Adventures in Philadelphia – Part One

My love for field trips is in my DNA: My mother Colleen, a PA homeschooler in the 80’s and 90’s, was known as “The Field Trip Lady”. One of my favorite destinations growing up was Historic Philadelphia, where the spirit of American freedom was born—a place where bold ideas took shape and the foundation of our democracy was laid, making it a timeless symbol of liberty and resilience for the entire nation. Join me (and the 4.6 million other yearly visitors) as I return to Independence National Historical Park, and walk down the cobblestone streets of Old City Philadelphia, which served as the nation’s capital in the 1700’s and is where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed. The landmarks you’ll visit today stand as powerful reminders of our nation’s fight for freedom and the shaping of its government.

This tour, from the Visitor Center through the Quaker Meeting House, will take at least 3-4 hours, depending on how much time you spend at each stop. For lunch, plan to pick up an authentic Philly cheesesteak at 214 or 228 Market St! You can also often find food trucks by Elfreth’s Alley. Or bring a picnic lunch and eat in the grassy area of Independence Mall (which is conveniently near the parking garage if you need to grab your packed lunch). The closest (though not cheapest) parking option for Independence Hall is the AutoPark at Independence Mall, an underground garage located directly beneath the Independence Visitor Center. 

Start your day at the Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market St.  Here you’ll want to purchase a National Parks Passport Book. At every US National Park location you visit, your children can ask for a passport stamp. Check the website for the locations in Old City Philadelphia. Also grab a map, visit the restrooms, and pick up Junior Ranger materials for the area. The NPS App is also available to guide you.

Next, follow your map to these locations:

President’s House Site, 6th & Market Streets. Outdoor exhibits about the first executive mansion where Washington and Adams lived before the White House existed. Free.

Liberty Bell Center (This line is often long; you can always return to this later), 526 Market St. Symbol of American independence and the birth of a new nation. The Bible verse inscribed on it helped inspire members of the abolitionist movement: “Proclaim LIBERTY Throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof” (Leviticus 25:10). Free.

Independence Hall (Timed tickets are required; reserve them online the day before. Tickets are FREE with $1 fee), Chestnut St, between 5th & 6^th. The Declaration of Independence (1776) and the U.S. Constitution (1787) were debated and signed here, making it one of the most important landmarks in American history. You’ll be standing in the same room where revolutionary ideas about liberty, government, and individual rights were shaped. Seeing George Washington’s “rising sun” chair and other original artifacts, such as the inkstand used for signing the Declaration, makes history feel real and immediate. (Note: you will have to go through security before entering.)

Congress Hall, next to Independence Hall. Original U.S. Capitol building (1790–1800). Tours included with Independence Hall visit.

Old City Hall, next to Independence Hall. Once served as City Hall for Philadelphia, and was used as the courtroom for the US Supreme Court. This building sits adjacent to the security screening area, but it’s best to visit it prior to entering security. Free, no tickets required.

Second Bank of the United States – Portrait Gallery, 420 Chestnut St. View original portraits of Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin by Charles Willson Peale. Great for connecting art and history. Free.

Carpenter’s Hall, 320 Chestnut St. This is where delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met in 1774 for the First Continental Congress, one of the earliest organized acts of colonial resistance to British rule. A smaller, quieter historical site that provides important context about the lead-up to the Revolution. Free.

Benjamin Franklin Museum & House Site, Entrance at 317 Chestnut Street (in Franklin Court, between 3rd & 4th Streets). This exhibit contains the ghost structure marking the footprint of Franklin’s original home, and his Print Shop & Post Office which demonstrate colonial printing. (If you have younger children I would skip the third site, a museum, as it may be over their heads and also requires a cost. The other two sites are free.)

Christ Church, 20 N American St. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Betsy Ross worshipped here. Beautiful 18th-century architecture. Burial ground nearby where Benjamin Franklin is buried (at 5th and Arch Streets). $.

Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch St. Explore the home where Betsy Ross is said to have sewn the first flag. Costumed guides available. $.

Elfreth’s Alley, Between 2nd & Front, and Arch & Race Streets. Walk the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. For a small fee, you can enter a few preserved homes to see how 18th-century Philadelphians lived, including people who may have interacted with the Founders.

Free Quaker Meeting House, 5th & Arch St. Learn about Quakers who broke from their pacifist tradition to support the Revolution. Betsy Ross was a member. Hear the story of religious conviction and how the Revolution split faith communities. Free.

Also in the Old City district you’ll find the Museum of American Revolution, with a focus on The Road to Independence, the war itself, and post-independence rebuilding and formation of the new nation. It contains a family-friendly discovery center recreating 18^th century environments, especially for ages 5-12. $.

The National Constitution Center is a can’t-miss stop during your Philly adventure! This museum, the only one in the world dedicated exclusively to the US Constitution, contains rare documents (one of the surviving copies of the Bill of Rights and a 1787 printing of the constitution), Signers’ Hall (42 life-size statues of the Founding Fathers), exhibits that focus on Civil War and Reconstruction, the story of We the People, and an immersive journey into the First Amendment, among others. You’ll want to spend several hours here with your older children, while younger ones may become easily bored. The information tries to be politically neutral, though if you find exceptions, they’ll be a great opportunity for discussion with your children. $.

During the warmer days of summer, you’ll cross paths with actors from “Once Upon a Nation”- a Unique attraction that brings history to life around Independence Mall. 13 free storytelling benches dot the Old City landscape, with historical (and hysterical) reenactments from colonial days. Harmony Lane, 4^th and Walnut streets, is a recreation of one of Philadelphia’s first neighborhoods. Here you’ll see costumed characters going about their day — churning butter, hanging laundry and exchanging stories about their lives. Free.

Stay tuned for Part Two, where I share tips for obtaining the most educational benefit from your field trip to Philadelphia and your visits throughout this great nation of ours!