Philadelphia Architecture Hike 7 of 12: Best of Queen Anne Style

3-4 hours, 5-6 miles, brisk pace between stops, best examples of Queen Anne architecture in Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia. Many people refer to these homes — with elegant bay windows, gingerbread trim, and turrets with conical roofs — 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 visiting the Old Original Bookbinders building. The restaurant has been closed for over a decade, but the truly over-the-top building can still be enjoyed. Then we'll wind through the Society Hill, Rittenhouse, and Fitler Square neighborhoods to admire a series of gorgeous townhouses with some of the loveliest bay windows in the city. While in Fitler Square we'll also check out *Philadelphia's most beautiful intersection* (IMHO), which features incredible mansions on all four corners.

We will move quickly between locations, while stopping for enough time to enjoy and discuss each one. As always, 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 30 min - 1 hour extra. ••Donation requested. All monies donated to recreational charities like Natural Lands and the Friends of Wissahickon. ••For ~360 events each year donate $20 (2026), $30 for 2 or family or donate $5 for each event. ••Pay in person or at Zelle (2152474459) or at mrbasketball.net/HIKEpay.html. Yearly donation $15 July-Aug; $10 Sept-Nov; Dec new year. Thanks.