The Lazaretto is situated on a 10-acre riverside property in Tinicum Township, just west of Philadelphia International Airport. Individuals and small groups may visit the Lazaretto grounds anytime during daylight hours. Click the links below for our self-guided audio tours, which do not go inside any buildings.
The interior of the main building is open to visitors only on the days and times listed below. Please do not disturb the Tinicum Township employees who work inside the main building of the Lazaretto during the work week.
There are exhibit areas in the restored main building of the Lazaretto showcasing the quarantine station’s history as well as the collections of the following groups:
Swedish Colonial Historical Society
Italian Cultural Center of the Delaware Valley
Tinicum Township Historical Society
These exhibits are open for visitors at the following times:
Tuesdays, 1 pm-4 pm
first Saturday of each month, 11 am-2 pm
third Saturday of each month, 10 am-2 pm
Visitors interested in the Lazaretto’s history should also take the self-guided audio tour (link below), which includes information not covered in the exhibits and which is available on any smartphone at your convenience.
The Lazaretto Self-Guided Audio Tour
Enjoy a 40-minute historical experience through our self-guided audio tour. The tour can be found at this link and is compatible with mobile devices. (Written and narrated by David Barnes.)
Quarantine Play
The Quarantine Play is an interactive audio tour experience built for two people. You and a friend will listen to two different but interconnected audio tracks weaving together stories, interviews, historical documents, and instructions for exploring the site. (Written and narrated by Aislinn Pentecost-Farren.)
Directions
Address for GPS:
97 Wanamaker Avenue, Essington PA 19029
Driving Directions
From Interstate 95 (northbound or southbound), take Exit 9A/Route 420/Essington, which puts you on Wanamaker Ave. (Route 420) going south. Go straight on Wanamaker Ave. until it ends at 2d Street. Ahead on your left is the new fire station building; go straight into the driveway past the fire station and park in the lot. The Main Building of the Lazaretto stands between the parking lot and the river. The ramp to the entrance is on the left side of the building when facing the river.
Regional Rail + Bike or Walk
Take SEPTA’s Wilmington/Newark Line to the Prospect Park Station. (You may carry your bike onto the train with you, except M-F during morning rush hour inbound, or evening rush hour outbound.) Bike or walk south (downhill) on Wanamaker Ave. (Route 420), carefully crossing over the I-95 interchange, into Tinicum Township. Continue straight until Wanamaker Ave. ends at 2d Street, and proceed as above. Bike time from Prospect Park = 8-10 mins. Walk time = 25-30 mins.
Subway + Bus
Take SEPTA’s Broad Street Subway Line to the Snyder Station. Catch the 37 bus at Broad & Snyder, and take it past the airport and into Tinicum Township. Get off at Gov. Printz Blvd. (Route 291) and Wanamaker Ave. Walk south on Wanamaker Ave. until it ends at 2d Street, and proceed as above.