Beyond The [Liberty] Bell History Walking Tour

My guide was excellent. He did a great job of making it feel real. He was very knowledgeable.

It’s our first viator experience. Rebecca is a very nice lady. She brought us to several interesting spots we’ve never been to when we were in Philly before. She talked a lot about the city’s history and introduced historical figures. We had fun during this walking tour.

Really great and extensive tour. Our tour guide Daniel was friendly and knew their stuff. Great value for the price and lengthy. I would recommend doing the full group 10 person tour for large parties.

Even in the FREEZING cold, this tour entertained us, ages 19-85! Our guide was super interesting and engaging. Things I learned in school just hit differently the way he explained it. I would absolutely recommend this tour!

Knowledgeable, interactive tour. Small size and new information that is not discussed in other tours makes this well worth it. Guide was able to answer impromptu questions and was well versed. Guide also modified the tour a bit for the groups needs.

Mike was great. We learned so much about some things we wouldn't of know or heard. Love it. Thank you Mike

Thank you Joey for such an incredible, thoughtful and informative tour. As a traveler and a tourist, I want to learn the stories of the folks who have been left out of the dominant narrative. Beyond the Bell shared the beautiful communities and contributions of queer folks, Black folks, Native folks, and of course shined light on the "inconsistencies" within origin stories of Philadelphia. I laughed, I thought, and I learned. Please join them on their tours-

Matthew is the most wonderful tour guide. He is incredibly knowledgeable! Don’t miss a chance to spend the day with him.

A lot of great history. The guide was very informative and knowledgeable. I would reccomend this tour for anyone visiting the area.

Pro: your money supports this unique small-, woman-owned business that is competing against all the other established tour operators in town. They answered the phone. When a problem arose, the owner did come out to handle it herself. Area for improvement: they didn’t seem to have a system set up to ensure their guides actually turn up. Maybe they can fix that for practical and safety (for the guides) reasons. Our guide never came so we waited in the intense sun and heat in Washington Square, unsure what was going on. It wasn’t until we called after the tour was supposed to have started, that we found out there is no system of accountability (check-ins) for the guides. The tour was therefore a half hour late to start and then, for the rest of the time, it felt rushed to end on time since those on the tour had other pre-planned afternoon tours. I had hoped that we would get a bit more “untold stories” history but only about three such longer-form histories were relayed. The rest was: “Here is the Liberty Bell. This is Independence Hall. There is the original Wall Street. Here is so-and-so” without much detail as to the significant contributions from blacks/(former) slaves, POCs or members of the LGBT+ community that were likely critical components of the success (or failure) of those sites. The tour does not even point out that there were trials at Independence Hall for captured slaves, so the fact that the ideal of US independence was signed there that afforded this for some—not all— would have been a terrifically educational and powerful point to make in front of Independence Hall. One stop was more theoretical than grounded in fact. Some NPS bashing happened which sometimes seemed unnecessary. In the end, they refunded half the ticket price for the late start but only after I later inquired if they were willing to take greater responsibility for what happened. Increased proactiveness to make it right with guests would have been appreciated. Overall: the potential for excellence exists and hopefully this was a learning experience for the company.

Amazing tour that we (husband and me, ~20 year Phila residents) enjoyed as much as our out-of-town guest did. Our guide, Joey, was so personable and knowledgeable, and was very good at communicating complicated stories in ways that made for deep emotional connections. He was very considerate and asked on several occasions how we were doing - like if we wanted to wander on our own or stay with him (we all wanted to stay with him and hear his stories!), or skip the last site since we were running long (all of us wanted to see the last site!). He was great at bringing out the layers of history and connections across different times and places in the city, and especially at highlighting the stories that mainstream tours overlook. As a historian, I wasn't sure before the tour how much of what he shared would be new to me, but I learned so much, including a lot that I'm excited to share with my students next year. It's clear that Joey loves history and Philadelphia and is eager to share his knowledge. We will definitely return to Beyond the Bell for more tours in the future, and will recommend it to anyone visiting Philly.

Our Tour Guide Joey was fantastic! We picked this particular tour because of its inclusive nature and we were thrilled to learn new and exciting things about Philadelphia.

This was such a great tour. Matthew was a fantastic tour guide and we really appreciated learning about perspectives and history that gets skipped over when we talk about the founding of our country. My sister and I thought the locations we stopped at were perfect and the things we learned gave us a greater perspective on the people who often get overlooked but who were just as important as Ben Franklin, George Washington and so on.

Couldn't have had a better experience on this tour! Great information, beautiful murals, and the BEST tour guide! Shoutout Joey for doing these badass women in history justice! Couldn't recommend it more.

