SmartHunts® - Best Scavenger Hunt in Philadelphia

Philadelphia offers many landmarks and a diverse culture!

SmartHunts® scavenger hunt in Philadelphia is an experience that will have your team buzzing with excitement. Blending fun, exploration, and corporate teambuilding, SmartHunts can customize your event to include much of what Philly has to offer, including world-class architectural, famous museums, unique food & drink, as well as highlighting the features of Philadelphia mix of modern and historic culture. SmartHunts takes your team on a scavenger hunt through this great city where they can discover their own Philly style.

Whether your team is local to the area, or visiting from out-of-town, the SmartHunts team can create a fresh experience for your group with fun our corporate scavenger hunts. SmartHunts offers a unique corporate adventure tailored just for you and can take your group on any combination of Philadelphia’s great neighborhoods & landmarks, including:
including:

1. Center City
   Center City is a great place for a scavenger hunt in Philadelphia! This downtown section of Philadelphia stretches from its northern border at Spring Garden Street down to South Street and from the Schuylkill River east to the Delaware River and covers 7.7 square miles and is considered the geographic heart of the city.

   In 1682 William Penn designed the city using a grid pattern. Included within there were to be 5 public squares. Central Square, now Penn Square, sits in the center and is home to City Hall, Southwest Square is now Rittenhouse, Southeast Square is now Washington, Northeast Square is now Franklin and Northwest is now Logan.

   All the landmarks and areas of interest to follow are located within Center City so please refer to them for more detailed information.

   Not mentioned in the following but also located within Center City include:

   Chinatown
   The French Quarter
   Schuylkill River Park
   Washington Monument Fountain
   Rodin Museum
   African American Museum
   Elfreth’s Museum
   Museum of the American Revolution
2. Philadelphia Museum of Art
   Located in northern Center City near the Schuylkill River, the museum began as part of the Centennial Exhibition of 1876 celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It remained thereafter as the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art until 1928 when it was relocated to its current location on Fairmont Avenue.

   The Museum has amassed a collection of over 240,000 items including European Paintings, Contemporary Art, American Art, South Asian & East Asian Art: European Decorative Arts, Sculptures, Prints, Drawings, Photographs, Costumes & Textiles.

   Artists represented include Rembrandt, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Edgar Degas, Peter Paul Rubens, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Andrew Wyeth, Henri Matisse, Andy Warhol and many more!
3. Penn’s Landing
   Penn’s Landing is located along the Delaware River on the east side of downtown Philadelphia and a great place for an adventure hunt. Named for the city’s founder William Penn, it was built in 1682 and served its purpose as a commerce hub for over 200 years until falling into disuse and disrepair when cut off from the city by an expressway. Now, it has been reimagined and is a popular year-round destination for visitors and residents alike.

   The Great Plaza in the mid-section of the landing features festivals, concerts, and art exhibits while RiverRink, at the north end of the Plaza offers ice skating in winter and roller skating and outdoor events in the summer.

   Independence Seaport Museum to the south has interactive, educational exhibits and a working Boat Shop. The Spanish American War era cruiser USS Olympia, built in 1892 is moored here as well as World War II-era submarine USS Becuna.

   Continuing to the south you’ll find Penn’s Landing Marina and the Philadelphia Ship Preservation Guild, home to the tall ship Gazela Primeiro and the oldest surviving tugboat, Jupiter.

   Take a stroll on Penn’s Landing Historic Walk and check out Cherry Street Pier’s marketplace and artisan studios and shops, then on to Race Street Pier for spectacular views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the boats and ships on the Delaware River.

   If you’re just looking to relax, Spruce Street Harbor Park features hammocks, floating lounges, swan boats and a great selection of craft beer!
4. Independence Mall
   Independence Mall is a 3-block area located within Independence National Historical Park that runs from Independence Hall on Chestnut Street up to National Constitution Center on Race Street between 5th and 6th Streets.

   Independence Hall – formerly the Pennsylvania State House and considered to be the birthplace of America, this is the location of the signings of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

   National Constitution Center – established by Congress to increase understanding of the particulars contained within the U.S. Constitution.

