Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt

48 finds on foot, from the Liberty Bell's crack to Boathouse Row, all free to see.

Philadelphia Scavenger Hunt

TeamMeet at (place and time)

  1. Stay with your team on public sidewalks, paths and plazas.
  2. Cross only at marked crossings, with the signal.
  3. Buy nothing, take nothing and climb nothing but the museum steps.
  4. Photograph nobody outside your team without asking.
  1. The Liberty Bell's crack, seen through the glassThe bell hangs in the Liberty Bell Center across from Independence Hall. It can be seen through the window from outside.
  2. The Delaware River from the waterfrontPenn's Landing is named for William Penn's arrival in 1682. Name one boat you can see.
  3. The brick building with a white clock tower where the Declaration was signedIndependence Hall, completed in 1753. Count the clock faces you can see.
  4. The big blue suspension bridge to New JerseyThe Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Tick it from any Old City street looking east.
  5. A small brick house with a flag out front on Arch StreetThe Betsy Ross House. Write how many stars the flag outside has.
  6. A steel outline of a house that no longer standsFranklin Court, off Market Street. Walk under it and name what the frame shows.
  7. Benjamin Franklin's grave, seen through the fenceIn Christ Church Burial Ground at 5th and Arch Streets. Look through the railing; coins on the stone are common.
  8. The white steeple of an old church in Old CityChrist Church, founded in 1695. Tick it from 2nd Street.
  9. A narrow cobbled lane of little houses from the 1700sElfreth's Alley dates back to 1703. People live here: voices low, stay on the lane.
  10. A flag with thirteen stars in a circleOld City flies many. Write where you saw it.

Next step In town for the Fourth? The holiday huntTurn it into a photo hunt

How it works

The bell, the steps, the murals and the river: a Philadelphia scavenger hunt in four walkable areas, with every find seen for free from the street or a park.

Read the full guide

Old City first

The page opens on Old City, where the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Elfreth's Alley sit a few blocks apart. Choose The Parkway and the river for a longer walk out to the art museum steps, then press Print this list.

Written answers settle it

Most finds ask for a count, a word or a color, so teams prove a find on paper. The note under each is the judging rule. Neighborhood streets works in any part of town.

Tips
  • Old City is busiest at midday in summer. Start early and do the Parkway after lunch.

Questions and answers

Can you do a free scavenger hunt in Philly?

Yes. Every find here is scored from a sidewalk, a park or a plaza. The Liberty Bell is seen through the glass or on free entry, and nothing on the list needs a ticket or a purchase.

What are good Philadelphia scavenger hunt finds for kids?

The LOVE letters, the giant clothespin, the 72 museum steps and the bronze animal in Rittenhouse Square. Keep an adult in every team, and cross only at marked crossings.

Where should a Philadelphia hunt end?

At the top of the art museum steps: the view runs back down the Parkway to City Hall, and every team can see the others arrive.

More tools

Browse Word Games

All 48 finds

Old City 12

  • A flag with thirteen stars in a circle Old City flies many. Write where you saw it.
  • A narrow cobbled lane of little houses from the 1700s Elfreth's Alley dates back to 1703. People live here: voices low, stay on the lane.
  • A person in colonial costume Park guides and actors dress this way near Independence Hall. Tick it; ask before any photo.
  • A small brick house with a flag out front on Arch Street The Betsy Ross House. Write how many stars the flag outside has.
  • A steel outline of a house that no longer stands Franklin Court, off Market Street. Walk under it and name what the frame shows.
  • Benjamin Franklin's grave, seen through the fence In Christ Church Burial Ground at 5th and Arch Streets. Look through the railing; coins on the stone are common.
  • The big blue suspension bridge to New Jersey The Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Tick it from any Old City street looking east.
  • The brick building with a white clock tower where the Declaration was signed Independence Hall, completed in 1753. Count the clock faces you can see.
  • The Delaware River from the waterfront Penn's Landing is named for William Penn's arrival in 1682. Name one boat you can see.
  • The Liberty Bell's crack, seen through the glass The bell hangs in the Liberty Bell Center across from Independence Hall. It can be seen through the window from outside.
  • The white steeple of an old church in Old City Christ Church, founded in 1695. Tick it from 2nd Street.
  • The words cast round the top of the Liberty Bell They begin "Proclaim LIBERTY". Entry to the bell is free through security. Write the next three words.
Show all 48 finds (36 more)

