Find the History Hidden in Plain Sight on a Philadelphia Walking Tour
General Lee Attacks Philadelphia: An Alternative History Walking Tour
What if Lee won at Gettysburg? Walk the history that almost happened.
Discover the Civil War sites where Philadelphia prepared for an invasion that never came.
What if Lee won at Gettysburg? Walk the history that almost happened. Lee has won the battle. He is marching on Philadelphia. Join us for the most intellectual Philadelphia history walking tour available—a "what if" journey through the panic of 1863.
Tour Snapshot
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Price: $50 per person
Group Size: Small group setting (Max 12) for in-depth debate.
Start: City Hall (McClellan Statue)
End: Washington Square / Independence Hall
Pace: Easy 1.5-mile walk through Center City.
The History You Thought You Knew Deserves a Closer Look
You've heard of the "Highwater Mark of the Confederacy" at Gettysburg. But what if General Lee had actually won the battle? Conventional history suggests a victory would have opened the door to Confederate independence. Join Philly's Hidden History Vault as we challenge that myth on this immersive Civil War walking tour of Philadelphia.
While other tours recite the same stories, we scrutinize the hidden history in plain sight. This is a 2.5-hour intellectual investigation designed for serious history buffs and those looking for educational things to do in Philadelphia that challenge the textbooks.
We analyze the logistical nightmares and leadership decisions that saved the Union, making this one of the best history tours for adults who crave depth, debate, and expert analysis.
On This In-Depth Tour, You Will Discover:
The Logistical Nightmare: We analyze why conquering a city the size of Philadelphia—with the Army of Northern Virginia's notoriously fragile supply lines—was an impossible military task. The sheer scale of the city doomed any attack before it began.
The Political Paradox: See why a Confederate victory might have been the best thing for Abraham Lincoln, galvanizing Northern resolve and accelerating U.S. Grant’s promotion.
Lee's Fatal Flaw: The systematic policy of re-enslaving free Black citizens on Northern soil. See how this ultimate "diplomatic poison pill" guaranteed European non-recognition and transformed the Emancipation Proclamation into a strategic weapon.
The Full-Spectrum Power: Conclude your journey by confronting the overwhelming structural imbalance: the Union's 11.5:1 manufacturing advantage and superior demographics made the Confederate cause strategically unsustainable over time.
Tour Itinerary & Highlights
City Hall (McClellan Statue): We start here to analyze the Union's command structure and the sheer scale of Philadelphia's defenses.
The Union League: Discover the financial engine of the Union war effort and how the city's elite mobilized to stop Lee.
Pennsylvania Hospital: A critical stop to discuss the "Medical Crisis of 1863"—what happens when a city becomes a hospital?
Washington Square: Visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and connect the Revolutionary War to the Civil War.
Independence Hall: We end at the birthplace of the nation to discuss the ultimate stakes: if Philadelphia falls, does the Union fall with it?