Colonial Philadelphia

Get shocked at the Franklin Institute Science Museum, one of the oldest and premier science institutes in the United States. One of the permanent exhibits at the museum is the hands-on Franklin…He’s electric exhibit, which celebrates Franklin’s genius and showcases famous and historical objects like his lightening rod.

The names of its residents alone would be enough to draw anyone to Philadelphia: Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman. Explore "America's most historic square mile" with a local licensed guide and see where the founding myths of America were created. Independence Hall saw the signing of both the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, which was read in public for the first time after the ringing of the Liberty Bell on July 8, 1776. The Bell itself now rests in its own pavilion, where it is rung every Independence Day.

Step back in time and see the house where Betsy Ross, according to legend, sewed the first Stars and Stripes flag. Learn about how this woman was entered into history when three men, including George Washington, asked her to create the official national flag of the United States in 1777.

See the bell that symbolizes one of the founding principles of the United States. The Liberty Bell was last rung on George Washington’s birthday in 1846 before its now-famous crack turned it into a silent reminder of what the United States stands for. Visit the center where the bell is housed; see video presentations and exhibits focusing on its origins, history and modern day role in the US.