Audio Guide: Philadelphia Old City Walking Tour (Self Guided), Philadelphia

King Charles II of England owed a lot of money to Admiral Sir William Penn. He paid in 1681 by signing over lands in America to the Admiral's son, William Penn. Young William, a Quaker and a thorn in the side of the King, became landlord of present-day Pennsylvania and Delaware. William sailed up Delaware, laid out a grid, and founded Philadelphia.

The streets of the grid run east and west between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. This is the Old City Center, the most historic section of Philadelphia. It is home to Independence National Historical Park, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Banks of the United States, Carpenters' Hall, Betsy Ross House, and Elfreth's Alley.

Old City has many historical attractions. Christ Church built in 1695, Arch Street Meeting House built in 1701, and Old First Reformed Church built in 1727 grace the area. There are also fine examples of Federal and Georgian architecture. Greek Revival and Italianate banks and cast iron warehouses add to the visitor's list of things to see. The modern Museum of the American Revolution is here and so is the National Constitution Center.

The Old City is a favorite nightlife watering hole. Lounges, dive bars, and restaurants populate the blocks from 3rd and Market to Front and Chestnut. Boutiques, galleries, and art film theaters operate in the neighborhood. During the First Friday events, the studios, galleries, and shops have evening open houses.

William Penn hoped to found a Utopia of tolerance in the new world. One can get a glimpse of that dream when visiting the City of Brotherly Love.