City Hall and Center City 12

  • A building carved with faces over its door Any carved head counts. Write the street.
  • A food cart selling soft pretzels Tick it only; buying is not part of the hunt.
  • A fountain plaza on the west side of City Hall Dilworth Park opened in 2014. In winter the fountain becomes a rink.
  • A giant steel clothespin By Claes Oldenburg, at 15th and Market Streets. Guess how tall it is before you look it up.
  • A park square with a bronze animal to climb Rittenhouse Square is one of William Penn's five original squares. Write which animal you find.
  • A skyscraper with a pointed spire Look west along Market Street. Count the spires you can see.
  • A stone building with a tower like a castle on Broad Street The Masonic Temple at 1 North Broad Street. Tick it from across the street.
  • A street clock on its own pole Write whether it shows the right time.
  • A subway entrance on Broad Street Tick it from the top of the stairs; no need to go down.
  • The red LOVE letters across from City Hall Love Park is named for its LOVE sculpture. Say which letter is tilted.
  • The sign of the old covered market at 12th and Arch Reading Terminal Market opened in the 1890s. Score the sign from outside; nobody needs to buy.
  • The statue on top of City Hall's tower William Penn stands at the very top. Write which way he faces.

The Parkway and the river 12

  • The 72 stone steps up to the art museum Run them if you like. Count them to check the number.
  • A bike and walking trail along the river The Schuylkill River Trail. Keep right; bikes are fast.
  • A bronze rider on horseback near the museum Several stand near the museum's front. Write the name on the base.
  • A fountain with three giant reclining figures The Swann Memorial Fountain in Logan Circle stands for the city's three rivers.
  • A geese flock on the riverbank Watch only; no feeding.
  • A row of boathouses along the Schuylkill Boathouse Row has fifteen. Count the ones you can see from the path.
  • A rowing boat on the Schuylkill Write how many rowers are in it.
  • A small lighthouse at the end of Boathouse Row The Turtle Rock Lighthouse. Tick it from the river path.
  • A statue of a Greek or Roman figure on the museum's roofline The pediments hold colored figures. Name one color you see.
  • A wide avenue of flags from City Hall to the art museum The Benjamin Franklin Parkway runs on a diagonal to the museum. Write one flag you know.
  • Old stone waterworks with pavilions on the river The Fairmount Water Works below the museum, designed in 1812.
  • The view of the city from the top of the museum steps Look back down the Parkway. City Hall's tower should line up.

Neighborhood streets 12

  • A blue historical marker sign Write the first word of its title.
  • A building with a year carved over its door Write the year. The oldest year found wins a tie.
  • A church with two towers Write the street it stands on.
  • A fire hydrant painted in a pattern Any color beyond plain counts. Write what it shows.
  • A mural that covers a whole building side Mural Arts Philadelphia has helped make more than 4,000. Write its main color.
  • A row of brick houses with marble front steps Count the steps on one stoop.
  • A star or bird painted on a front door Write the street.
  • A street named after a tree Center City has many: Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce and more. Write two you found.
  • A tiny garden squeezed between two row houses Look through the gate only.
  • A trolley track in the street Look for steel rails set into the road. Stay on the sidewalk.
  • A wall covered in mosaic of broken tile and mirror Isaiah Zagar's mosaics run along South Street. Tick one from the sidewalk.
  • Awnings over produce stands on South 9th Street The Italian Market. Count the awning colors in one block.

How this list was compiled: Written for this page in September 2026: 48 finds on foot in central Philadelphia, sorted by area, all scored from sidewalks, parks and plazas with nothing bought and no ticket. Nothing was copied from another list. Levels are our judgment. Names, dates and places in the notes were checked on 2026-09-24 against English Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ followed by Liberty_Bell, Independence_Hall, Christ_Church,_Philadelphia, Christ_Church_Burial_Ground, Elfreth%27s_Alley, Betsy_Ross_House, Franklin_Court, Benjamin_Franklin_Bridge, Penn%27s_Landing, Philadelphia_City_Hall, Love_Park, Dilworth_Park, Clothespin_(Oldenburg), Masonic_Temple_(Philadelphia,_Pennsylvania), Reading_Terminal_Market, Rittenhouse_Square, Benjamin_Franklin_Parkway, Swann_Memorial_Fountain, Philadelphia_Museum_of_Art, Rocky_Steps, Fairmount_Water_Works, Boathouse_Row, Schuylkill_River_Trail, Mural_Arts_Philadelphia, Italian_Market and Philadelphia%27s_Magic_Gardens. Licence: own work