We took the train each time, a new experience for us. We had "deer in the headlight eyes", which the nice folks noticed and helped us several times. But we got it down now, as long as we don't have to change origination (Woodcrest) or destination (8th & Market) points.
The station at the Philadelphia station, opened into a mall with hotel.
The places we ate
We had a late lunch at City Tavern our first day. The original tavern opened in 1773 and became the meeting place of the delegates before and after sessions of the first Continental Congress, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams. In 1834, the roof got fire and was heavily damaged and eventually torn down. But in 1948 Congress authorized it's preservation and it was rebuilt, historically accurate. The servers wear period dress and their menu includes original recipes of the time. No bud light but ales, made again, from recipes from the 700's.
Food was Yummy!
The next time we ate at Sonny's for a "Real Philly Cheese steak". It was recommended by a local so we knew it was the place for us.
It was everything we had ever heard it would be!
So we tried another cheese steak restaurant the next time, Oh Brother, and it was good but not quite 'Sonny's!
The Things We Saw
Independence Visitors Center
The first day we went there to get the lay of the land, book our tour and buy are tickets.
We started with a 90 minute tour on the Big Bus, which was very educational, just too much to remember.
National Constitution Center
A copy of the original Constitution replicated right after is was written.
State flags in the order that they were admitted to the United States. Plagues under each flag gives the dates.
We toured the Hamilton exhibit, Raising Freedom presentation and enjoyed the many displays. No pictures were allowed.
Christ Church Burial Ground
Ben Franklin is buried here ( his headstone below), plus four other signers of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration House
The original structure was torn down in 1883. Photographs of the site
enabled the National Park Service to build a recreation
of the original building. It is where Thomas Jefferson stayed while he wrote the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.
Liberty Bell
The display is located behind the remains of the first White House (the brick structure).
Museum of the American Revolution
We spent several hours here. The tine line began before the war, illustrated the major battles and the writing of the Declaration of Independence.
Betsy Ross's House
Rocky 's Steps
Once Upon a Moment
They have 12 of these stands located through out the Historic area that have five minute presentation of tidbits of history. We heard two - one on Ona, an escaped slave of George Washington, who made it to Portland Ne Hampshire and refused to return and never saw her family again becuase of the decision to stay, and the other on a woman, who started a cause to raise money for the troops by seeking donations, and was joined by other women in the colonies who raised $300,000 that went to purchase fabric so they could make shirts for the soldiers.
Old buildings and Modern Sky Scrapers
We weren't able to see everything we wanted. I over-estimated how long Big Bob's arthritic
hips would hold up - it is definitely a walking city. But who knows, we might make a return visit in the future.New Jersey
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