Independence Hall
Continuing with our Revolutionary America theme for this summer, we took the kids down to Independence Hall in Philadelphia. What an amazing Saturday! The National Park service does such a great job with this site. The signage is clear, relevant and engaging, the rangers are knowledgeable, and this is such an amazing preserved piece of history, right in the middle of the city! The children were, of course, totally underwhelmed. Our recent time in Williamsburg spoiled them slightly. We heard all kinds of questions like, "why are there cars on the road?" etc. But even they found some things to enjoy before the day ended.
We arrived right as the visitor center opened and got early tickets to see the Hall. On our way over we viewed the excavated President's mansion and the Liberty bell center. Amazing!
(excerpt from Liberty Bell, by William Ross Wallace)
It was heard by the fettered, and heard by the brave—
It was heard in the cottage, and heard in the hall—
And its chime gave a glorious summons to all—
The sabre was sharpened—the time-rusted blade
Of the Bond started out in the pioneer’s glade
Like a herald of wrath: And the host was arrayed!
Along the dark mountain, along the blue wave
Swept the ranks of the Bond—swept the ranks of the Brave;
After touring the Hall we viewed the Great Essentials exhibit and Congress Hall. We heard the story of Commodore Barry fighting bravely from his ship during the Revolutionary war at the Once Upon a Nation story bench by his statue. Then we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn and visited with the reenactors in the visitor center before watching the 30 minute video. Gwen fell asleep during the movie and we decided that was our cue to head home.
It was a lovely day together, and we learned heaps! Hopefully the children will remember some of what we saw and appreciate the history, sometime in the future. Unfortunately we have not figured out how to make Windows 10 play nicely with our camera, so I can't post pictures for you. This makes me so sad, because I was truly amazed by how beautiful it was. Of course, pictures don't really do it justice, you just have to visit for yourself!
We arrived right as the visitor center opened and got early tickets to see the Hall. On our way over we viewed the excavated President's mansion and the Liberty bell center. Amazing!
(excerpt from Liberty Bell, by William Ross Wallace)
It was heard by the fettered, and heard by the brave—
It was heard in the cottage, and heard in the hall—
And its chime gave a glorious summons to all—
The sabre was sharpened—the time-rusted blade
Of the Bond started out in the pioneer’s glade
Like a herald of wrath: And the host was arrayed!
Along the dark mountain, along the blue wave
Swept the ranks of the Bond—swept the ranks of the Brave;
After touring the Hall we viewed the Great Essentials exhibit and Congress Hall. We heard the story of Commodore Barry fighting bravely from his ship during the Revolutionary war at the Once Upon a Nation story bench by his statue. Then we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the lawn and visited with the reenactors in the visitor center before watching the 30 minute video. Gwen fell asleep during the movie and we decided that was our cue to head home.
It was a lovely day together, and we learned heaps! Hopefully the children will remember some of what we saw and appreciate the history, sometime in the future. Unfortunately we have not figured out how to make Windows 10 play nicely with our camera, so I can't post pictures for you. This makes me so sad, because I was truly amazed by how beautiful it was. Of course, pictures don't really do it justice, you just have to visit for yourself!
Comments