Philadelphia - day 2

October 4
Sunday

Finally better weather so we headed for Independence Square. Took the shuttle to the bus stop where we caught the #42 bus which makes a big loop around this several block area of history.

 In 30 minutes we were in the City Center of Philly with no parking problems.

This several blocks area is packed full of history.

Short stop at the Visitor Center for tickets and to see two good (one by John Huston) history films to refresh our memories.

This 1732 building was built as the Pennsylvania State House, and it is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed.

The long green table cloths were to keep the delegates' legs warm during the time of haggling over the issues.

George Washington accepted the nomination as Commander in Chief after running out of the room in embarrasment. I always thought this act of humility was weird since he came to all the meetings in full dress uniform as tho campaigning for the job.

Also in this room is the chair George Washington sat in presiding over the Second Continental Congress. This is the chair that prompted Ben Franklin's droll comment about the carved sun on the back of the chair being a "rising or a setting sun".

Jean met the Pope!
We thought we had missed him....

We looked respectfully at all the historic buildings and then headed over to the US Mint to see how money is made.

After all, that is what this country is about.

Bob was a coin collector so I thought he would want to be here. So he is.

Ambled around the historic area and respectfully checked out other buildings,

It gives you chills thinking of what these great men did for our country

and the chances they took to do it.

Found our way around the corner to Betsy Ross' tiny house where our first flag was created in 1777.

Historians doubt she actually did the stitching, but probably designed it and had her workers do the rest. Smart business woman.

She was a successful upholsterer who represents the many women who supported their families during the Revolution and early Republic.

In this same room one day George Washington and two of his cronies stopped in to ask if she could put together a flag to represent the nation.

For the next 50 years flags were produced here for the government.

Philadelphia is full of tiny alleys, but Elfreth's Alley is the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the US.

Since 1757 this cobbled alley has been home to tinkers, an African tailor, a German shoemaker, and glassblowers as well as today's techies.

Couldn't resist calling the real estate FOR SALE sign on this one to find it has a list price of $250K,    1015 sq. ft. 2 bedrm, 1 bath.
Interesting......

Down the block and around the corner at the 1727  Christ Church (Episcopal) we looked for Ben Franklin's gravestone in the yard outside. He and 15 signers of the Declaration of Independence worshiped here.

It also contains the font from which William Penn was baptized in 1644 in London.

Inside we sat in George Washington's
family pew.

It was roomy to accommodate those large dresses worn by the ladies, all that fabric.
Brass plaques mark the pews of Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross as well.

15 by 49 feet long

In the Curtis Center, just off Independence Square, is this spectacular glass mural, The Dream Garden, done by Philadelphia native, Maxfield Parrish.

Done in 1914-15 as a commissioned piece for the Curtis Publishing Co for their new building lobby, the glass was executed by Tiffany studios as a glass mosaic.

Up close you can see the tiny shards of glass that make up the incredible design.

It is made of 100,000 pieces of glass in 260 colors.

This piece takes your breath away with its idyllic landscape, making Jean and me homesick for California.

Had dinner at 1773 City Tavern which was the first unofficial White House where the colonial movers and shakers hung out near
 Independence Square.
John Adams called it "the most genteel tavern in America".

The wait staff are all in period dress and the menus true to the day.

Jean had roast duckling and I had a tofu dish that Ben Franklin was excited about after first tasting tofu on one of his travels. Somehow I thought tofu was a modern invention of today's foodies.
    
My ale was made from a recipe from George Washington's cellars. One of the three breads we were served was a sweet potato biscuit from Thomas Jefferson's recipe.

With the rooms lit only by candles we felt like we were back in the day.
Perfect day's end to our exploration of historic Philadelphia.