Philadelphia’s Yellow Fever Epidemic: From Health Crisis to Social Crisis

During the summer of 1793, a mysterious illness spread rapidly across the bustling city of Philadelphia, which at the time was the capital of the new nation. In the course of a few months, nearly 10% of the city’s residents died from yellow fever. This cataclysmic event inspired acts of heroism and self-sacrifice, but it also starkly revealed racial inequalities and inflamed polarization around immigration policy, political identity, and scientific knowledge. Learn how its lessons apply to today.

Location: The walking tour typically begins at the Independence Visitors Center near Independence Hall.