   The Liberty Bell – originally called the State House bell as its home was in the steeple of Pennsylvania State House, the Liberty Bell is now displayed at the Liberty Bell Center. Interesting side note: the first bell was ordered from a British foundry in 1751 and cracked on its first test ring. It was melted down and recast locally and served its purpose for 90 years before finally developing the crack that led to its retirement.

   Independence Square – location of Independence Hall, Old City Hall – built in 1791, American Philosophical Society, Congress Hall & George Washington Statue.
5. Washington Square – Franklin Square – Rittenhouse Square
   Rittenhouse Square – a 7-acre park located SW of City Hall is one of 5 public squares originally planned by William Penn in 1682 and surrounding the square is one of the most affluent areas in Center City.

   The park itself is by far the most beautiful and popular of the bunch. Stroll amongst the trees, lawns, walkways, sculptures, ornate lamp posts and flower beds, relax by the reflecting pool, catch an art show or music event.

   Encompassing the square, Rittenhouse Square neighborhood has anything one could ask for in the way of shopping and dining.

   Franklin Square – an 8-acre park located adjacent to National Constitution Center, it too is one of Penn’s 5 public squares and has a “mixed use” history similar to that of Washington Square.

   Today its centerpiece is the marble Franklin Square Fountain built in 1838 and surrounding the fountain is a miniature golf course, a carousel, a playground, green space and casual dining.

   Washington Square – a 6.4-acre park located adjacent to Independence Square is yet another of Penn’s 5 public squares. Starting in 1706 it served as a Potter’s Field for strangers, the poor and disenfranchised as well as blacks, Native Americans and later British and American soldiers and yellow fever victims.

   In the 1800’s it evolved into a park where walkways were established, and more than 60 varieties of trees were planted. It is now home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a statue of George Washington
6. City Hall
   Located in Penn Square in the heart of Center City, at the ‘would be’ intersection of Market and Broad Streets, City Hall was designated a U.S. Historic Landmark in 1976 and is the largest municipal building in the US.

   Built over a 30-year period from 1871 to 1901, this French Second Empire Style stand-alone (no structural steel) masonry building has 700+ rooms spread over 14 acres of floor space and cost $25 million. More than 88 million bricks were used in its construction as well as 1000s of tons of limestone, granite, and marble.

   Standing 548 feet tall, including the 37-foot, 27-ton statue of William Penn, City Hall has over 250 statues as well as a multitude of ornate sculptures, a turret, and an observation deck.

   The four-sided clock tower, upon which William Penn Stands, has a 26-foot clock face on each side topped off with four 3-ton bronze eagles with 12 foot wingspans.

   City Hall was the tallest building in Philadelphia until One Liberty Place was constructed in 1987.
7. Betsy Ross House
   The Betsy Ross House is located on Arch Street in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood. Built in the 1740’s, the 3 ½ story Georgian structure was home to Betsy, spouse John and their upholstery business from 1773 – 1786.

   Born Elizabeth Griscom in New Jersey in 1752 to Quaker parents, Betsy had 16 brothers and sisters, of whom only eight survived. She attended Quaker school and then started working as an apprentice where she fell in love with an Episcopalian named John Ross. Inter-denominational marriages were frowned upon so
   rather than stay in their community where they would be shunned, they eloped across the Delaware River in 1773 and set up an upholstery business.

   In 1776 John joined the Pennsylvania militia and was killed in an explosion. Shortly afterward Betsy met George Washington and the ‘Stars & Stripes’ was born.

   Betsy was remarried in 1777 to sea captain Joseph Ashburn but he was captured by the British and died in England’s Old Mill Prison in 1782. She learned the sad news from Joseph’s fellow seaman/inmate John Claypoole who she married in 1783. All told, Betsy had 7 children of whom 5 survived.

