
Take a Walking Tour of the Historic Areas in Downtown Philadelphia - Steeped in Historic Value
Philadelphia is famous for liberty bell and independence hall. But there is much more to it rather than these two. Historic Philadelphia covers parts of the Old City and Center City neighborhoods and includes the Independence National Historic Park.
The Liberty Bell is now an icon which is a symbol of emancipation and liberty. The Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the Bell in 1751 to mark the 50th anniversary of William Penn's "Charter of Privileges"(Pennsylvania's original Constitution).
The bell travelled across the country, to help heal the wounds of the war. The bell nowadays is kept safely in a secure place, where visitors can go at specific timings.
St Peters Church on Pine Street founded in 1695.This church has the most famous burial ground. All the famous Americans who kissed their death are buried here.
Independence Hall began in 1732 and it took twenty one year to complete it. It was the most ambitious public building in the thirteen colonies. Here the Constitution of the United States was debated, drafted and signed. It was the place where the United States Nation was founded and the system of government established themselves.
Congress Hall was occupied when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States from 1790-1800 by the newly formed United States Congress. President George Washington was inaugurated for a second term in 1793 here. South bay of this building is very interesting to see, there is an arched seat where representatives smoked, and drank sherry, port etc.
Ceilings are extremely authentic, not worth missing. The small boxes filled with sand near the fireplaces used to be spitting boxes.
Betsy Ross house -Betsy was an upholster and had a flag-making business. She was asked to make a flag from the design by Sir Washington. She saw some defects in the proportions and the arrangements and shape of the stars, so they all agreed to change the stars. On June 14, 1777, Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as United States official national flag. Now,her house has become a tourist stop.
There is a lot to learn and lot to know about Philadelphia. The Fairmount Park, Philadelphia Zoo, Independence National Historical Park, Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are also the places not to miss.

