The King's Highway | Tacony Tour
Overview
The Tacony Tour provides a unique window into the historic Tacony neighborhood and it’s significance along the King’s Highway. The original inhabitants of this area were the Lenni Lenape American Indians. The name Tacony is derived from the Lenni Lenape word Towacawonick, which means “woods” or “uninhabited place.” In the 1870's, industrialist Henry Disston purchased wide swaths of Tacony land for his fast-growing saw and file factory bringing an explosion of jobs and ushering in a working-class community.
About Your Guide
Jason is the director behind the award winning documentary "The King's Highway" about the highway that connected the American colonies. Join him on a tour to discover and preserve historic places in Northeast Philadelphia along America's oldest road!
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Guide Points
Disston Memorial Presbyterian Church
The Disston Memorial Presbyterian Church was established in 1886 as a mission of the Presbyterian Church in Frankford. Prior to 1886, local…
Frank Shuman's House
Stretching from Ditman to Marsden Street, these buildings in front of you comprised Frank Schuman's personal residence and “Inventors Compo…
Tacony Trust Fund
Centrally located on Longshore Avenue, the center of commercial activity in old Tacony, the Tacony Trust Company served as the primary fina…
Tacony Library
Created in 1906 with land donated from Jacob Disston (youngest son of Henry) and money from Andrew Carnegie, the Tacony Library has increas…
Tacony Baptist Church
Still in use today, this unusual looking church reflects the deep connection between Disston Saw Works and Tacony. 34 years after its creat…
Tacony Music Hall
Tacony Music Hall was built in 1885 by Frank W. Jordan, a local pharmacist and entrepreneur. The building was designed to be multi-use, wit…
Curran's Irish Inn - Harbot Hotel
While Curran's Irish Inn now serves up beer and wings, it was formerly the Harbot Hotel, which served passengers of the Philadelphia and Tr…
Disston Saw Works
The story of handsaws in the United States mirrors the technical and political development of steel. However, England's political and econo…
Engine 38 Firehouse
Nestled in the heart of Disston Park, Tacony's Engine 38 Firehouse is the first new fire station in Tacony in 15 years and is the first “gr…
Lardner's Point
Before you lies the recently renovated Lardner's Point Park. Before the construction of Tacony Palmyra bridge, Lardner's Point served as a …
Sidewalk Reviews
What an awesome walk! Loved the artwork in the newly renovated library, I had no idea that was there. The view from the park was gorgeous, next time I’ll bring a picnic!
Jun 4, 2018
Jun 1, 2018
About Sidewalk
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