Independence National Historic Park

I was going to do a post combining all the free things that are in Philadelphia. Independence National Historic Park certainly qualifies as a free thing. However, it is so important, I don't want to dilute the post with other less important places. Also if I wrote a short description about everything in Independence AND all the other free stuff, this would be the longest post ever. And we have already decided, that I can run on and on.

Independence National Historic Park is the sight that America was born. It is where delegates from the 13 colonies declared their independence from England. It is also the place the Constitution was written and ratified. There is also a pretty famous bell there.

We parked in the garage under the Independence Visitor Center. This is a large building. It has a small theater to watch the introductory video. It was a gift shop, bathrooms, and food. Many local tourist buses and walks originate at the VC. Park rangers are also there to give you information.

The highlights of the park are Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. To go on a tour of Independence Hall you need a timed ticket. You can get the tickets at the VC the morning of your tour for free. There is always a chance they will be sold out. People will wait in line for the VC to open at 8:30 for tickets. You get the ticket for whatever tour is available so you do not have to wait in line all day. For example, you get your ticket at 8:30 for a 11 am tour. This gives you until 11 to walk around or get something to eat. The tickets are free with this option.

Another option is to reserve the tickets online. I got mine weeks in advance. We arrived in Philly on Sunday so I reserved tix for Monday. To reserve them ahead of time there is a processing fee of $1.50. It turned out there wasn't any real need for us to reserve the tickets. There were plenty available, but who knows if it is that way everyday. No other parts of the park need tickets.

Washington's chair and desk.
Original

Independence Hall Area

You need to pass through a security screening to view Independence Hall and a separate one for the Liberty Bell. Once inside the gate at the Hall, there are a couple other buildings also. Most people go to the back of Independence Hall first where the tour starts. Only 70 people are allowed to enter the building at a time. The floor is original and they do not want to stress it with too much weight.

You see the two rooms that the Founding Fathers argued in, discussed, and signed the Declaration of Independence. A ranger or guide tells you what went on in the rooms. The original chair that Washington presided over the debate on the Constitution is still there.  The ranger points out where Ben Franklin sat along with the Massachusetts delegation (John Adams) and the Virginians (Jefferson). The tour only lasts about 20 minutes.

Congress Hall-

House of Represenatives. Adams took the oath on those stairs.
Washington was sitting in the front row in
one of the chairs on the left of the picture

Philly was the U.S. capitol from 1790-1800 until Washington DC could be built. During that time Congress met in the hall next to Independence Hall. When you walk into the building you are allowed to sit in the chairs in the House chamber (reproductions). In front of you is the Speaker of the House chair. It is also the place John Adams took the oath as the second president. It is said that every person in the room was deeply saddened except one, George Washington. He had a huge smile on his face because he could finally go home to Mt. Vernon.

Upstairs is where the senate met. Another inauguration happened up there. Washington was sworn in for his second term. An original large chair in the back of the room was also there. This is where the Vice President sat. The two men to occupy the seat were Adams and Jefferson.

The small building between Congress Hall and Independence Hall houses three documents. It has an original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Articles of Confederation. Also the ink stand they used to sign the D o I is there.

Vice President's Chair in the Senate. Adams and
Jefferson both sat here.

Also in the fenced area is a small museum the the colonial Peales owned. They wanted to educate the public with paintings and artifacts. The museum was small but nice.

Liberty Bell

After you get passed by security you walk through a long hallway with info about the Liberty Bell. After you get done reading and watching a short film you walk up to it and attempt to get a picture without anyone else in the photo. Good luck. Priceless, awesome artifact.  Fun fact- you could actually touch the Bell until 2001. It was not because of Sept 11. Some crazy idiot thought it was possessed by demonic spirits of Washington and Jefferson. He tried to destroy it, so he ruined it for the rest of the nation.

Liberty Bell

Other historic buildings

Outside of the gates of Inde Hall there are other historic structures.

Presidents House- Near the Liberty Bell is the foundation of the house Washington and Adams lived in while president. Instead of having info about the presidents the memorial is about slavery. There are tvs set up to explain the slaves in Washington's house.

Declaration House- This is the house Jefferson rented while writing the Declaration. It was not open when we tried to visit it.

Christ Church Burial Grounds- Ben Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration are buried there. Franklin's grave is right on the street corner. To see the other signers, you have to pay $3 to wonder the graveyard.

Christ Church- Where the Patriots prayed $5 admission fee

First Bank of the United States- Bank Alexander Hamilton started to have the Us pay off its war debt. When it was paid off the bank was closed.

Second Bank of the United States-  Yes, you guessed it, the Second federal bank opened after the First was shut down. This is the bank that Andrew Jackson was famous for hating and tried to shut down. Inside is a portrait gallery of many famous Americans. The Peale's were a family of artists, they tried to get as many famous people in for a sitting as they could. There are over a hundred portraits. One of my favorite stops.

Portrait of General Daniel Morgan
in Second Bank

Betsy Ross House- I was amazed to find out that Betsy Ross was only 24 when she sowed the flag. You tour the house and the room she sowed in. Rumor has it, this is not the original house. I haven't looked into it.Betsy Ross is buried outside the house. I think admission was $5

Portrait of John Adams in Second Bank

Ben Franklin museum and Franklin Court- Museum dedicated to Franklin. Some of his inventions are housed in the museum. The court has a frame of where his house was and how large it was. The museum was free the day we went, but I do think most days there is an admission.

There were other old buildings. There are a couple Quaker Meeting Houses that always seemed to be closed when we went by. There was also a Merchant Exchange ( olden days stock market) We spent all day Monday hitting the free historic structures and the Museum of the Revolution. We didn't see it all. I could spend all day in Second Bank and Congress Hall. We knew we were in the presence of true greatness so on Friday we got tickets to Independence Hall a second time. We also toured Congress Hall again. It's not everyday you see where so many giants of history met to build a nation. More pictures below.

One of the original copies of the
Declaration of Independence

Laurie at the Liberty Bell

Franklin's grave through the
dappled sunshine

First Bank of the US

Independence Hall on a quiet morning

Ben Franklin bust in the House of
Representatives.  It was put there because
Franklin died before he could see the government he
helped create work. Since he did so much for the country they
 wanted him there.It happens to be the first

 monument in the US dedicated
to a person

Washington in front of Independence Hall