Parking was the first part of the adventure. A very limited number of street meters are available and most only allow for 2 hour parking. None were available and none could accommodate our 22' long pickup. We circled the Independence Hall visitor center twice before trying the underground garage that announced a limit of 6'-6". As we pulled in, we checked - we must have 6'-9" apparently. What the garage didn't say was the length for making the corkscrew turns down into the bowels. We believe the length limitation to be about 22' - 2". After spending 1/2 hour taking care of parking, we were happy to be out near Independence Square on a beautiful sunny day!
There's George, ready to welcome us in. We stopped in the visitor center and were advised there were a few tickets remaining for Independence Hall tours that would begin after 4:00 pm. We were fine with that timing, as we knew the day would be dedicated to a walking tour of the historic area. Someone had returned several extra tickets for a tour that began within 30 minutes, so we revelled in the unexpected blessing and enjoyed waiting in the peaceful square immediately behind Independence Hall.
Taking photos of the buildings is a little tricky as large tour buses crawl past in a steady stream, but Craig managed to get this photo with only one of the many carriage tours in the background. At least you can still see the building!
We were glad to have made the stop here where the roots of our country's government were established. 
The informative ranger led tour was well worth the trouble of obtaining tickets. The tickets are no charge, but you will not gain access to the interior without them. This is the room that prior to its fame as the place of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, served the citizens as a courtroom.
Everything in the building is either a reproduction or an age appropriate substitute furnishing. Many hours of research and labor have restored the hall to an image as historically accurate as possible.
Deliberations regarding the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution transpired in the assembly room across the hall. While only the head chair is a preserved item, original items have been located to embellish each of the delegates' tables; such as Thomas Jefferson's walking stick and ....The ranger not only explained the items in the room, but also provided insights as to the happenings in the time period. We also learned of the building where Thomas Jefferson stayed for the two weeks when working on the Declaration of Independence. hmm...I was trying to link to an article that came to mind, but I believe it linked as a separate posting. Either way, it's a worthwhile read. Rush Limbaugh's father prepared an excellent speech regarding the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Sadly, their sacrifices are not commonly known. If you are not familiar with this account, take a moment to read it now. You'll have a greater appreciation for the freedom we enjoy as a result of their courage.
The line to the right of this photo shows the folks waiting in line to enter the building displaying the Liberty Bell. Many field trips were touring on this day, but we managed to maneuver between and around most of the hordes of school age children and their weary chaperones.
Made it! The long building has many displays of the history of the bell and the many famous visitors through the years. The bell is at the opposite end from the entrance as the grand finale. No tickets are necessary to enter - just a bit of waiting in line. The display is appropriate with the former residence of the bell in the background.
Here's our close-up view of the engraving. Imagine a National Park Service ranger nearby continually yelling 'Don't TOUCH the bell!' and you'll have a complete sense of visiting the bell.
As we took off for more of our walking tour, we passed this tribute nomered 'the Signer'.
Father of American Surgery and creator of the first carbonated soft drink, Dr. Philip Syng Physick lived in this house. While not on our planned sights, we were amused to find this along our stroll.
Along Market street, we found Franklin Square. Among Benjamin Franklin's many successful ventures, he also owned many of these buildings. His home is no longer standing, but is marked by a framework in the square.
The boys lead the way as we found one of our highlights, Sonny's for an authentic Philly cheese steak sandwich. We skipped the Cheez Whiz and opted for provolone. We were definitely not disappointed!
We circled back toward the parking garage and paused at the sight of Benjamin Franklin's burial. We remembered where his family is buried in Boston and understand his desire to be buried in his beloved Philadelphia. The city remains a special place!Not bad progress for a day trip! We snaked our way back out of the underground parking garage with another milestone of our trip accomplished.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment