When you think of Philadelphia, you automatically think of the Declaration of Independence and the Liberty Bell—at least, that’s what comes to my mind. My first trip to Philly consisted solely of seeing Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. When I was 11, my parents took me on a driving trip up the East Coast. We only spent a few hours in Philly between stays in Washington, DC and NYC.

Established in 1948, Independence National Historical Park encompasses multiple buildings over 55 acres in the city’s center. The most notable are Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center. Other buildings include City Tavern, President’s House, Dolley Todd House, First Bank of the United States, Christ Church, and Merchant’s Exchange.

When I took Thing 1 on a tour of college campuses, we stayed in Philadelphia but didn’t have time to visit any historical sites. On this trip, I was determined to wedge in a visit to Independence National Historical Park.

Independence Hall – a World UNESCO Site

The biggest highlight of the park lies within Independence Square, consisting of Independence Hall, Old City Hall, and Congress Hall. Although free to visit, tickets are required (most of the time) to enter Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of the Constitution were signed in the 18th century. You can purchase timed tickets in advance at recreation.gov. If tickets are sold out, check the website at 5 pm the day before for a chance to purchase “next day” tickets released on a first-come, first-served basis.

We went through security screening and lined up outside Independence Hall for our 20-minute tour. Completed around 1748, the Georgian, red-brick building originally served as the Pennsylvania State House. A 120-foot steeple with the Liberty Bell topped the structure. Known as the “Birthplace of America,” it was the location of the First and Second Continental Congresses, the Constitutional Convention, and the Capitol of the United States from 1790-1800.

The park ranger escorted us inside the building to a large room on the left. This served as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Here, judges heard cases based on English Common Law until the Revolutionary War. After the US government moved to Philadelphia in 1790, the Supreme Court met at this location for two sessions before moving to the City Hall (now called Old City Hall) building next door.

Declaration of Independence

Next, we walked across the Central Hallway to the Assembly Room, a cavernous room painted in neutral gray with large windows and tall ceilings. In this room, delegates from the Thirteen Colonies voted for independence on July 2, 1776. However, they debated and revised the draft of the Declaration of Independence, written mostly by Thomas Jefferson, until approving it on July 4, 1776. On July 8, 1776, the townspeople gathered at Independence Square to hear the first public reading of the document. Yet, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed until August 2, 1776 – a fact I never knew.

Constitution of the United States

From 1776-1789, the Articles of Confederation provided the framework of the federal government. Yet after winning the Revolutionary War and putting the new government to the test, Colonial leaders saw the need for a new constitution. The Constitutional Convention met in the Assembly Room for four months in 1787 to create the government we know today. In the stifling heat of the summer, leaders hammered out the responsibilities and duties of the three separate branches of government (with a checks and balances system to ensure one branch didn’t dominate the others) and defined national versus state power.

At the tour’s conclusion, the ranger encouraged us to visit the West Wing of Independence Hall for the Great Essentials Exhibit. Here, we saw copies of the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the US Constitution. Also on display is the silver inkwell used to sign the Declaration of Independence.

Congress Hall

Congress Hall sits on the other side of the West Wing of Independence Hall. Originally the Philadelphia County Courthouse, Congress Hall housed the legislative branch of the government from 1790 to 1800. Visitors can see the inside of the historic building on a 20-minute tour. Advance tickets aren’t required; you just line up at the door.

The House of Representatives met on the first floor, where John Adams was inaugurated in 1797. This was the first time the transfer of power occurred between an outgoing president and a new one. Under previous English rule, the transfer of leadership occurred only upon the king’s death. The upstairs consists of the Senate Chambers and Committee Rooms. Since this was the day’s last tour, we weren’t allowed to see the second floor.

Liberty Bell

My recollection of seeing the Liberty Bell is much like Plymouth Rock. Visitors could walk right up and touch it and it sat in a small glass house. Today, the Liberty Bell resides in a 13,000-square-foot Liberty Bell Center, built to the tune of $12.9 million in 2003. Just across the street from Independence Square, guests undergo security screening and walk past exhibits before coming to the famous bell, roped off so you can’t get too close to it. A large window allows outsiders to see the bell when the center closes at 5pm.

