Landmarks
From 1790 to 1800, the city of Philadelphia was our new nation’s capital home to Presidents George Washington and John Adams. The best way to see wonderful historic landmarks of Philadelphia (Philly) are through guided walking tours which takes you through the Founding Father’s historical lives’ and the beginnings of this Nation. Walk the Market Street tours to visit Ben Franklin’s home which today is a Post Office, Independence Hall, the famous Liberty Bell and Carpenters’ Hall where the Continental Congress assembled. The walk goes by Christ Church and the Burial Ground, where Benjamin Franklin and other Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence worshiped and is their final resting place and also Betsy Ross’s Home where she made the first American flag.
Other tours include riding in a double decker bus that allow you to hop off and on at landmark stops; ride on stylish carriages to continue exploring Philadelphia’s popular attractions. “Philly by Night” gives visitors an early evening bus tour of the South Street area of Chinatown etc. al., famous sites. Additional sites include the Academy of Music at Broad and Locust Streets. It is the current home of the present Philadelphia ballet and opera companies and is the oldest opera house in the United States.
Nationally and internationally, people come to visit the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell once rang out from the tower of Independence Hall to summon the citizens to hear the first public read of the Declaration. The Liberty Bell is located at 6th and Market Streets, in the Historic District. In 1777, the British occupied Philadelphia and were destroying all the bells. To save the Liberty Bell, it was hidden under the floor at the Zion Reformed Church in Allentown, Pennsylvania that you can also visit. How the Liberty Bell cracked is still debatable, but it is agreed that the final crack that stopped it ringing permanently was on George Washington’s birthday in 1846.
Welcome to an historic tour of the Johnson House at 6306 Germantown Avenue. This house is Philadelphia’s Underground Railroad home which looks very close to its original structure. The Johnson House was the home of Quaker families who worked to free slaves.
This nation’s history was settled in a war of wars. Whether you like civil war history or not, a visit to Valley Forge Park is worth the trip. Valley Forge is located 22 miles northwest of Philadelphia and was the site of George Washington’s winter camp in 1777-1778. Visitors can tour the log cabins that Washington and his men used. Today, visitors can bike or walk the trails or enjoy a scenic picnic.
From 1790 to 1800, the President’s House was this Nation’s executive mansion for Presidents George Washington and John Adams. It is located at the Independence National Historical Park site, near the Liberty Bell. This historic landmark shows visitors archaeological fragments that were just unearthed in 2007, as well as brief videos of its history.