Given our desire to keep Winter break low-key and low-demand, we decided to curtail our usual bent for travel and exploration and instead play at being tourists in our own area. Despite having lived here for 9 years now, I had still never been to Independence Hall. We decided, therefore, to head into the city for a visit there.
Although I am generally very interested in history, the Revolutionary era is not one that captures my imagination. It definitely feels more like a homework assignment or chore to absorb that learning. I think it is because so much of that era is dominated by military history which is very much not my jam. However, the importance of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to American society and culture means that I really did want to visit Independence Hall. I was accompanied by my husband and our oldest and youngest sons.
The Ranger for our tour group did a great job of providing an accessible precis of the relevant history, focusing on the more engaging highlights and peppering in some jokes about the nature of group assignments. It was also a very brief tour, which was welcome to our sons. Now I can check Independence Hall off my list!
My husband suggested that we take a walk down to the 9th Street Market area. I liked the idea of having a good walk and I needed to restock on vegetables post-Christmas so that seemed like as good a destination as any. My oldest son was bemused by my excitement when I was able to buy parsnips, massive leeks, and fresh figs.
Of course, I should have known that my husband had an ulterior motive when he suggested 9th Street because what he was actually aiming for was cheesesteaks. I don’t eat meat so this was of zero interest to me. The boys, however, joined their dad in ordering and munching cheesesteaks. Although Pat’s is one of the famous Philly purveyors and they did enjoy the food, they all agreed that they have had better cheesesteaks elsewhere.
City murals and celebrations of cheese are much more my thing.
A Pict in PA 
Rosie cheeks and cold fun.
It was really very cold that day – though not as cold as it had been earlier in the week.
We have had some really cold temps….not good for us southerners.
Indeed! A friend in Florida discovered she didn’t own enough layers to be able to keep properly warm when out and about.
A good day out! It sounds as though everyone got something they wanted from it.
It was a low-demand day out so it was a success.
Even the smell of cheesesteak did not pull you into the meat lair. I guess it isn’t “the king” after all.
Ha ha! No. Though the smell of fried onions was amazing. I wish I could have ordered a hoagie roll just filled with onions.
I think it’s been decades since I visited Independence Hall. I worked for several years across the street and ate lunch in the park (the back of the building) a lot, watching tourists!
It’s not the type of place I would feel much need to return to, unless compelled to by visiting guests, and more of a “been there and done that” kind of thing but I am glad to have finally been able to check it off my list.
I’m with you on the murals and cheese!!! Sounds like another fun day out!!!
It was a low-energy, low-demand sort of day out which was just what we needed at that juncture.
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Laura – I see that your family made a trip to the Independence Park in Philadelphia. Since I’ve been there a number of times in the past, I know what you’ve seen. The one place I never saw is the inside of Independence Hall where the Declaration was signed. It was always just so full of tourists. Nice that you enjoyed your visit. Don’t you just love those Philly Cheesteaks? They are so good.
We have also been to the area several times and have visited the Constitution Centre and even the Liberty Bell but there was never an ideal time to actually visit Independence Hall. Now I can check it off the list. As for cheesesteaks, I don’t eat meat but the rest of the family enjoy them. My husband did the cheesesteak tour around Philly with his father.