Tour Leader: Kate McLean, University of Kent

A smellwalk is a sensewalk, a methodological tool that foregrounds alternative sensory modalities; the visual and auditory are removed from center stage and the olfactory sense is highlighted. As a qualitative method developed in urban studies to understand the physical and cognitive experience of being within a particular environment, the smellwalk frequently elicits a change in participants’ knowledge of their neighborhood, and of their own sense of smell.

Building in the ideas discussed in Session 183 (p. xxx), this group smellwalk embraces the complexity of everyday smellscapes, enabling their constituent, ephemeral smells to be determined. During Smellwalk Philapdelphia, participants will be encouraged to use their own noses to detect, differentiate and describe the smells of the contemporary urban landscape and imagine historical parallel odors.

The planned route starts at Washington Square and then follows footpaths through Independence Square to the Liberty Bell. The second stage goes along Ranstead Street and to Benjamin Franklin’s former home. The final stage follows Market Street east past local restaurants to end at The Franklin Fountain. Participants are encouraged to connect contemporary smellscapes with historical ones.

Smellwalk Philadelphia will be led by Kate McLean, a British designer who creates visual maps of urban smellscapes (sensorymaps.com).

Please note: Participants will travel by bus to and from the start and end points of the approximately one-mile walking tour.

Limit 20 people. $25 members, $30 nonmembers