Rookie Explorer: 11 Things to See in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Rookie Explorer to Philadelphia’s Historic District

On a bitter day in February, I have the smart idea to take a day trip to Philadelphia as a change from my familiar spaces in New York City so online I go to book return tickets on Wanderu for mum and I.

I choose Philly because it is very close to NYC with just as much – or even more – history than the Big Apple, as well as a similarity to New York City that I know I will be comfortable around. Off we go to Times Square for a 7 am bus ride to Philadelphia!

There are a list of things I want to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District but I also leave room for spontaneous perambulating as the feeling may arise because I don’t like to feel boxed in when travelling and exploring. So, here goes…

 

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Independence Visitor’s Centre

On Market and 6th Street, this is your first stop in Philadelphia’s Historic District for museums and neighbourhoods to explore as well as historic tours and re-enactments, depending on the season and holiday.

The Visitor Centre staff give walking maps (which you will need) and you can arrange tours yourself if you plan on staying longer. They can also arrange tickets and tours for you as you and this is where we buy tickets for the Museum of the American Revolution, the African-American Museum and the Constitution Centre. We also schedule a free Independence Hall walking tour for later in the day to give us time to explore.

At the Visitor’s Centre, ask about the Historic District Pass for unfettered entry to sites like the Constitution Museum, Betsy Ross House and the Christ Church Burial Ground for a low price. If you’re a history buff, you’ll absolutely love the discount.

Declaration House.

We stumble upon this tiny house on Market Street walking south to the Historic District and it is so quaint! It sticks out among the larger buildings around it and looks so out of place, poor thing. The irony is that presently, there is a tiny house movement with families down-sizing to homes this dimension or smaller to significantly reduce their carbon-footprint. The Founding Fathers are definitely flabbergasted with this movement. Lol.

We cross over to the tiny house and read a plaque stating that this was Thomas Jefferson’s residence while drafting the Declaration of Independence. The famous words “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are mounted on the exterior of the house for all to see.

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bells is another Philadelphia historic sight that everybody want to see and touch. The Bell is opposite the Visitor’s center and across the road from Independence Hall so it is smack in the middle of Philadelphia’s Historic District.

The line to see the Liberty Bell is so long that it snakes right out of the gate and onto the street…yikes! I am not prepared to queue in the cold for 2 hours so we leave and hope the lines lessen in a couple of hours. They do not…so we have no pictures of the bell. Boo!

The Bell’s infamous crack is said to be a repair job for a crack after decades of use. When the repair job fails, the Bell is silenced and since then, no living person has ever heard the Bell toll.

This is easily the most popular attraction to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District judging by the snaking line and reservations required for its sight. Maybe one day, I’ll brave the lines and hordes of people to see it. Maybe…

 

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

African-American Museum

This lovely museum is on Arch Street across from the National Constitution Centre and since we have advance tickets, we enter to browse its multi-levels of history and art.

The interactive videos are amazing as they re-enact the lives of enslaved Africans and the free Black population in Philadelphia before and after Emancipation. This is definitely new information to me as I read a lot more of enslaved Africans and their lives in the South than in the North.

 

There is art by African-American artists and I love the symbolic art of the Black woman atop Lady Liberty.

It is an interesting place and I highly recommend this museum to everyone visiting Philadelphia’s Historic District.

 

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

National Constitution Centre

This is across the road from the African American Museum and is a modern building about the history of the U.S. government before and after Independence.

It is very family-friendly with interactive talks, European artifacts, and books of the Founding Fathers preserved over centuries with miniature replicas of the Capitol, White House and other familiar U.S. historic buildings.

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Independence Hall

It is afternoon and time for our free tour of Independence Hall located within old City Hall on Chestnut Street.

We get an orientation by a U.S. Ranger in a replica of Congress after the Revolution, when there were 16 states.

Independence Hall is the oldest capital building in the country still existing where others have lost their structures.

