Philly Guides Association

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Philly Guides Association

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The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) was founded in 2008 to bring professional and volunteer guides together, to act as a voice for our membership, and to ensure a high quality experience for every visitor in our city.

04/17/2026

On this day in 1790, Benjamin Franklin died. What William Penn started in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin expanded on. The only founding father to sign all four documents of American independence (Declaration of Independence, the Treaty of Alliance with France, the Treaty of Paris, and he Constitution. Invented bifocals and the lightening rod. Secured the French alliance. His last public act was to petition Congress to abolish slavery.

04/15/2026

Today we celebrate World Art Day which is a whole lot more fun than celebrating Tax Day. Philadelphia's Percent for Art program, established in 1959, aims to enhance public spaces and engage communities through commissioned artworks. One of the latest installations can be found at the new Rivermark apartments at the end of Spring Garden St in Northern Liberties.

Read more about the 1% for Art Program here: https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/percent-for-art-programs/.

04/14/2026

On this day in 1775 the Pennsylvania Abolition Society was founded in Philadelphia by a group of Quakers that included Thomas Paine. In 1785 Benjamin Franklin was elected the Society's president and he later petitioned the US Congress to outlaw slavery. https://paabolition.org/
Image: Library of Congress Public Domain

04/13/2026

The Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) will hold its next book club meeting on Tuesday, May 19 at 7 pm on Zoom. There is no fee to attend and everyone is welcome. Participants should come ready to discuss the book. The selection is Prisoners of Congress: Philadelphia Quakers in Exile, 1777-1778 by Norman Donoghue II, which details the 1777 exile of 19 prominent Philadelphia Quakers to Virginia by the Continental Congress, who viewed their refusal to support the war effort as dangerous to national security.

For more info: https://phillyguides.org/event/book-club-for-may-2/

04/12/2026

Our next certification exam will be held on June 13th at 9AM. The Certification Exam, based mainly on information in the APT HANDBOOK, covers the history, people, and places of importance in Philadelphia. It tests knowledge of the basic facts about the city that any guide giving solid, professional tours of both the Historic District and Center City would know.
For more info: https://phillyguides.org/event/apt-certification-exam-in-june-2/

04/09/2026

On this day in 1939, Philadelphian contralto Marian Anderson sings before 75,000 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C; appearance organized after Anderson was denied permission to sing to an integrated audience in Constitution Hall. Celebrate Marian and her life on May 23, 2026 at Mother Bethel.

04/08/2026

Today is Zoo Lovers Day. So of course we celebrate America's first zoo, our very own Philadelphia Zoo which opened in 1874. Its charter was signed on March 21, 1859, but due to the Civil War the opening was delayed for 15 years. Responsible for the first successful orangutan and chimpanzee births in the U.S., being the first zoo in the world to build an on-site animal care center, developing the first specially-formulated foods for zoo animals, and opening the first Children’s Zoo in the U.S., Philadelphia Zoo has always been an industry leader, setting standards for animal care. With programming all year round such as the Holiday Light Spectacular. Yes that is APT Member Nina Blum in the photo 😀

04/07/2026

Reminder: APT Monthly meeting is tomorrow starting at 7PM. Local historian, Jim Seagrave-Daly, will present a lively discussion of Thomas Paine’s revolutionary contribution that persuaded Americans to support independence.

04/06/2026

The wait is over, PAFA is re-opening!

04/05/2026

Happy Easter!

04/04/2026

REMINDER: The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia is offering the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides (APT) a FREE, in-person “Crash Course on Cultural Diplomacy: Welcoming the World with Excellence,” on Friday, April 10 at 10 am. For more information and registration details visit: https://phillyguides.org/.../cultural-diplomacy-training.../

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Philadelphia, PA

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https://phillyguides.org/

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