Day 36: Philadelphia

 Rainstorms are predicted for tonight and tomorrow, so I wanted to get a few pictures of the farm and of our family just in case of bad weather.







 Today we headed into Philadelphia.  We made a few mistakes and didn't reserve a tour time for Independence Hall, but thankfully we found out that after five, they had first come first serve tours.
 Our first stop was to view the Liberty Bell.  They had a Junior Ranger program that encompassed the whole area, as well as Historic Hero cards which the kids collected from the rangers.
 We asked the ranger if this was the real bell.  He basically said he wouldn't spend his time guarding it if it wasn't.  He also said there was some kind of written agreement that the city of Philadelphia agreed to keep it on public display.


 Our goal always seems to be to find lunch, but we end up finding historic sites along the way!  The Second Bank now holds a gallery of paintings and a stuffed eagle.





 The First Continental Congress met here at Carpenter's Hall.



 Benjamin Franklin's relatives decided that they wanted to build an apartment complex so they tore down his home and printing press office. They have built a frame to show where the home would have been.





 At the mock printing press today they were printing the Declaration of Independence.  It was so interesting how they layered the wet pages on racks above the printers, then they would scoop them all off together.


 We asked a security guard where we could get a good Philly Cheesesteak.  He recommended Sonny's.  The line was long, so my mom and I took the kids over to see a church while Papa and Chris placed the orders.




 This is where George Washington went to church when he was in town.  The kids are sitting in his family pew and made sure to sit all the way around it so they would have sat where he sat.

 The Philly Cheesesteaks were a success! 


 One of the earliest street communities.


 It's so fun to hear stories of when someone from the past realized that a home or location or object had historical significance and they decided to preserve it.  Betsy Ross's home was one of those!  It was interesting to hear that she actually outlived three husbands!




 Finally, we made it to Independence Hall!  We had to get in line early to make sure we would make it in time for the first come first served section.  Thankfully, we made it!






 This is the actual room where the Declaration of Independence was debated, approved, and signed.  So significant in our Nation's history.





 The site of Washington's second inauguration and capitol building from 1790-1800.

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