Philadelphia Architectural Style Hike 4 of 7: Best of Queen Anne (Rescheduled)

Rescheduled from July 11:

2.5-3.5 hours; 4-5 miles; brisk pace between stops; best examples of Queen Anne architecture in Philadelphia's Powelton Village and Spruce Hill neighborhoods; possibility of late lunch afterward if there's interest.

Cape May is famed for its Victorian houses, but our region's most beautiful homes from this era are in West Philadelphia, within several blocks from 30th Street Station. West Philly's Powelton Village and Spruce Hill neighborhoods feature streets where almost every house is a gem in the Queen Anne style. Most people refer to these homes — with broad wraparound porches, gingerbread trim, and elegant bay windows — as Victorian, but they are more specifically in the Queen Anne style, which flourished in Philadelphia from about 1880 to 1910.

We'll start by hiking through the Powelton Village streets just north of Drexel, first visiting a former private home that takes up almost half a block with its huge porch, multicolored gingerbread trim, and massive turret with a conical roof. Then we'll walk through the University of Pennsylvania campus to Spruce Hill, where we'll take in a series of huge Queen Anne single-family homes and twins on Spruce Street, each more ornate than the last.

If you haven't been on previous architecture style hikes with us, I guarantee you'll see Philadelphia from a new perspective. For those who have joined previous hikes, this is an entirely new hike with no buildings that we have visited before. All are welcome!

As always, we will move quickly between buildings, but we'll also stop for enough time at each one to enjoy and discuss the wonderful craftsmanship. No knowledge of architecture is needed . . . just an interest in seeing beautiful places and a willingness to stay with the group.

GENERAL RULES : ••Hike at my pace. ••Hike lengths are approx: allow 30min -1hr extra. ••Donation requested. All monies donated to recreational charities like Natural Lands and the Friends of Wissahickon. •• For ~360 events each year donate $20 (2025), $30 for 2 or family or donate $5 for each event. ••Pay in person or at Zelle (2152474459) or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html . Thanks.
Yearly donation $15 July-Aug; $10 Sept-Nov; Dec new year.