Boomer Travels to Philadephia

Boomer is getting so excited to travel to Italy..  He took a little trip ahead of time to Philadephia while he was getting ready for his big trip.

So while he was in Philadephia he decided to see a few sights that were important to the founding of our country.

Philadelphia was the site of the First Continential Congress and is the place where several important documents were written, negotiated and signed.  

We first visited Independence Hall.  Both Boomer and I were surprised at how small Independence hall was.  When we see pictures, we think its going to be something big like the White House but really it was much smaller than most classrooms. There is a famous picture of this meeting, and it seems so much bigger..

  The men came from 12 of the 13 colonies to write the document, many on their own funds in order to form a new country.  Traveling was much more expensive and hard at the time. It was not just like going to the airport is today, for many it took days to just travel from state to another.  

To read more about Independence Hall you can visit.  http://www.nps.gov/inde/historyculture/places-independencehall.htm.

He also went to go See the Liberty Bell.  The liberty bell is a sign of freedom throughout the world.   While you wait to see the Bell, there is a whole building of art dedicated to the bell. Many famous people who have come to the US for asylum have come to the Liberty Bell to celebrate their freedom.    http://www.nps.gov/inde/liberty-bell-center.htm

The actual Liberty Bell is in a glass atrium where you can walk all the way around.  It does not ring anymore,  because it has a crack in it that developed between 1817 and 1846, its not well documented.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Bell

If you want to learn more about the liberty bell you might check out this site, which is about the liberty bell for kids.   http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/libertybell.html  The National Parks service page also has page especially for kids.  http://www.nps.gov/inde/forkids/index.htm

One thing that I was Sad about is that i did not realize that there was an App for iPads that could be used to learn more while we were there.  Boomer always loves to learn more about things, so next time, I will check to see if there is an app before I go to see the sites.   http://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/app.htm

My Flat Boomer is starting his travels by going with me to AERA 2014 in Philadephia.  he is quite the traveler.. and actually likes the airport. Here he is waiting for our flight to board to Philadelphia.