After dropping the girls off at the vet for their annual teeth cleaning (an all day event) we decided to take advantage of the dog sitting for the day and spend our 11th Anniversary in Philadelphia, about 78 miles away. You just can't come this close to Philadelphia and not see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. So here we go, almost there after nearly 2 hours of driving.
Beautiful Philadelphia skyline.. Traffic was horrendous for the last 20 miles and finally within 3 miles of exit it lightens up a little.
We went for the super expensive parking garage and walked around the corner to find ourselves right in the middle of everything we wanted to see.
The old mixed with the new. Independence Hall with modern buildings as it's backdrop.
We were fortunate to get free tickets on the same day. I'd checked the night before and could not buy even reserved tickets. A nominal service fee of $1.50 for the otherwise free ticket. There was no line at the Visitor's Center and we walked straight up to the desk and got tickets for 10:15, 20 minutes away. We viewed a short video about 4 teens during that time period and their perspectives on the pending war with the British. Across the open lawn we headed for the tour of Independence Hall. It was a short 30 minute tour of the ground level. The exciting part was entering historic rooms where so much history was carried out and that I'd only seen in pictures for decades. And here we were.
Below is the Supreme Court Room. This room served as the principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress, a body of representatives from each of the thirteen British North American colonies, from May 10, 1775 to 1783, except during the British occupation during 1776 during the American Revolution.
The British destroyed most of the furniture in this hall except for the pieces that disappeared into patriots homes and later returned to the City.
When the American Revolution was won by the colonist the original coat of arms belonging to the British was removed and thrown on a bonfire then replaced with the one now above the judges seat.
Immediately across the hall vestibule we entered the Assembly Room. This room really had the wow factor. This is the room that the Declaration of Independence was signed. Each signature subjecting that signer to a possible death sentence for treason against the British.
Here's two famous pictures of the signing.
Below is the main stairs room.
We exited Independence Hall and went directly to the forming line to see the Liberty Bell. I have learned more about the Liberty Bell than I thought was possible. Not from my lack of ability to learn but from my ignorance about it's history, other than it's old, cracked and now protected.
It is instantly recognizable. We know the bell was built around 1752 because the first crack appeared shortly after it arrived in Philadelphia. The gap/crack is the result of an attempt to fix an old hairline crack that ended up destroying the Bell's tone. The quality of casting material 200 years ago was inferior to what we have today. Another attempt to fix the crack happened at some time before or during 1846 according to repair work. It's last ringing was at a celebration of George Washington's birthday when the first "repair" failed and the crack opened and split the bell more, silencing the Liberty Bell forever.
There is no evidence that the bell was rung on July 4, 1776. The bell was actually hanging from the rotting steeple in the old State House. It served multiple purposes like announcing newsworthy events
Later, as the colonist grew more discontent with British oppression the bell was used to call citizens to assembly
. In 1777, just prior to the British occupation of Philadelphia, patriots removed all items of value to safe keeping, including the State Bell.
The State House Bell, after a varied use history, earned a new name and people started calling it the Liberty Bell. Some believe it's new name came from the abolitionists and reference it's inscription that "proclaimed LIBERTY throughout the Land and unto all the inhabitants..."
I agree that our fascination with the bell is because it embodies the cherished national identity to liberty.
"Yon sacred organ that gave voice to the proudest declaration that a handful of men ever made when they faced the greatest military power on the globe ; when a handful of men declared to all the world their inalienable right, and staked life, liberty and property in defense of their declaration. Then it was with your clear tones you sent notice to all who were willing to live or die for liberty and felt that the day was at hand when every patriot must do a patriot’s duty.
Glorious old Bell, the son of a revolutionary soldier bows in reverence to you, worn by time, but increasing in sacred memories.
Mr. President, accept my thanks, which are heartfelt and sincerely given.."
PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND AND TO ALL INHABITANTS THEREOF
The Bell
And here we are, proof that we saw and touched the cherished liberty.
Another picture of Independence Hall.
We set off walking to see as much extras as we could in the next two hours before heading back to get the girls and to avoid rush hour traffic. Our first stop was Washington Square, just down from Independence Hall. Walking through this pretty park we came upon the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution, built in 1953, it honors more than 2000 soldiers buried in Washington Square. I took a picture of a picture of it because as you'll see there was work being done for preservation of the monument.
We left Washington Square and just strolled the beautiful tree lined streets of the Historic District.
A plaque on the front of a pretty house along the street.
We carried our subway sandwich just purchased and looked for a quiet place to sit and cool off and calm our hunger. No time to waste in a restaurant. We found the perfect place. In this photo above, on the right, is a graveyard that surrounds the 3rd Presbyterian Church.
One of the first graves we came to was that of William Hurrie.
