides. People are paying for what is advertised as a professional guided experience, but some guides appear to be sent out to conduct tours without being adequately prepared or trained to deliver the product customers are purchasing.
That isn’t fair to the guides who are put in that position, and it certainly isn’t fair to paying customers. When you’re selling a guided historical tour, customers should reasonably expect a knowledgeable, properly trained guide and an experience that matches what was advertised.
There are plenty of walking tours in Philadelphia. I would spend your money with a company that invests in its guides, treats them with respect, and takes the quality of the experience it sells seriously.
1 people found this helpful
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julianacH4986ED
August 13, 2026
Do your research before booking
Unfortunately, my experience with this company was extremely disappointing. The way the guides are treated is exploitative, disrespectful, and, at times, abusive. There seems to be very little consideration for the people who are actually representing the company and interacting with customers.
What concerns me even more is the lack of proper training for new guides. People are being put in positions to conduct tours without receiving the appropriate preparation or knowledge to provide the experience customers are paying for. As a result, the quality of the tours suffers significantly.
In my opinion, the company is selling a product that does not consistently match what is advertised. Customers deserve transparency, professionalism, and a quality experience—and employees deserve to be treated with respect and properly trained to do their jobs.
I would strongly encourage anyone considering booking with this company to do their research and read the reviews carefully before spending their money.
1 people found this helpful
6
618teris
July 4, 2026
Ghost city phantom tour was great
Claire led us on an amazing tour filled with wonderful stories. She has a deep knowledge of history and she was a great guide.
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad Claire made the Founding Phantoms tour such a memorable experience. It’s fantastic to hear that her storytelling and deep knowledge of history brought the evening to life. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words along to her. Thanks for joining us!
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G5005QXnicoleo
June 2, 2026
Great Ghost Tour
Kaye was a terrific guide with great historical knowledge and very personable. We really enjoyed our evening with her.
Operator response
Thank you so much for the kind review! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your evening with our guide. Her historical knowledge and personable storytelling style make for a wonderful tour experience, and we’ll be sure to pass along your thoughtful words to her!
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N160SVchristinel
May 30, 2026
Ghost City- perfect spooky and history!
Our guide Kay was excellent!! Definitely a great mix of spooky and history. We had friends in town from Florida and this tour gave a wonderful walking tour of old city. Kay also gave members of our group ghost hunting tools as we walked around, which was fun. Even in between locations she had really cool stories as an expert ghost hunter. If you need a good stop to eat before the tour which starts at 9pm., National Mechanics was a great restaurant- old historic bank, in walking distance to tour meet up. 5 stars all around for ghost city and Kay!
Operator response
Thank you so much for the amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear that Kay made your evening such a fun and memorable experience. A great mix of spooky stories, Philadelphia history, and Old City atmosphere is exactly what we hope guests take away from the tour.
We’re also glad your group enjoyed the ghost hunting tools and Kay’s extra stories between stops. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to her. Thank you for joining Ghost City Tours, and we hope to see you again in another haunted city!
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caso604
May 9, 2026
Great Time! Would haunt again
Went with Kay as our guide. She was absolutely wonderful and super informative about the area and ghosts. This is one of the cool tours where they let you use some of the equipment. Had a lot of fun and the walk was good exercise!
Operator response
Founding Phantoms Adult's Only Walking Tour
Went with Kay as our guide. She was absolutely wonderful and super informative about the area and ghosts. This is one of the cool tours where they let you use some of the equipment. Had a lot of fun and the walk was good exercise!
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Francesca C
April 26, 2026
Pat = best guide
Pat was an amazing guide. A lot of history and humor and spooky in one night. Everyone felt involved. It felt like hanging out with friends and exploring the city in a nice atmosphere.
Operator response
Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad our Ambassador created such a fun and welcoming experience with the perfect mix of history, humor, and spooky stories. We especially love hearing that everyone felt included and that the evening felt more like exploring the city with friends. Thanks for joining us!
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Eric_B
April 17, 2026
Lots of historical...
Lots of historical information with a few ghost stories mixed in. Had a great time and learned a lot
Operator response
Thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you had a fun time on the Founding Phantoms Tour and enjoyed diving into Philadelphia’s history with a few ghostly tales along the way. It’s always great to hear you left the tour having learned something new. Thanks for joining us!
