Research direction
Family-history starting session
Sort what you know, define the question, and identify the records, places, and people that deserve your next look.
Ask about a starting sessionGenealogy services
Discover the people and places behind your family story.
Family history is more than a list of names. Philly Tours helps you connect records and memories to Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, institutions, migrations, and freedom stories—so your research has context and your discoveries have somewhere to go.
Start a genealogy conversation Philadelphia · Family history · Place-based researchThoughtful, practical support
From a family question to a clearer next step.
Bring the names, dates, photographs, addresses, or family stories you already have. We can help organize the question, identify useful Philadelphia context, and shape a research path that is clear enough to continue on your own or discuss with a specialist.
Philadelphia context
Place-based family research
Use streets, neighborhoods, congregations, schools, and civic institutions to understand where your relatives lived and what shaped their lives.
Explore local routesStory and memory
Family-history storytelling
Turn a collection of names and fragments into a researched story outline, presentation idea, or meaningful Philadelphia itinerary.
Discuss your family storyResearch resources
Guided next steps
Get pointed toward the Philly Tours routes, stories, and existing resources that best match your family’s time period or neighborhood.
Ask a resource questionExplore what is already here
A few places to begin your research
Routes
Philadelphia walking tours
Explore neighborhoods, architecture, Black history, public memory, sports, and civic stories.
Browse the route catalogFreedom and movement
North Star Tour
Trace an Underground Railroad story from Fort Mose to Canada.
Open North Star TourWider context
Freedom's Atlantic
Connect Philadelphia to Black Patriots, Native sovereignty, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Atlantic world.
Explore Freedom's AtlanticReading room
Stories and route essays
Read founder notes and Philadelphia stories for historical context.
Read Philly storiesNew guide
5 genealogy websites worth using in 2026
Compare five useful platforms and learn how to combine online clues with Philadelphia place-based research.
Read the genealogy guideBefore we talk
What to bring to a genealogy conversation
- Write down alternate spellings, nicknames, and every date range you have.
- Map addresses across time—streets, wards, and neighborhood names can change.
- Compare family records with city history, church or school context, and migration patterns.
- Keep a research log so you know which sources you checked and what remains uncertain.
The Philly Tours resources are educational starting points, not a replacement for original records or professional legal, archival, or genetic advice. Pricing and scope are discussed after we understand your question.
Let’s talk about your project
Ready to follow the clue?
Tell us the Philadelphia connection you are researching, the time period, and where you are stuck. Email DNA and we’ll help you identify a useful next step.
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