It was a huge thrill for me to visit the United States Capitol and to climb the stairs and follow in the footsteps of Presidents of the United States of America.I was even allowed to sit in The House of Representatives and listen to speeches.
What a wonderful day it was.
Washington Capitals 2 Philadelphia Flyers 6 in NHL preseason contest.
From the Wright Brothers’ biplane to Apollo 11 and beyond, the development of man powered flight is all here. Come here and find out how John Smeaton helped to change the world.
These exhibitions trace African American history from the time of slavery to the election of the first African American President.
You can even have your photograph taken with Eldorado, one of Chuck Berry’s cadillacs.
Philadelphia is a city loaded with history. Before European settlers arrived the area was inhabited by Algonquian-speaking native Americans known as Lenni-Lenape. Many of them lived by the Delaware River and so the European settlers called them “Delawares”.
At different times the area was colonized by Dutch and Swedish settlers before the British prevailed.
William Penn was the son of a wealthy British admiral. He was a Quaker. Indeed, he was imprisoned for his faith. Nevertheless, Penn was an influential person in the court of King Charles II. The King was in debt to William’s father. William’s father died before the debt was repaid and to settle the matter, King Charles granted William land between Maryland and New York. This is now known as Pennsylvania.
Penn and surveyor Thomas Holmes designed Philadelphia in a grid pattern of wide streets and several public squares. Philadelphia became an important settlement for trade and its size and influence grew very quickly.
In 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia and after hostilities with the British ceased, it became the first capitol of the new United States of America. Later, in 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was drafted here as well.
I visited Independence Hall and saw the Assembly Room. This is where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where delegates of the original 13 states except Rhode Island gathered for the Constitutional Convention. They worked for 4 months and in great secrecy, before the draft Constitution of the United States of America was published.
Nearby is the Liberty Bell Center. The Liberty Bell has been rung since 1753 and it is believed that it was rung on 4th July 1776 after the Declaration of Independence was announced.
The National Constitution Center opened on 4th July 2003. Its galleries are a timeline to describe the development of the United States Constitution from its inception to the present day.
There is much to see here, including a visit to Signers’Hall, where you can mingle with bronze statues of the 39 people who signed the constitution, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin.
Benjamin Franklin is regarded as one of America’s most significant statesmen. He is laid to rest in Christ Church Burial Ground.
Tour this imposing landmark and climb to the top to say hello to William Penn.
And Henry was around as well.
Gordon's Gubbins. 