We sat on this bench and enjoyed our sandwich and shared a coke. Very peaceful.
We then headed in the opposite direction to visit the Betsy Ross House. Along the way we came upon, what else but another graveyard.
This is the grave of Commodore John Barry. In a while we will arrive at the New Hall and Military Museum and see items of his and a model of his frigate the U.S.S. Raleigh.
Inside Carpenter's Hall
Within these wall are stored seven saved period chairs from the Assembly Room at Independence Hall.The rest were burned for heat by the British during their occupation of Philadelphia.
It's a beautiful building.
In front of the Carpenters Hall is the New Hall, now used as a Military Museum.
From 1791 to 1792, the War Department (just 6 people at that time) worked in New Hall. Today the Pentagon serves the same function, but in the largest building in the world, with a slight increase of staff to 23,000.
The U.S.S. Raleigh, captained by John Barry was a 32 gun frigate. She was one of 13 ships commissioned by the Continental Congress in 1775. This ship was captured by the British in 1778 and served in the Royal Navy as the HBMS Raleigh.
John Barry
1745 - 1803
Simple beauty.
As we approach the Betsy Ross House we come upon a statue of Benjamin Franklin. We will soon be visiting his grave.
Ah, here we are finally. That was a longer walk than we anticipated.
Betsy Ross was a seamstress and upholster in Philadelphia. She and her third husband are both buried on the site of the home they once lived in.
Born Elizabeth Griscom in 1752 she attended Friends School until her apprenticeship as an upholster. In 1773 she married John Ross, who was a member of the militia. He died in 1776. His uncle, George Ross, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He asked Betsy if she would be willing to sew a flag for the American cause. She accepted the challenge and worked on it in secrecy during April and May of 1776. The flag was later designated as the official flag of the United States.
In 1777 Betsy married Joseph Ashburn, a sea captain. He was captured and imprisoned in England where he died in 1782. They had two daughters.
In 1783 Betsy married John Claypoole, a fellow prisoner of her second husband. Together they lived in the house until 1786. They had five daughters. Claypoole died in 1817. Betsy died in 1836, outliving three husbands.
Born to Quaker parents, when she married John Ross she was shunned. She was widowed three times, twice by the age of 30.
Making flags seriously damaged Betsy's eyesight until she was nearly blind. These glasses were worn by Betsy and passed down to her daughter.
For nearly a century, only her family knew of the flag making. It wasn't until her grandson, William Canby, made a speech to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1870 that the nation learned about his remarkable grandmother and her accomplishments.
Betsy's bedroom as it is believed to have looked at the time she lived here.
This is the street level upholstry shop as it most likely looked during her occupation.
Betsy lived in Philadelphia during one of it's most difficult periods. In 1777, during the British occupation there was much trauma while British soldiers moved into the homes, took money, valuable, clothing, blankets and all the food they could find. It's very possible that Betsy may have had to even share her home with enemy soldiers.
Betsy Ross isn't just a sewer of the American Flag, she's a symbol of strength and perseverance. A survivor of extremely challenging events in her personal life and events shared with fellow patriots.
There was a whole lot more to Betsy Ross' house than what I could imagine but it was after 2 p.m. and we still had places to go, people to meet and hands to shake. Okay, maybe no hands to shank but certainly more on our agenda for the day.
We headed down Arch St. past the U.S. Mint, the Federal Reserve Bank and the National Constitution Center. We've run out of time and there's still Benjamin Franklin's grave to find. No sooner had we noticed these buildings we had to pass than we found the right graveyard.
Coins cover his tombstone. Probably collected everyday by someone.
Benjamin Franklin, signer of the Declaration of Independence
This bench was dedicated recently to the graveyard and represents the signatures of signers to the Declaration of Independence buried in this graveyard.
Francis Hopkinson, author and key designer of American Flag and signer of the Declaration of Independence
George Ross, on the right side is the Uncle of John Ross, Betsy Ross' first husband and signer of the Declaration of Independence. He is the man that asked Betsy to sew a flag.
Joseph Hewes, on the left side is considered The Father of the American Navy and signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Other notable graves
We thought about taking another route home. It was only 67 miles instead of 78 but after 30 minutes of stop lights and lots of traffic our arrival time on the GPS was edging close to 6:30 so we hopped on the 76 Interstate and our arrival changed to 5 p.m. Still two hours drive ahead of us but better than almost 4.
We did get to see the steps that Rocky raced up and Chinatown. But driving and taking pictures is difficult so it will have to stay in our mental picture memory bank. We had a great day, the girls were happy to see us and we straggled home for a well earned rest of the feet.
Philadelphia is a great City to visit but it's busy, busy and again I say thank goodness for our Garmin.
Come back again and thanks for visiting.
No comments:
Post a Comment