Discover Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt
Discover the birthplace of America with a one-of-a-kind scavenger hunt. Stand inches from the Liberty Bell, walk into the room where the Declaration was signed, run up the Rocky steps and share a cheesesteak the size of your forearm. Philadelphia is your playground for the day.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Liberty Bell
Navigate to the Liberty Bell Center and check in at the entrance.
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2
Independence Hall
Navigate to Independence Hall on Chestnut Street and check in.
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3
Reading Terminal Market
Navigate to Reading Terminal Market on 12th and Arch and check in at the main entrance.
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4
Rocky steps
Navigate to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (the Rocky steps) and check in at the bottom.
Challenges (19)
Philadelphia kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a typical Philly backdrop (an old brick row house, a colonial signpost, a SEPTA bus) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot.
Checkpoint: Liberty Bell
Navigate to the Liberty Bell Center and check in at the entrance.
Liberty Bell line-up
In front of the Liberty Bell glass pavilion: take a group photo with the bell clearly visible in the frame (you can shoot from outside the building through the glass).
Trivia: Liberty Bell crack
The Liberty Bell is famous for its crack. According to legend, what was the bell tolling when it cracked the final time? (One word: a person's name.)
Answers: Marshall / marshall / John Marshall
Checkpoint: Independence Hall
Navigate to Independence Hall on Chestnut Street and check in.
Founders' pose
In front of Independence Hall: line the team up and take a group photo where everyone strikes a serious founder pose. Tricorn hats optional but encouraged.
Trivia: Declaration signed
The Declaration of Independence was signed in this building on July 4 of what year?
Answer: 1776
Elfreth's Alley walk
Elfreth's Alley claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in the US. Walk down it and take a group photo where the row of pastel doors stretches behind you.
Checkpoint: Reading Terminal Market
Navigate to Reading Terminal Market on 12th and Arch and check in at the main entrance.
Cheesesteak group shot
Order a Philly cheesesteak from any stand inside Reading Terminal (Carmen's is a classic), share it among the team and take a photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time. Cheese-on-cheese ratio matters.
Trivia: Cheesesteak invented
The Philly cheesesteak is traditionally said to have been invented by Pat Olivieri at his hot dog stand. In what year (between 1930 and 1933)?
Answers: 1930 / 1931 / 1932 / 1933
Checkpoint: Rocky steps
Navigate to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (the Rocky steps) and check in at the bottom.
Rocky run finish
Run up the seventy-two steps as a team and at the top, raise both arms in the Rocky pose. Capture it in a photo or a short video. Theme music optional.
Rocky statue pose
At the bottom-right of the steps stands the bronze Rocky statue. Take a group photo where the team strikes the same boxing stance.
Magic Gardens mosaic
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens on South Street is a tile mosaic wonderland. Find the mosaic walls (you can shoot the exterior for free) and take a group photo with the mosaic background filling the frame.
LOVE statue jump
The red LOVE sculpture in LOVE Park is the most photographed object in Philadelphia. Take a group jump photo where everyone is airborne and the LOVE sculpture is clearly in shot.
Trivia: Penn city founder
Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by which Quaker (last name)?
Answers: Penn / penn / William Penn
Local Philadelphian tip
Convince a local Philly resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip.
Philadelphia finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Philly spot and take an amazing closing group photo. Cheers from the City of Brotherly Love!
Frequently asked questions
Four to five hours covers Old City (Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Reading Terminal Market) and the Rocky steps at the Art Museum at a relaxed pace. The two areas sit about two miles apart, so most groups grab the Philly Phlash bus, a rideshare or walk down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between them.
The Liberty Bell is free with no ticket required, expect a security line of fifteen to thirty minutes. Independence Hall is also free but requires a timed entry ticket from the visitor center (or online in advance from March to December). Pick up the ticket first thing and plan the other challenges around it.
Yes. Even if you have never seen the movies, running up the seventy-two stone steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art with the skyline at your back is a great group moment. The Rocky statue at the bottom is the photo spot, the view from the top is the prize. Both are free.
Reading Terminal Market is open seven days a week (roughly 8 to 6), but the Pennsylvania Dutch stands (Beiler's, Dutch Eating Place) are closed on Sundays and Mondays. If you want the full mix of Amish baked goods and cheesesteaks, run the hunt Tuesday through Saturday.
Independence Visitor Center on 6th and Market is the natural starting point: it sits between the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Reading Terminal Market, and it is where you pick up the Independence Hall timed tickets. SEPTA's 5th Street/Independence Hall station is one block south if you arrive by train.