U.S. History

I am one of those nerdy people who love to tour historical sites.  I love learning about the events and the people and I particularly like standing in the same spots where significant events have taken place.

This past weekend we were able to wander through some places that are key from a U.S. historical perspective.  We took a tour of Independence Hall where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and ultimately adopted. 

It has been years since I took U.S. history in school.  And to give credit to my teachers, I am sure that I learned all of this but promptly forgot it all.  It was nice to be on the National Park Service tour where we learned the history of the building as well as the history of how the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution came about.

This is the room where both documents were adopted.  The big chair in the back of the picture in the center of the room is where George Washington sat.  Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin were in this room when they debated and amended and debated some more and ultimately adopted a document containing this now famous text:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

This was the place where the United States began...amazing!

On the outside wall of Independence Hall is this great clock.

The detail of the brick leading up to the clock make it look like a grandfather clock.  Do you think we could add this to our house and it would look okay?  Would we have to get approval from our Home Owners Association?

Just across the street is the Liberty Bell. 

Just down the road from the Independence Hall area we ran across Christ Church Burial Ground.  The sign above the gate states it was established in 1719 A.D.  A really old cemetery in addition to great historical sites...score!  I know that cemeteries creep some people out but to me they are wonderful way to learn about different cultures.  How people honor the dead and the rituals associated with them can give you great insight into their communities.

It is interesting to me seeing the different types of headstones and grave markers.  I also like to read the poetry or dedications that are inscribed upon them. Some are just very direct and say...Mary Smith, wife of John...  I also like to see the names from different time periods.

This marker is for Jemima, wife of Henry.  What a great name...Jemima.

By the way, Benjamin Franklin and some other very important people are buried at Christ Church Burial Ground. 

Speaking of Benjamin Franklin...

We ran into each other and had a very interesting discussion...I cannot recall exactly what we were discussing but I was clearly pondering something very profound.