Philadelphia Walking Tour: History of Money & Inflation in the US
Overview
Available languages
1 hour 45 minutes
Mobile ticket
Why is everything so expensive? How did we go from using gold coins in the 17th century to using paper money today? How did our founding fathers think about setting up the young nation's monetary system? This tour aims to be both educational and entertaining and will cover the historical significance of sites such as the Museum of the American Revolution, the 1st Bank of the United States, the 2nd bank of the United States, The US Mint, Independence Hall, and the Benjamin Franklin's grave. Tour guide is a Philadelphian with a passion for history, the founding fathers of our Republic, and the current state of inflation and financial conditions today.
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Museum of the American Revolution
Tell stories about the 2 murals on the wall
First Bank of the United States
External of first Bank of the United States
Options
Philadelphia Walking Tour: History of Money & Inflation in the US
What‘s Included
An Edu-tainment experience where you gain insight into how our Founding Fathers created our money
Experience the Philadelphia historical sites with an angle on the history of money in the US
We will just visit the exterior of the historical sites and will not enter
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
6 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A must-do tour — you’ll be pleasantly surprised !
Zach W,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fascinating !! We didn’t know what to expect, and a tour about banking in Philadelphia sounded dry. Boy were we wrong. Brian is a Philadelphia native, and this tour is his personal project, built from years of genuine passion for the subject. That shows in every stop. In less than ninety minutes, he takes you from the colonial currency chaos that preceded the Constitution, through Hamilton’s creation of the American banking system, all the way to the Federal Reserve and the inflation we live with today — and he makes every bit of it fascinating. His gift is making the abstract tangible. He pulls out side-by-side comparisons of historical and modern currency, walks you through an inflation chart spanning 1792 to today, and explains fiat money and the Nixon Shock in ways that suddenly make the dollar in your pocket feel like a living piece of history. Standing in front of the United States Mint while he tells these stories gives the whole thing a weight no classroom can match. Brian is warm, funny, and endlessly knowledgeable. This is not a franchise tour — it is one Philadelphian’s intellectual passion shared generously with anyone willing to walk and listen. Five stars. And would do it again.
Historical sites with a twist
M B,May 22, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Loved this tour. Got to see main sites (1st bank, carpenters hall, ind hall) and learn something about money. Great experience!
A very worthwhile tour!
FarAway585405,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brian is a very knowledgeable and interesting guide. I learned a great deal and enjoyed the tour. Recommend!
Stimulating and refreshing
MichaelRubin54,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Brian took on an interesting, important and challenging topic. I learned a great deal and the tour stimulated my interest in learning more. Although Brian’s perspective is not my own, I found it is stimulating that he offered a point of view.
Highly fascinating quick journey
Scott D,May 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Really interesting tour with a lot of interesting nuggets. It made me think about how much money changed over US history, and never would have guessed so much happened in Philly. Tour guide Brian did great job. Highly recommend!
Very fun and informative
368inezm,Apr 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such a fun and informative tour. The tour started with two questions and both were answered by the end of the tour. I thoroughly enjoyed it! There is quite a bit of walking, so please wear comfortable shoes. Unfortunately, both the USMint and Federal Reserve buildings were closed for reconstruction during my time in Philly and during the 250 America celebration (dumb timing in retrospect). Also, not all of the slavery signs have been put back where they were previously.
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Operated by Brian Monaghan