| I have been to Philly before, on a business trip for Boeing eons ago, and had visited the Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross's house at that time. Jim had not been here before, so we had to make the pilgrimage. I actually touched the Liberty Bell the first time I was here. | |
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Independence & the Liberty Bell |
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| Independence Visitor Center, always the place to start (and I will always keep reminding you :) | Independence Hall, was originally the Pennsylvania State House. |
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| Back side of Congress Hall where the US Congress met from 1790 to 1800. | This room was used for court cases. |
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| "THE ROOM" where the assembly voted & signed the Declaration of Independence. The chair behind the ranger is the actual chair that John Adams used to direct the meetings. | Copies of the Declaration and the Constitution. The silver item in the middle is the Syng inkstand actually used for signing of the Declaration of the Independence. |
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The Declaration of Independence: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness... |
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| Plaque states that the first Senate and first House of Representatives used this building | Front of
Congress Hall :
George Washington was inaugurated here for his second term.
John
Adams was inaugurated here. |
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| The Liberty Bell with the silhouette of Independence Hall behind it. | Jim and the Bell. |
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Valley Forge |
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| Heading into Valley Forge: it's the story of a six month encampment of the Continental Army of the newly formed United States of America under the command of General George Washington. No battle was fought here from Dec. 19, 1777 to June 19, 1778 | The front of the Visitor Center; they had some really great audio-visual programs and exhibits |
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| Replicated huts mark the site where Gen. Peter Muhlenberg's Brigade anchored the outer line of defense. | Cooking and sitting areas between huts. |
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| There were plaques like this all through the park where the different brigades were housed. | The old and the new, placement of a cannon while in use, old barn to the left, new factories in the background. |
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| National Memorial Arch commemorates the "patience and fidelity" of the soldiers who wintered at Valley Forge. 12,000 soldiers wintered here, with over 6,000 unfit or dead for battle come spring time. | The deer find it peaceful, they were all over the park and ignored all the tourists. |
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| A listing of all the generals that had troops wintering at Valley Forge. | Coming into General Washington's headquarters, owned by Isaac Potts and rented by Gen. Washington. |
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| more old and new, a train hauling coal and the main house. | Front of the main house, it is all original. |
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| General Washington and Martha's office. | Their bedroom... Martha would stay with George when he wasn't in battle. |
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| The Washington Memorial Chapel is an early 20th-century church that commemorates George Washington's service to his country. It's located on private property within the park. | Carillon Tower, I bought a CD of Christmas music played on these bells. |
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| All of the stained glass depicted scenes of George Washington | A view of the back tower and church. |