Joey was an excellent tour guide. We learned so much about the people who shaped Philadelphia but aren’t memorialized in most history classes. And so much about the lengths we still need to go for liberty for all. Truly a marvelous tour.

Our tour guide Joey did an amazing job by providing very informative tour in downtown Philly. We got lots of information on Philly history and buildings and particularly enjoyed hearing stories of inspiring Philly women, black history and other less publicized figures. Philly is full of fascinating history and Joey was very personable and responsive to our many questions.

We went on a school tour with Beyond the Bell! The tour was engaging for our middle school students and the teachers learned a lot too!

Somebody gifted me this experience and now I want to gift this tour to everyone I know! Whether you’re just visiting Philly or have lived here your whole life, this is such a unique and beautiful way to learn. I laughed, I cried, and I left feeling inspired. I loved going solo but would also be great for families and groups.

Rebecca led us, a group of four college friends reuniting, on an excellent tour of the city. We all enjoyed hearing the history of Philly, exploring some of the quirky and obscure neighborhood lore, and gazing at some of our nation's most revered landmarks. Rebecca invited questions of all sorts about the city, and was patient when a few in the group asked for a rest stop. Rebecca was well prepared and familiar with variations of stories passed down which made the walk not only informative but very interesting. We were on tour a full two hours, and covered plenty of ground. We would take another tour offered by Beyond the Bell again. Very well done!

Fabulous tour! Great look at stories that have been overlooked or ignored in our past. Sure - William Penn was great. But wait until you hear about his interesting, smart wife, Hannah, and her actions to run the colony and her business. And many more powerful stories.

Looking for more than your run-of-the-mill history tour in Philly? Check out the LGBTQ History Tour with Beyond the Bell! Rebecca, our guide, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and witty. She brought a personal touch to the tour and demonstrated expertise about LGBTQ Philly history you won't find elsewhere. You will get to see historical sites, murals, bars, streets, and more. Plus you'll learn about local legends and heroes who led Philly LGBTQ rights movements and influenced fights for justice across the country. Come for a nice walk through the gayborhood and learn about the rich history in our community. Great for individuals or groups. HIGHLY recommend!

This was such a fun and well-rounded tour. Joey was great at leading the tour and packing in LGBTQ facts and history, while still adding plenty of his own humor and keeping us laughing. I loved it!

This was a fantastic tour to really understand the Gayborhood and its history, as well as some general LGBTQ history. Joey is a great tour guide and was really entertaining, thoughtful and educational. He was in touch with the group and was helpful about finding bathrooms and coffee when we needed it. Would definitely take tours again from this company!

We just finished our Beyond the Liberty Bell tour with Rebecca. It was terrific! She was very vibrant, knowledgeable, and brought the information to life. She was also very aware of our comfort on a hot day. Thanks for a great first trip to Philly.

Great tour to learn about some of the lesser known, but very important, people and parts of our history. Rebecca was a great guide— full of information and also very mindful of our comfort in the summer heat!

George Washington was a hero and a law evading slave owner. William Penn’s second wife not only kept her Attention-Deficit-Disorder-husband’s affairs in order but went on to become the only female governor in Colonial America. Two dressmakers lived together, supported each other and achieved the first will and estate that gave each other their property and assets once deceased in a male dominated society a century before women had equal rights. These are the eye opening information we learned on the tour, guided by Joey, the founder of the company and Katy, a lovely guide-in-training. We had lots of thoughtful conversation about the progressive nature of Philadelphia’s origins.

Joey was such a fun and knowledgeable host. It's so important to experience tours like this that talk about a city's hidden history. Highly recommended for all history and humanity buffs!

My friend and I did a Gayborhood walking tour. We loved it and it was even better than expected! Our guide was super knowledgeable and had a great vibe. We learned so much about the queer history of Philly. It was great to find a tour like this since not all tours spend much time on this part of Philly’s history.

This tour is an absolute must if you are visiting the historical sites of Philadelphia! So many important and fascinating stories get left out of the official history, and I'm so glad I was able to learn them. Joey was a wonderful tour guide and I loved listening to him share his wealth of knowledge about history and Philly in general. I highly recommend visiting the historical sites on your own first (particularly Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell) to go through the exhibits, and then book a tour with Beyond the Bell later in the day to hear about everything that was missing from the main experience. Thank you Joey for doing such important work. You give a voice to those whose contributions have been ignored...and you make it a lot of fun!

I loved learning about some of the less reported stories of Philadelphia history. And Joey was a great guide. He seemed to have a genuine warmth about him, so it was more like taking a stroll through the city with a good friend rather than a paid guide. I would definitely recommend!