The Liberty Bell symbolized freedom for the Thirteen Colonies, the abolitionists, and later the Civil Rights Movement with the inscription from Leviticus 25:10: “Proclaim liberty all throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” While most people think the bell rang throughout the day on July 8, 1776 at the public reading of the Declaration of Independence, some historians believe it didn’t ring as the steeple was in disrepair at the time. A new steeple, housing the clock and weathervane, was erected in 1828 to replace the old steeple demolished in 1781.

Dubbed the “Liberty Bell” in the 1830s by abolitionists, the 2,000-pound copper bell suffered a crack that was supposedly fixed in 1846 for George Washington’s birthday. Upon ringing that day, the bell suffered an even larger crack and hasn’t been rung since. For many years, the bell sat at the base of the large staircase in Independence Hall. Fearing crowds during the bicentennial celebration in 1976, officials built and moved the bell to the Liberty Bell Pavilion that I saw as a child. The current Liberty Bell Center opened in 2003 near the location of the pavilion.

President’s House Site and Visitor Center

Both George Washington and John Adams lived in the President’s House when the Capital resided in Philadelphia. Located a few blocks north of Independence Square, the three-story structure served as the Governor’s mansion, the headquarters for General Howe during the Revolutionary War, the White House, and a hotel before being demolished in 1832. Today, visitors can see the footprint of the house and learn about the nine slaves who lived with the Washingtons.

Another important stop at Independence National Historic Site is the visitor center. Visitors can watch several NPS films, see a replica of the Liberty Bell, and get a feel for the entire historic site. Since the visitor center stays open an hour after the other buildings close, come here at the end of the day.

Around Philly

Dear Hubby (DH) wanted to walk to Spruce Street Harbor Park at Penn’s Landing. On the way there, we passed by numerous historical buildings, including the Second Bank of the United States, New Hall, and the US Customs House.

Arriving at Spruce Street Harbor Park, we settled in the hammocks for a few minutes before walking along the waterfront of the Delaware River. The 10-year-old park is only open during summer with food trucks and musical entertainment.

A few blocks further south is the Tall Ship, Moshulu. Built in 1904, it is the oldest and largest four-masted schooner still afloat today. Today, the permanently docked vessel is a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating.

Morris House Hotel

We headed back to our hotel, the Morris House. When we first checked in, the staff gave us a brief tour of the home completed in 1787. Descendants of Anthony Morris, a minister and one of the first mayors of Philadelphia, acquired the house in the mid-1800s. Located a few blocks from the President’s Site, George Washington and John Adams most likely knew the original owners.

The Morris family renovated the house around 1914 and later purchased and tore down the house next door to create a garden. We initially sat down in the courtyard-like setting, now the Morris Restaurant, for an appetizer but ultimately decided to stay for dinner.

The house was converted to a 17-room hotel in 2000 yet still feels like a family home with a parlor, dining room, library, and large front staircase. Many of the home’s original features remain, such as the hardy plank floors, tall ceilings, and large fireplaces. Upstairs, we had a two-room suite overlooking the courtyard, but with the benefit of a modern bathroom with a skylight.

University of Pennsylvania

The next morning, before heading to Washington, DC, we stopped by the University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1740, the 300-acre campus boasts beautiful stone buildings and history. Benjamin Franklin served as the school’s first president and later on the Board of Trustees.

The university moved twice, settling on its present location near the Schuylkill River in 1872. We took Locust Walk, a tree-lined pedestrian-only thoroughfare to the oldest part of the campus. The building above to the right is Claudia Cohen Hall, the second oldest building on the campus.

Conclusion

For more information about Independence National Historical Park and tour tickets, click the website here. Don’t be discouraged if tickets to Independence Hall are sold out. As previously mentioned, check the website at 5 p.m. the day before you want to visit for the release of “next-day” tickets. You may not get the best time slot, but the tour of Independence Hall is worth it.

If time allows, you can spend an entire day exploring all the buildings in the park. Other great museums nearby include the National Constitution Center, Museum of the American Revolution, and the Weitzman National Museum of Jewish American History.