Liberty Bell and Jim's Steaks, Downtown - 17 May 2019
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| There was absolutely no consideration of driving into downtown Philly after our disastrous attempt last year. So much easier and relaxing to just take the train. That's what we thought until once again we had to park the truck in areas which have not been designed for a full size truck with an 8 foot bed. Took awhile but eventually we managed to get it wedged into a spot. |
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| Kristen and Dave joined us for a tour of the renovated Liberty Bell Center. The timeless message engraved around the bottom of the former State House bell is even more relevant today: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants thereof". The inscription is from the King James Bible |
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| There are additional exhibits telling the story of the first bell, ordered from London in 1751, which cracked on the first test ring and the recasting of the bell by Philadelphia metalworkers John Pass and John Stow. About 90 years later a small crack developed. It was widened to prevent further spread and restore the tone of the bell using a technique called "stop drilling". |
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| The wide "crack" is actually the repair job. But the repair was not successful when another fissure developed. This second crack silenced the bell forever. It was first referred to as the "Liberty Bell" in 1835 when the inscription became a rallying cry for abolitionists wishing to end slavery. It has served to heal wounds from the Civil War and protest for Women's Suffrage and Civil Rights. |
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| Of course, after absorbing all the facts and history of the Liberty Bell, a several block walk for a cheesesteak sandwich was in order. Jim's Steaks is still in it's original 1976 location serving authentic Philly-style cheesesteaks. The art-deco storefront is distinctive for the wall tiles and lots of chrome. We are all purists about our sandwiches, just meat and cheese. |
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| We have gone to many Farmer's Markets before and since we started on our travels but this is by far the most outstanding one we have experienced. Fruits, vegetables, meats, seafood, dairy and cheeses, candy, pastries, cakes, cookies, pies, ice cream, flowers, leather goods, clothing, pet items, ethnic groceries, housewares, books, crafts, poultry, honey, donuts, spirits and almost 30 restaurants. We were not sure what it was going to be like but we were so full of cheesesteaks all we could sample was ice cream. Bob and I wanted to take advantage of the very reasonable oysters but just couldn't force ourselves. |
2019 05 19 Philadelphia second trip.
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| Much easier time today finding the train station and figuring out the correct one to take closer to our destination. |
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| So odd but very cool decorations for a parking lot. |
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The first and only museum dedicated to inspiring active citizenship and bringing the Constitution to life. In the story of "We The People", the best civics lesson in the country is narrated by a live actor to discover why the Constitution is as important today as it was over 200 years ago...maybe more so.
In light of the enthusiasm for the Broadway production of "Hamilton" I was interested in the feature exhibit of "Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped A Nation" which highlighted the competing ideas of Alexander Hamilton and his legendary rivals James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Aaron Burr. Rare original documents and artifacts explore the competing arguments including the scope of the national government, the establishment of a standing army, the creation of a federal banking system and foreign policy
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Museum of the American Revolution
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| Housing thousand of period items we traced the steps from British colonists to becoming revolutionaries through creating a new nation. A life-size reproduction of the Boston Liberty Tree includes a plank of the actual tree, life-size replicas of members of the Oneida Indian Nation who would join the colonists, breaking away from the Iroquois Confederacy, a replica privateer ship to experience the war at sea, several films including one following George Washington's journey from wilderness surveyor to General of the nation's army. |
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| Outside wall mural of the Constitutional Congress meeting in Independence Hall. |
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| Mural of Washington crossing the Delaware River on 25 December 1776. |
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| Housed in a dedicated theater, General Washington's war headquarters tent is one of the most iconic surviving artifacts of the Revolution. Carefully preserved by generations of the Custis and Lee families following the deaths of George and Martha Washington, the tent was purchased in 1909 by Rev. W. Herbert Burk from Miss Mary Lustis Lee, daughter of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. |
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| Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton could not resolve their differences which resulted in an early morning duel ending the life America's most prolific Constitutional writer and ending the political career of the Vice President. |
2019 05 21 Longwood Gardens
Consisting of over 1077 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows and built by Pierre S. duPont who had been influenced during his frequent travels around the globe while he preferred to live amid the quiet beauty of the Brandywine Valley. He was astounded by grand architecture and the latest technology including huge display of water pumps and illuminated fountains. Success in corporate America brought him great wealth which he felt a responsibility to use wisely. Pierre and his wife, Alice gave generously to public schools, universities and hospitals but gardening was his life-long passion. The gardens at Longwood were created piecemeal, following no grand design.
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| Peonies had come into bloom replacing the tulips and daffodils. |
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| After years of renovation and restoration, the mid-1930s hydraulic masterpiece reopened featuring the Main Fountain Garden in front of the Conservatory: 10,000 gallons a minute shot as high as 130 feet and illuminated in every imaginable color. |
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| The Conservatory opened in 1921 filled with fruits and flowers instead of the more popular exotic tropical foliage. Heat, water and power systems were hidden in tunnels so as not to detract from the grandeur of the glass-covered rooms. |
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| The main fountains atop a walkable two story building housing the massive pumps and water recycling units. The water show is set to music and lasts about 15 minutes. |
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| The stairway Falls and 61-500t stone Chimes Tower. In 1956, the original chimes were replaced with a 32-note electronic carillon, i.e., a set of stationary bells sounded by manual or pedal action, or by machinery. In 2000, a new 62-bell carillon was crafted in the Netherlands. |
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| Italian Garden |
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| The grandest of the Longwood Tree Houses, the Canopy Cathedral was inspired by a Norwegian church. |
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