I booked the event with my 11 year old son. I was not sure if he would enjoy it. He absolutely loved it and couldn't stop taking about how nice Joey was. I would definitely recommend beyond the bell.

Lots of interesting information. Rebecca knows her stuff! She catered to our mobilty challenges and gave us a great tour.

It was amazing to see a different side of history. Rebecca was fun and knowledgeable. We got to see familiar sights while learning something new about each one.

I had a lovely time on the Beyond the Bell tour. The tour guides Rebecca and Joey had so much knowledge about the bell it was ridiculous. What I really appreciated about the tour was the separation they drew between the historical context of the bell and the bell's symbolic significance. I did not know what the bell represented historically and they were able to thoroughly explain it throughout different time periods and with different groups. Overall I would say the tour is definitely worth it for anyone looking to dig a little deeper into the history of Philly.

The first thing about the Beyond the Bell Tour with Rebecca that struck me as positively different about this tour from any other I had done before yesterday was that our group did not even enter in the main museum building with the Liberty Bell (where most tourists spend all of their time), and we were able to have one of the most fulfilling tour experiences I have ever had. The amount that I learned and also the extent to which our group actually engaged with our surroundings as well as thought critically about how the Bell is presented to us as visitors all contributed to the amazing experience that I had. I also loved Rebecca's willingness in answering questions that my group members had throughout the tour as she was not afraid to be honest and answer the questions wholly and fully. I had a great time engaging in all that I learned during this tour, and I hope to bring my family on this tour when they come visit me soon.

This was a gem of a tour! I loved it! Rebecca knows so much and is personable and funny. The time flew by and I came away with my head full of amazing new ways of understanding Philadelphia. I would do this again in a heartbeat.

After going on the Beyond the Bell tour, I would definitely take another one of Rebecca and Joey’s tours. Rebecca and Joey took us through the Liberty Tour attraction and opened our eyes up to see the true history behind the liberty bell and its connection to both the abolitionist movement and lgbtq+ rights movement. They showed us how this history is minimized and is not as spotlighted as the claim of its supposed connection to American independence. During our tour, we were told to come up to strangers and ask for their reasoning behind going to see the liberty bell. It was interesting to hear their reasoning and even more interesting to hear Rebecca’s insightful dissection of it. It was also particularly compelling when Rebecca challenged the visibility and authenticity of the structure built to honor enslaved peoples and whether it was an accessible or effective means to tell their story. Overall, the tour pushed me to consider how typical tours are designed to neglect certain parts of history and encouraged me to seek tours in the future that explore those important pieces. Thank you Rebecca and Joey!

My experience on the Beyond the Bell tour was unlike any other touristic experience I have had in Philly. The tour, faithful to its name, went beyond the plaques and told us the frequently untold history behind the bell. Rebecca and Joey were excellent tour guides, and their insight changed my perspective on the monument and the motivations behind its construction. Rebecca allowed us to make our own observations, but enhanced our knowledge with her own. To those who want an unabridged understanding of the Liberty Bell and what it represents, I couldn’t more highly recommend the Beyond the Bell tour.

Rebecca and Joey's tour does not merely help you see the sights, but critically understand them. Without even stepping foot within the Liberty Bell Center a people's history of the iconic bell was concisely conveyed by Rebecca, whose sheer knowledge and clear appreciation for history drew me in and had me hanging on every last fact. Through exploring the discrepancies between the bell as a symbol for many Philadelphia-based social movements and the almost-sterile common-understanding (or lack thereof), I feel like I was actually able to directly engage with history and come to a deeper appreciation of Philly. Though the beginning activity was a bit rough in execution, I appreciated the opportunity to explore the grounds and have personal conversations with those hoping to see the bell. It was an excellent demonstration of the tour's necessity and was an interesting way to cater to a way-too-big group of students. My only real complaint is that we got the abridged version! I'd love to see the rest someday!

I found the tour to be incredibly informative, and liked that Rebecca and Joey discussed the significance of the liberty bell from multiple perspectives including slaves and LGBTQ activism. They pointed out a lot of aspects about the flawed design of the liberty bell slave memorial I would not have even noticed otherwise. Would 100 percent recommend to get the real story behind the bell!

I highly recommend this tour to anyone in Philadelphia, be it locals or visitors to the city. Rebecca and Joey provided an interactive experience that encouraged us to engage critically with the history, meaning, and display of the bell. They imparted a wealth of knowledge that was new to me and gave me a better understanding of the bell icon, especially being situated in the historical and political contexts that you don’t really get from walking around the exhibits. Additionally, they asked us to provide our opinions on display of information, and called our attention to sections and details that I would’ve missed otherwise.

This tour lived up to its name for sure -- I learned so much about the history of the liberty bell that I didn't already know having a family from Philadelphia. Rebecca and Joey answered any and all of our questions and were honest and super knowledgeable.

Rebecca and Joey of Beyond the Bell Tours were both extraordinarily friendly and extremely knowledgable about Philadelphia’s history. I thought they did a fantastic job of conveying the real and complex history of the Liberty Bell in a nontraditional way. Instead of having us go in to see the Liberty Bell, for example, they encouraged us to observe the setup of the area, notice where people were congregating and what they were paying attention to, and talk to folks in line about their reasons for visiting the site. It was striking how many people were keen to see a supposedly “important moment in history” without knowing the true background of the Liberty Bell. Overall, I was impressed with their ability to readily and thoughtfully answer any questions, their deep analysis of the Liberty Bell in relation to local abolitionist and Black history, and the way in which they enabled us to think deeply about accessibility and visual coding of aspects of the monument. I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone who would like to visit the Liberty Bell-- after all, it is an iconic symbol— but who would also like to come away with a much deeper understanding of its local history and context. Fun, engaging, insightful, and extremely important— an absolute must when you’re visiting Philadelphia!

I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Liberty Bell in Philly. Rebecca and Joey were really knowledgeable and engaging tour guides. Our discussions about monuments and the history of the Liberty Bell encouraged me to think more about the built environment and education in historical monument sites. I also enjoyed the discussion on LGBT history. Overall the tour was very hands-on, educational, and thought-provoking. I did a shortened version of the tour but I would love to experience the full tour sometime!

This tour was really amazing! I was born and raised in Philadelphia and passes by the liberty bell often but never really took the time to visit it. The tour was informative and engaging. Rebecca challenged us to look past just seeing the bell and think about why it is important and what it may or may not represent in the US. The tour definitely left me with a desire to learn more about the bell and dive deeper into the monuments that I see everyday.

Beyond the Bell tour dedicates to showing multiple perspectives of the history beyond the liberty bell. This tour is not only simply a sightseeing experience but an educational opportunity and we are able to do some interactive activities with other visitors who want to visit the liberty bell. Rebecca and Joey draw from both personal experiences and academic articles to illustrate the actual history of liberty bell's symbolic influences and mainstream false impression of the liberty bell. They are also more than happy to answer any question we have. The whole tour is very engaging and enlightening. Highly recommend!

This experience is fantastic, and I recommend it to anyone who finds themselves with a few free hours in Philadelphia. Rebecca and Joey curated a tour that simultaneously challenged and deepened what I thought I knew about the history of Philadelphia and how we recount it. While it can be intimidating at first, Rebecca challenged us to talk to strangers waiting in line to see the Liberty Bell and ask why they had chosen to come see the Bell. After allowing us to share some of what we heard, she pushed back against the rationale of many of those visitors. She allowed us to make observations, but then deepened those observations with historical analysis and relevant context. She encouraged us to ask questions, and she was able to answer every one group had to offer. What I loved most about this tour was the way it left me curious and itching for more. For hours after the tour disbanded, I couldn’t stop going over and over in my head how what I had been taught about that metal heap on Market Street was not necessarily inaccurate, but grossly misleading. If you are in Philadelphia, you shouldn’t feel bad for wanting to see the Liberty Bell, but do yourself a favor and have Beyond the Bell help guide you.

I really enjoyed the tour we took with Rebecca. She was very good at providing the context behind the real history of the liberty bell, and that made me think more deeply about the history and context behind tourist sites. I enjoyed the focus on the parts of the tourist destination that are more often overlooked but have a more significant and important history than the Liberty Bell itself. I would highly recommend taking a tour with Rebecca and checking out other Beyond the Bell tours!

I really appreciated this tour for challenging me to think about things and to think in a way that I would not have arrived at on my own. Through this experience, I felt like I was being taken on an exclusive behind-the-scenes adventure, not only behind the scenes of the Liberty Bell, but of American tourism culture in general. You're not just observing the Liberty Bell exhibit, but you're observing the scenes, sights, and people surrounding it. If you would like to question your instincts and your perspective, have a mirror held up to your ideas--this is the tour for you. This enriching experience was only helped by the charismatic and easygoing personalities of our tour guides, Rebecca and Joey. Not only do they contribute fresh and candid insights to their tour-guiding, but as people, they create an open, welcoming atmosphere in which you feel like you can candidly share your questions and ideas. They are authoritative in their knowledge, but still chilled out in a way that makes you feel like you can be friends with them. They bring their own opinions and experiences to the table without being overbearing, and while still allowing you to think in your own way. Overall, this is a very impressive tour, and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to expand their horizons!