The federal government was located here and the rooms still have original furniture and quill pens of the era.

I highly recommend this free tour of the creation of the United States government as we know it and to think that the Founding Fathers walked the same roads we do in Philadelphia’s Historic District is just…awe inspiring.

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Museum of the American Revolution

This museum is on Chestnut and 3rd Street about three blocks from Independence Hall.

We enter a cinema-like room for a video orientation of the history of America and it is heartening to see history of how she came to be by people that helped build it: Native people & enslaved Africans especially.

After the video, we go through galleries of maps, artifacts and biographies of the main players in the American Revolution.

Do you know that certain Native tribes aligned with the British and some with the rebel army? This discord pit Native tribes against each other throughout the Revolution and for generations.

Also present are the biographies of women, Native Americans and enslaved people who struggled to have their voices heard in the fight for equality and freedom at the time.

In the middle of a room, we spy a giant Liberty tree, a replica of the original elm tree in Boston. Since that era, other colonial towns adopt their own Liberty trees as symbols against British tyranny. This is something to look out for whenever you pass through a colonial town.

This is one museum I highly recommend because it dutifully covers American history and shows how much blood, sweat and tears went into building this nation.

 

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Betsy Ross House

Do you know who Betsy Ross is?

She is a Philadelphia woman credited with making the first American flag despite disputes to this as there is no archival evidence to the fact. She made garrison flags for the Pennsylvania navy and there is a written order for her payment for “making ship’s colours”.

Betsy Ross House is on Arch and 3rd Streets and is said to be where Betsy lived when the first American flag was sewn…but this is also an academic dispute. Her remains were moved and re-interred at the Betsy Ross House in 1975.

On Federal holidays, there are reenactments of women and their roles during the Revolution at Betsy Ross House.

A week before my visit, there were reenactments of women as makers of musket carriers and “patriotic” beverages like chocolate instead of English tea, with pitchers of hot chocolate available for tourists to drink.

 

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Elfreth’s Alley

Elfreth’s Alley is the oldest cobblestone alley in the country with early American structures built between the 1720s and 1830s. It is within Old City and once housed artisans and immigrants continuously until residents began preservation of the alley in the 1930s.

Walking the path, you are forgiven for thinking you fell through time into old English towns of yesteryear. Every home has vibrant doors and windows reminding me of Havana plus I spent my teenage years in England and lived in homes like these, sans the vibrant colours. So nostalgic.

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Seaport

I am keen on visiting the Philadelphia Seaport for its history and refurbishments to accommodate modernity. From what I read, the seaport is similar to the South Street Seaport in downtown Manhattan, with seating and activities and I hope to experience this soon in late spring.

There is a footbridge in Old City – leading to Independence Seaport Museum – but the direct route is closed and I am not keen on exploring further in the bitter cold. Nevertheless, the Philadelphia Seaport is worth the visit in warm months as there are festivals and swan sails on the Delaware River.

There is an Adventure Aquarium present and I notice that street names are identical to those of downtown Manhattan such as Front Street, Dock Street and Pine Street. Very interesting…I wonder how this comes to be.

 

Things to see in Philadelphia’s Historic District

Old City

Old City has cobbled streets, art and ambience harking back to 18th century England with businesses, taverns and a thriving art scene.

Old City has the same European vibe as Montreal and my fingers freeze from snapping street art and historic architecture. This is also where the historic Christ Church and the Arch Street Meeting House are for tours of Philadelphia’s Historic District.

 

Philadelphia’s Historic District does not disappoint at all and I have returned in summer to experience beyond that: Eastern Parkway Penitentiary, One Liberty Plaza roof top, Rocky’s steps and a lot more.

The New Yorker in me inquires about Philly rent and when I hear $850 for a 2-bed, I almost stay back. Lol.

If you live here, please let me know what areas have affordable rent with accessible transit to downtown and activities as I still want a similar New York City atmosphere.

Thank you for reading and please comment and share. See you on the social streets xxx

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