I donated them to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.
So, I should probably have managed to stay in Boston this weekend, but no. Instead I find myself in Philly, a whole 5 hours and 13 minutes from Boston. The City of Brotherly Love is not quite as I expected. I was thinking Philadelphia would be very similar to Boston, after all “they gave their lives, their fortune and their sacred honor.” During the summer of 1776, 56 courageous men gathered at the Pennsylvania State House and defied the King of England. Eleven years later, representatives from 12 states gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution, finally creating one unified nation. It is a city full of history, not the radicals found in Boston in John Adams, and yet more progressive than the south.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is in Washington Square, one of the five public squares drawn up by William Penn in his 1682 plan for the layout of Philadelphia. Shortly after the square was laid out, however, it was being used for another purpose — as a potter's field. Burials in Washington Square, then known as Southeast Square, started in 1706 and continued for nearly ninety years. Initially located on Philadelphia's westernmost settled area, the square proved an out-of-the-way burial ground for the impecunious as well as a permanent residence for deceased "strangers", anyone who ended up staying in Philly for longer than initially anticipated.
City Tavern
Is an 18th Century restaurant that stays truly authentic to the times! So much so, that even cell phones are banned- or at least they try! Not that I condone the use of cell phones at dinner, but still… When John Adams arrived in Philadelphia in August 1774 for what was to become the First Continental Congress he stopped in a tavern- it was indeed this tavern. However, he was not the first future famous person to have arrived at this tavern, Paul Revere had, a few months earlier, arrived at this very same tavern with the news that the Redcoats had closed Boston port. Not only has it played a very active part in the early history of an Independent America but it still serves very nice 18th Century food! Including Dutch sauerkraut, I have no idea what makes it a Dutch specialty as it tasted the same as regular sauerkraut to my untrained taste buds, but it was a fantastic meal, served by waiters in period costume and a man playing a hand painted harp.
At this point I feel there is so much to do and see in Philly that I am going to have to pick and choose what to write about, and I think it will be narrowed down to the main points of the day, and the main highlights. There are numerous, and delightful squares, open spaces, statues, including the Rodin Thinker, the LOVE sculpture, the monopoly pieces, various historical and local dignitaries, all of which would in the summer month be very green and laid back spaces. However, despite my best efforts of removing my coat for photos still about 20F and snowy. There were also some incredible places for lunch, and dinner. My favorite being the Chocolate Artisan Café: it not only made gorgeous cupcakes, but the hot chocolate was divine. I will be spending a significant amount of time next week trying to recreate the taste sensation- not the cupcakes and that would require baking!
On a smaller note, there is a delightful looking city hall, but as it was included in the Independence Hall part of the day pretty much all I can say about it is this building, was completed in 1791. No sooner had it opened than the municipal government moved in. Upstairs was the Mayor's office and the Mayor's Council Chamber. Downstairs was the Mayor's Court. From 1790 to 1800 the Capital of the United States was in Philadelphia, and this building was used as the Supreme Court.
There is also a part uncovered foundation of the Presidents House this house was the Executive Mansion of the United States from 1790 to 1800. George Washington and John Adams both lived and worked here. Now it tells a story that is not often mentioned here, the story of slavery in America. America, as they so often tell you here, was was built on the aspirations laid down- “All men are created equal", but also on hundreds of years of free labor. Here it is also mentioned that this did not include a large proportion of the population, slaves.
Independence Hall and The Liberty Bell
It has often been said that Independence was an idea conceived in Boston, but born in Philadelphia. I did bristle slightly, on behalf of an adopted city I love, when it was followed up the explanation that everyone on Boston was a bit too rough, and Philly was just that bit more refined than those further north! I would suggest that maybe it was just that Philadelphia had a reputation for being a tolerant city, and had been established pretty much in the middle of the original thirteen colonies, and was therefore a good place to have a Constitutional Assembly in which all of the colonies would participate.
It could be argued that there are no more potent symbols of individual freedom than Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Since 1951 this building and this long-silent bell have been maintained as part of Independence National Historical Park. It was here that both the Declaration of Independence was written and ratified on July 4 1776, read to the public for the first time on July 8, before being spread throughout the rest of the newly declared states, where it was signed in August of the same year, and then in 1787 it was were The Constitution was adopted.
You can imagine the debates between the large and small states, running as separate countries, each attempting to form a government favoring them. You also have to marvel that this compromise was reached at all — a tribute to the ideas and people that were working together to make a new nation that could survive, and it did survive for about 100 years before finally those differences became too big, and too large for people to overlook.
It was also in this building that George Washington was sworn in for a second term as President, and then four years later, where the first transfer of power took place as John Adams become the second President of the new United States of America.
Tradition tells of a chime that changed the world on July 8, 1776, with the Liberty Bell ringing out from the tower of Independence Hall summoning the citizens of Philadelphia to hear the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
The truth is that the steeple was in bad condition and historians today highly doubt that the Bell actually rang in 1776. However, its association with the Declaration of Independence was fixed, making an icon of the Bell as a symbol of liberty.
Philadelphia Art Museum
One of the largest art museums in the US, and owner of the “Rocky” steps from the movie. I was most upset to learn that the “Rocky” everyone kept talking about was not of the “Rocky and Bullwinkle” fame but from the movie. Nonetheless, I did take a photograph and run up the steps, although I feel the people in gym wear, stretching out at the bottom may have been taking it a bit too far.
Once again the “Gift Shop” trick worked. Not only do they let you in for free, but also you then get to wander around most of the permanent exhibit whilst looking for, and locating the gift shop. Then upon arrival you can see all the major works of art in postcard and published form, and if you did not manage to find them whilst wandering you can either “get lost” looking for the exit, or decide that actually they really aren’t worth your time.
Of course all good trips much come to an end, and so too, sadly, did this one. Having completed an awesome drive time of 5 hours 10 minutes on the way down to Philly, I was a little less harsh about stopping on the way home. Therefore self-service Burger King and non self-service gas were required. You have to wonder at a State that doesn’t trust you to pump your own gas, or collect you own soda but sees fit to make you collect you own burger and package your own fries! Wow- New Jersey! It has been speculated on, that the only reason the NJ Turnpike exists is so people can spend as little time as possible in the place. Luckily we had inane questions and a Magic Eight Ball to keep us entertained.
Driving complete the last little treat in store was a reminder of exactly how much snow is in Boston, how few places we actually have to put it, and how bad I actually am at parking! After all that driving the only issue I had was getting my car stuck in the parking lot on my return. After a bit of digging, shuffling and pushing- thank you girls, it was eventually put into a space, although if I can get it out for work tomorrow remains to be seen. The Magic Eight Ball says… don’t count on it!
