Guide To Philadelphia's Mural Tours
Philadelphia is increasingly becoming known as "The Mural Capital of the World," and with over 3,000 murals, there are a number of ways that people can explore all or as many of them as they would like. -Karin Phillips
Mural Arts Program Tours:
African American Iconic Images Collection Tour
Paint the Town: Experiential Tour
There are also Trolley Tours:
Saturdays & Sundays, April through November, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Wednesdays, May through October, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Experienced guides lead participants through Philadelphia's diverse neighborhoods, offering an "off the beaten path," behind-the-scenes look at some of the city's 3,000 murals.
Tour routes generally vary by week as follows:
1st Week of Month – Center City Route
2nd Week of Month – North Philadelphia Route
3rd Week of Month – South Philadelphia Route
4th Week of Month – West Philadelphia Route
5th Week of Month – Broad Street Route
Check-in at the Mural Arts booth 10 min. before departure. Open-air trolleys are heated but do not have air-conditioning. Tours depart rain or shine. A substitute vehicle may be used if necessary.
Tours depart from the Mural Arts Program booth at the Independence Visitor Center, 6th and Market Sts.
$25 for adults, $23 for seniors 65+, $15 for children 3 to 12, children under 2 are free. Click here to purchase tickets for Mural Arts tours.
You can hear the tour that Karin Phillips went on in this CBS Philly At Your Leisure podcast…
Podcast
South Philly Trolley Tour, step-by-step:
1) Crystal Snowscape (first in the "Seasons" series - Winter), by David Guinn
Location: 623 South 10th St.
2) Autumn (second in "Seasons" series)
Location: 629 South 9th St.
3) Mapping Courage: Honoring W.E.B. Du Bois and Engine #11
Location: 6th and South on fire station
4) Travelling Storyteller
Location: 601 Carpenter Street
5) The Journey: Vietnam to the United States
Location: on Washigton Avenue at 13th Street
6) A View of Italy
Location: on Ellsworth at Broad Street
7) South Philly Corner
Location: 1143 Federal Street
8) The Spirit of Philadelphia
Location: 1204 South 12th St.
9) Pathology of Devotion
Location: 1644 East Passyunk Avenue (1645 South 12th)
10) East Passyunk Historical Street Scenes
Location: 12th and Passyunk
11) The South Philadelphia Musicians
Location: 1231 East Passyunk Avenue
12) Sachs Playground
Location: Washington Avenue just past 5th St.
13) Portraits of a Community
Location: 3rd Street north of Washington Avenue
14) Summer (third in the "Seasons" series)
Location: Mario Lanza Park (235 Queen Street)
15) Sherlock Holmes (not a Mural Arts Program mural)
Location: 2nd and Moyamensing
16) Tall Ships
Location: 232 Federal Street
17) Welcome to Mummer Land
Location: 1110 South Front at Manton
18) Summary of Mummery
Location: Front and Washington (under bridge)
19) Our Urban Landscape
Location: 29 Synder Avenue at Colligas Family Shoprite Market
20) South Philly Asthma Mural
Location: Rite Aid at Synder Plaza (Synder Avenue and Swanson Street)
21) Mummers on Parade
Location: 2300 South 2nd Street on Sharswood Elementary School
22) A Step Ahead
Location: 631 Snyder Avenue (on Ford Pal Building)
23) The Arts for Us/Shadows of Mine
Location: Broad and Jackson on South Philadelphia High School
24) Behold, the Open Door
Location: South 17th and Snyder Avenue on Church of Philadelphia
25) Tribute to Abruzzo, aka Le Virtu
Location: 1927 East Passyunk Avenue
26) Tribute to Frank Guarrera
Location: 1532 South Broad Street
27) Mario Lanza
Location: 1336 South at Reed Street
28) Frank Sinatra
Location: 1231 South Broad at Wharton
29) Spring (fourth in "Seasons" series)
Location: 1317 Pine Street
30) Mural at Dirty Franks
Location: 345 South 13th Street
31) Philadelphia Muses
Location: 1235 Locust Street
32) Finding Home
Location: 21 South 13th Street
33) Tree of Knowledge
Location: 1301 Market Street
34) A People's Progression Toward Equality
Location: 8th and Ranstead Streets
35) Legacy
Location: 707 Chestnut Street
For more information on the Mural Arts Program, click here.
