Guided Tours
New Hope’s story is written in its streets, its stone houses and its riverbanks, and our guides know them by heart. Step inside the 1784 Parry Mansion, home of the “Father of New Hope,” or walk the town’s historic streets to hear about Washington’s army, the canal and mills that built New Hope, and the artists who made it famous. Choose a house tour, a walking tour, or combine both in a tour bundle.
Every tour supports the New Hope Historical Society’s mission to preserve the Parry Mansion and share New Hope’s history for generations to come.
All tours begin at the Parry Mansion, 45 South Main Street.
PARRY MANSION MUSEUM
Guided House Tours
Explore the home and grounds of Benjamin Parry, the “Father of New Hope,” whose New Hope Flour Mill gave the town its name in 1837. Eight rooms trace 125 years of the Parry family’s life (1775–1900), each furnished to reflect a different period.
When: Fridays 4 & 5 PM; Saturdays & Sundays, 12–5 PM (April–December)
Price: $15 per person
HISTORIC NEW HOPE
Guided Walking Tours
Three captivating centuries of New Hope history: Washington and the Revolution, the canal, mills, ferry and bridge, and the town’s rise as an arts and theater destination.
When: Select Saturdays, April–December
Length:
About 1 hour (about 1 mile)
Price:
$15 per person
FEATURED THEMES
Fall Walking Tour
Past president and board member Roy Ziegler leads this autumn favorite past the 1740s Paxson-Rhoads Homestead and the site where Washington's army camped before crossing the Delaware.
When: Saturday, October 24, 1:00 PM
Price: $15
What You’ll Discover on a Walking Tour
1700s
- How General George Washington led the Continental Army
- New Hope’s role in the Revolutionary War
1800s
- The canal, mills, ferry and bridge that made New Hope the commercial center of Bucks County
- The entrepreneurs and leaders who shaped the town
1900s
- New Hope’s transformation into an arts, music and theater destination
- The famous actors and artists who launched their careers here
Good To Know
- All tours begin at the Parry Mansion, 45 South Main Street. Walking tours meet on the back porch.
- Walking tours are about one mile and last about one hour.
- House tours run on the hour; the last tour begins at 5:00 PM.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes, and bring a beverage if you’d like.
- No food or beverages during house tours.
All tour proceeds benefit the New Hope Historical Society, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the Parry Mansion and sharing New Hope’s history.
Tour Bundles
See the best of New Hope in one afternoon. Your experience begins with a guided walking tour of Historic New Hope. Meet your guide on the back porch of the Parry Mansion. Afterward, step inside the beautifully preserved Parry Mansion, home of the Parry family and headquarters of the New Hope Historical Society.
House tours run on the hour, with the last tour beginning at 5:00 p.m. Available the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month.
Classic History Bundle | $25 Per Person
Collector's History Bundle | $30 Per Person
Includes an exclusive keepsake from the Parry Mansion Archive
Your bundle directly supports the preservation of the Parry Mansion and its collections.
Past Tours
Each year, our specialty walking tours explore a different chapter of New Hope’s story. Led by our guides, they connect the town’s streets, homes and landmarks to the people and events that shaped them, from the Revolutionary War to the present day. Here are a few recent favorites.
Memorial Day Walking Tour
Honoring New Hope residents and all who made the ultimate sacrifice, this tour visits the World War I memorial featuring Private Edgar Denson and the bridge named for Vietnam War hero Staff Sergeant Karol Bauer, with discussions of the Revolutionary War and Civil War along the way.
Father’s Day Walking Tour
A look at the “fathers” of New Hope, from Benjamin Parry, whose mill gave the town its name, to John Beaumont, Lewis Coryell and Joshua Van Sant, and the roles they played in New Hope’s early economic growth.
250 Years of New Hope History
Our anniversary walking tour traced two and a half centuries of New Hope history, from its colonial roots and Revolutionary War ties to its days as a mill and canal town and its rise as a home for artists and performers.
Want to hear about our next specialty tour? Join our mailing list to be the first to know.
Did You Know? New Hope History in Minutes
Can’t make it to a tour? Enjoy short videos on the places and stories that shaped New Hope.