When we were planning our trip, we debated where to be on the 4th of July. We settled on Philly, figuring it would be cool to be where it all started. And it was.
Matthew liked having his own little table for breakfast.
We visited the Liberty Bell again.
Couple of family pictures with the Liberty Bell. I like how you can see Independence Hall peeking through in the background.
Matthew and Rocky.
We visited Ben Franklin's grave in the Christ Church Burial Ground (it is located a few blocks away from Christ Church).
An early epitaph written by Franklin in 1728.
There were other signers of the Declaration buried there as well.
Francis Hopkinson, signer of the Declaration.
George Ross, signer of the Declaration and uncle by marriage of Betsy Ross.
Joseph Hewes, signer of the Declaration.
Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration and physician.
There was a Continental Army camp set up. The kids enjoyed playing some of the games.
Matthew and U playing Shut the Box.
Sarah talking to a lady about different cloth she would use to sew clothes.
Sarah and Megan playing Graces.
Matthew as a soldier.
Typical belongings of a Continental Army soldier.
We headed over to see the parade. There were a lot of police there. This shows them lining the side of the Independence Visitors Center.
This police helicopter was circling during the parade as well.
Enjoying our free lemonade while waiting for the parade to start.
Yeah! It's starting. Some police on motorcycles.
Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin with the Liberty Bell.
Sarah was excited to see Miss America.
Old fire pump.
Story bench. These really were a lot of fun.
Beautiful Asian dancers.
One of the many choral floats.
Star Wars is apparently patriotic.
Kylo Ren gave the kids five.
Green fire truck.
Some famous Philadelphia citizens.
A tiller firetruck. This is the type of truck Matthew sat in the day before.
After the parade, we headed over to the visitor's center for some birthday cake. There was quite the line. Here Betsy Ross is talking to us.
They had over 3000 cupcakes!
Enjoying the celebration.
Examining a cannon.
Playing games.
We toured the Bishop White home. This is his bedroom.
His library. The picture of the library was painted during his lifetime. The room matches the painting.
We visited this story bench again. Here Megan is telling the storyteller her own story.
Megan and Matthew with Martha Washington. Megan delighted Mrs. Washington by showing her a trading card of General George Washington. (The rangers at Independence National Historic Park had trading cards they would give the kids if they answered a question. The kids loved collecting them!)
Walking by the Declaration House.
We intended to go see fireworks but as we walked out of the hotel, it started pouring. So we watched some fireworks on tv, first the ones from Washington DC and then the very delayed ones in Philly.
The morning of the 5th, we went to Washington Square where we saw a statue of General Washington and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War with its eternal flame.
On the advice of a ranger, we walked through a hotel with a really cool fountain....
And the largest Tiffany glass mural. Very cool!
Statue of Benjamin Franklin, a favorite son of Philadelphia and an incredible man who did so many different things!
We bought some soft pretzels to eat on our way out of town. They were delicious!
So many things to see and learn in Philly. What an exciting Independence day.
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