Afternoon: HOTEL CHECK-IN: Available from 3:00pm.

REGISTRATION & ORIENTATION: 4:00pm in our private conference room. Register with the program staff and receive your Road Scholar arrival packet containing your name tag, up-to-date schedule, and other important information.

The Program Coordinator will greet you with a warm welcome, introduce everyone, and provide key staff contact names and phone numbers. We will review the up-to-date daily schedule and any changes, discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have.

Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to weather or other local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

LATE ARRIVALS: If you arrive after the orientation session has concluded, pick up your packet at the hotel front desk. If you arrive after our Road Scholar group dinner has concluded, the restaurant in the hotel, Davio's, serves until 10:00pm. If you are going to be significantly delayed for any reason, notify the administrator of Philadelphia Landmarks Road Scholar, Margaret Biddle, at 215-205-4480.

Dinner: Davio's, situated inside the Club Quarters building, is widely considered the leading Northern Italian restaurant in Philadelphia. It has been featured in Philadelphia Magazine’s “Best of Philly” and awarded the Winde Spectator Award of Excellence for five consecutive years. The dramatic dining room is a backdrop for expertly prepared regional Italian foods with a “focus on the grill."

Evening: Take the rest of the evening to explore on your own, begin making new friends, or simply relax in comfortable surroundings and prepare for tomorrow's busy schedule.

“Signature City Philadelphia” introduces America’s most remarkable hometown, enriched by centuries of history and heritage. Guided by experts, you will experience its lively diversity as we explore neighborhoods such as Society Hill, Independence National Park, the Italian Market, and elegant Rittenhouse Square. You’ll also learn about the role of civic institutions, architecture of different eras, and savor the flavor of our flourishing dining renaissance. We offer several other programs that focus on the city's cultural riches.

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Dinner

18th Century Philadelphia, Independence National Historical Park with Independence Hall & Liberty Bell,

Breakfast: Our breakfast at Davio's offers hot and cold cereal, hardboiled eggs, bagels and pastries, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Morning: LECTURE: 18th-Century Philadelphia. When William Penn founded it as the capital of his colony in 1682, Philadelphia was little more than a “greene countrie towne.” But by the 1750s, it had become the largest city and busiest port in British America — second only to London in the British empire — and the cultural capital of the colonies. Philadelphia played a crucial role before, during, and after the American Revolution. The “Founding Fathers” met here to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and hammered out the Constitution here in 1787. It was the national capital from 1790 to 1800 while Washington, DC was being established.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own. Eat out in the Rittenhouse neighborhood, at any of the nearby eateries on your own, or have a gastronomic adventure with something completely different. The group leader will be happy to offer suggestions

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Independence National Historical Park. We will board the bus for the 10-block trip to what was the heart of the old colonial city, Ben Franklin’s Philadelphia. Independence National Historical Park encompasses three square blocks where the dream of a free country of independent citizens became fact. The two documents that form the cornerstone of our democracy — the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution — were created here. We will explore two national treasures: the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, which has become a shrine to the ideals that resulted in the United States of America: “We, the People” and “All men are created equal.”

Dinner: Dinner at a popular restaurant (whether Davio's or another eatery nearby).

Evening: ACTIVITY: In the event that there is no performance scheduled for this evening, we will have a stroll around the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood as your Group Leader points out distinctive architecture and landmarks. Curtis in not in session from May 12 through October 10 and over Spring Break in Mid March or early April. Another activity will be substituted

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

19th-Century Landmarks, City Hall & Masonic Temple, Reading Terminal Market, Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts, Evening Program

Breakfast: Our breakfast at Davio's offers hot and cold cereal, hardboiled eggs, bagels and pastries, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: Monuments of 19th Century Architecture. We will walk several blocks to City Hall and the Masonic Temple. City Hall (1871) is the largest municipal building in the world — larger than the U.S. Capitol! Designed in French Second Empire style, it sits at the center of William Penn’s original city plan. A National Historic Landmark, the Masonic Temple is headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. The exterior resembles a Norman cathedral. The interior features amazing varied ceremonial halls, each in a different style: Corinthian, Ionic, Italian Renaissance, Norman, Gothic, and Oriental/Egyptian.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own at Reading Terminal Market (vouchers provided). A short walk from the Masonic Temple, Reading Terminal is a paradise for “foodies” with an amazing variety of choices from the region and the world. The Amish have been bringing their goods here since the market opened in the 1890s. Make your selections from this gastronomic bazaar that is home to more than 80 merchants offering an extraordinary array of fresh baked goods, produce direct from the field, unusual spices, free range meats and poultry, flowers, ethnic foods, and much more -- including Philly Cheesesteaks, Hoagies, and Bassett's ice cream first scooped at the centennial of 1876.