   John Claypoole died in 1817 and Betsy continued to work in her upholstery business until 1827. She spent her 9-year retirement living with her daughter and died in 1836 at 84 years of age. She is buried in the courtyard adjacent to the Betsy Ross House.
8. Independence Seaport Museum
   Independence Seaport Museum is located at the base of Walnut Street within Penn’s Landing on the Delaware River. Founded in 1961 by J. Welles Henderson, the museum’s mission is to educate visitors about the importance of the river and its tributaries as well as current and anticipated threats to the watershed. The 4,000 square foot River Alive! exhibit does just that.

   Check out the museum’s 25,000 maritime artifacts and Seaport Boat Shop, a working shop in which craftsmen build and restore traditional wooden boats. Perform experiments in the interactive Citizen Lab or visit the Fisharium. Be awed by the display of intricately handcrafted model ships.

   Rent a rowboat to get a better view of the 1892 Spanish American War era cruiser USS Olympia, which was piloted by Admiral Dewey. It’s the oldest steel warship that is still afloat and in the summertime is home to Admiral’s Tavern beer garden!
9. Franklin Institute
   Located in the heart of Center City, The Franklin Institute, is a family oriented, kid friendly interactive science museum and it’s a blast!

   The Franklin Airshow – learn the history and feel the principles of aeronautics.
   The Electricity – experience electrical forces, sources and circuits.
   The Holt & Miller Observatory – see the sun, moon, planets, stars and galaxies.
   Sir Isaac’s Loft – play with pulleys, pendulums and chain reactions
   The Train Factory – discover the world of steam engines
   Tech Studio – design and test those designs, learn critical thinking skills.
   Sports Zone – have tons of fun with informative, interactive learning experiences.
   Space Command – explore the interaction of the celestial bodies in our solar system.
   The Giant Heart – see an actual dissection, crawl through a giant artery.
   Changing Earth – discover how the systems of the earth interact with one another.
   Your Brain – study the amazing brain’s functions
   Amazing Machine – learn about the mechanics of everyday machines
   Changing Earth – discover how the Earth’s systems connect and affect one another

   The Franklin Institute features daily live scientific demonstrations. Fels Planetarium’s 60 feet diameter dome allows an unobstructed view of the heavens.
10. The North End
    Body Copy here
11. Mural Mile
    All told, there are over 4,000 murals scattered throughout Philadelphia and what began as an anti-graffiti campaign in 1984 has now made this city the mural capital of the world.

    Mural Mile is a roughly ten by ten block area in Center City running from Vine Street south to Lombard Street and from 15th Street east to 6th Street, but all of Philadelphia’s murals are by no means confined to this area.

    Contained within this 10-block district are some of the city’s most visited destinations such as City Hall, Washington Park, Franklin Square, Chinatown, Reading Terminal Market, African American Museum, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and on the 6th Street border, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell & National Constitution Center.
12. South Street
    South Street is the east-west boundary between Center City (downtown) and South Philadelphia.

    This is your hip, eclectic, lively, colorful, alternative subculture part of town. More than 300 primarily independent shops, bars, restaurants, cafes, music stores, bookstores, boutiques, galleries, bistros, coffee shops, taverns, theaters and live music venues to choose from.

    Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, established in 2002, is a combination art museum/installation created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zaga, who has constructed over 200 mosaic murals in the last 50+ years, and they are scattered all over the South Street area. This is a must see!

    If you’re looking for a panoramic view of the city take a stroll on the South Street Pedestrian Bridge, a walkway at the east end of the street that connects to the Penn’s Landing area.
13. Reading Terminal Market
    Located in a National Historic Landmark in Center City a few blocks NE of City Hall, Reading Terminal Market opened in 1893 and is considered one of the oldest markets in the U.S. and is Foodie Paradise!!

    These 78,000 square foot space houses nearly 80 independent vendors offering a huge selection of local and specialty items and is open every day from 8am to 6pm.

    Baked goods, produce, cheeses, meats, sausages, poultry, and seafood. Ice cream, chocolates, cookies, candies, and nuts. Flowers, linens, housewares, and herbs.

    Restaurants include Pennsylvania Dutch, Thai, Middle Eastern, Cajun, Caribbean, Italian, Bar-B-Q, deli, and diner cuisine as well as pizza and, of course, Philadelphia Cheesesteak!