If you love American history, then Philadelphia is the city for you! Much of Philadelphia's history has been preserved and you can easily walk around the key sites from the convention centre, with a number of top attractions within a 4-block radius! Here’s our must see:
• Liberty Bell - The State House bell, now known as the Liberty Bell, rang in the tower of the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall.) The Liberty Bell is inscribed with the message: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land unto All the Inhabitants thereof" Did you know that Abolitionists, women's suffrage advocates and Civil Rights leaders all took inspiration from the inscription on this bell? Why not see it for yourself?! Admission is free and opened daily from 9am - 5pm.
• Independence Hall - where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. It is now the center piece of the Independence National Historical Park. Admission is by tour only, and you will need timed entry tickets between the peak months of March-December. You can book your tickets in advance
• Franklin’s Court - The site contains a steel "ghost structure" outlining the spot where Franklin's house stood. The Franklin Court complex also includes a working reproduction of an 18th century printing office, an architectural/archaeological exhibit, and an operating post office.
Did you know? The print shop has the oldest wall in the United States.
• Betsy Ross’s house - Betsy Ross first sewed the US Flag! You can visit her house and see the birthplace of the American flag.
• Constitution center - The National Constitution Center is the first and only institution in America established by Congress to “disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.”
The museum host exhibitions on the American quest for freedom, the history of the constitution and a stylised evocation of the Assembly Room in Independence Hall, where the signers of the Constitution met on September 17, 1787. You can book your tickets in advance.
• Museum of the American Revolution - A must see for history buffs! The museum holds an expansive collection of art, manuscripts and printed works from the Revolutionary Period. As well as weapons used by the British, French and American armies. One of the most memorable pieces in the museum is General Washington’s Headquarters Tent, an iconic piece of history where President George Washington slept and made world-changing decisions. Tickets for the Museum of the American Revolution are $19 for adults and can be purchased online.
If you love museums or if the standard tourist attractions don’t appeal, then see our other suggestions to make the most of your time in Philadelphia.
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Additional Information
ICS 2018
Philadelphia- off the beaten track
Philadelphia - America's culture capital!
Independence Hall
Betsy Ross’s house
The National Constitution Center
Museum of the American Revolution