NOTE: After lunch, we will regroup for our afternoon field trip.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Pennsylvania Academy of The Fine Arts. Charles Wilson Peale, America's foremost 18th Century painter, founded this, the first art school in the United States. Today it is also a museum that houses only American art by distinguished painters throughout our history. An art historian will show you the Peale, Gilbert Stuart, Eakins and Wyeths as well as works by Philadelphia native Mary Cassatt and others.

Dinner: Dinner at a popular restaurant (whether Davio's or another eatery nearby).

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: We will enjoy an event or activity from what is on when the program takes place. It could be a musical event, a guest speaker, or something else to capture your fancy. Details will be published here closer to the date of the program.

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Old City Field Trip including Christ Church and Betsy Ross House, Remainder of Day On Your Own to Explore at Leisure

Breakfast: Our breakfast at Davio's offers hot and cold cereal, hardboiled eggs, bagels and pastries, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: An educator will lead you to historic sites in the Old City neighborhood including Christ Church, Elfreth's Alley, the Betsy Ross House, and Friends Heritage -- the Quaker Meeting House at 4th and Arch.

Our field trip concludes in the Old City. The remainder of the day is free for you to explore the city on your own, to see and do what is most appealing to you. Your free time begins with lunch and continues through the evening.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own. Eat out in the Old City neighborhood, return to the hotel and Davio's or any of the nearby eateries on your own, or have a gastronomic adventure with something completely different. The group leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: FREE AFTERNOON: Explore on your own. The group leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own. Rendezvous with friends old or new to enjoy the cuisine of your choice.

Evening: FREE EVENING: Have a night out on the town to experience more of what Philadelphia has to offer. Want to attend a concert, play, or other event? Best to plan in advance as tickets may be scarce. Or feel free to relax in the Club Quarters lounge or curl up in your room. Your choice, your preference.

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Breakfast

Breakfast: Our breakfast at Davio's offers hot and cold cereal, hardboiled eggs, bagels and pastries, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Morning: LECTURE: Three Centuries of Philadelphia Architecture.

FIELD TRIP: National Constitution Center. The Center's permanent exhibition -- "The Story of We the People" -- tells the story of the Constitution, its history, and its contemporary relevance through more than 100 multimedia exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture, and artifacts. It also features a powerful, award-winning theatrical performance, "Freedom Rising", and Signers' Hall. Learn more about the checks and balances of our three co-equal branches of government as you explore giant models of the Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court. Public Program demonstrators lead you through an entertaining look at the buildings and the people who work there.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own at The Bourse (vouchers provided). A short walk from the National Constitution Center. It is a composition of several eateries offering a variety of food selections to satisfy anyone's palate.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Society Hill. This charming district has cobblestone streets and the largest concentration of original 18th- and early 19th-century architecture anywhere in the country. Led by an educator, we will explore two historic houses. The Physick House, dating to 1789, was the home of Doctor Phillip Syng Physick, known as "The Father of American Surgery". You will see instruments he invented that are still in use today. The Powel House was the home to Samuel Powel, first mayor of Philadelphia. It was constructed in 1748 and hosted the 25th wedding anniversary of George and Martha Washington and the marriage of Benjamin Franklin's daughter.

At the conclusion of the field trip, we will return to the hotel.

Dinner: at Davio's or another popular restaurant nearby.

Evening: EVENING PROGRAM: We will enjoy a concert of "String Bands Under the Stars" at the Mummers Museum this evening.

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Our breakfast at Davio's offers hot and cold cereal, hardboiled eggs, bagels and pastries, orange juice, coffee, and tea.

Morning: LECTURE: Learn about some of the most notable "savants" -- those who achieved great things in their fields -- including Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Rush, David Rittenhouse, and other fascinating figures.

Lunch: Our closing lunch at Davio's is at 11:30am, when the program concludes. Please note that hotel check-out is by 12:00 Noon.

We trust you have enjoyed this educational adventure and will return for other rewarding Road Scholar programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch