Historical Philadelphia.m4v

The Liberty Bell

The Liberty Bell was first ordered in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House, which is now known as Independence Hall. It is made of mostly copper and tin and weighs roughly about 2,000 pounds. The reason this bell is referred to as the "Liberty Bell" is because of the Bible verse that is carved into it..

"Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the land and unto all the inhabitants thereof" (Levitivus 25:10)

You can also see written on the bell the saying, "By Order of the Assembly of the Province of Pensylvania for the State House in Philada" spelling Pennsylvania wrong because at the time the states name had not been universally adopted yet. You can still see this misspelling on the Constitution.

The Liberty Bell was bought for 100 pounds and when the bell was first tested in 1752, it sustained its first crack. Another bell was ordered and hung in Independece Hall in 1753. It was cast by John Pass and John Stow, whose names are also carved into the bell along with the bible verse.

Before it was given the name we see today, it was called the State House Bell. The term "Liberty Bell" was first used by Abolitionists in the 1830's. But even before it was formally named the Liberty Bell, it was a sybmol of freedom. The new colonists in Philadelphia were very happy about not being under British rule, and the Bell represented their newly found freedom. It was something that Philadelphians treasured then and still do today.




The bell was used for many reasons in the mid to late 18th century and was rung to assemble people together for special announcements and events. Some examples are when Benjamin Franklin left for England to address colonial grievances, the Sugar act in 1764 and the Stamp act in 1765. A common story that today is said to be a myth, is that the bell was rung to summon people for the reading of the Decleration of Independce. Although this was later found to be untrue, the story still shows the symbolisum of freedom.

During the year 1777 the British occupied Philadelphia and out of fear that the bell would be melted and used for cannons, the bell was removed from the city and hidden under a church located in Allentown, PA.

As for the cracks in the new bell, according to National Park Service, "By 1846 a thin crack began to affect the sound of the bell. The bell was repaired and rang for George Washingtons birthday celebration, but the bell cracked again and has not been rung since. No one knows why the bell cracked either times." Today, the cracks remain a mystery and the Bell is located at 501 Market St. for the public to view.


APA Cited:

United States Government, National Park Service (2010). Liberty Bell Center, Retrieved from http://www.nps.gov/inde/liberty-bell-center.htm

Independence Hall Association (1998-2010). The Liberty Bell, Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/libertybell

Blog created by Kelsey Butler and Kathleen Maurone and Group 1 Historical Philadelphia

Photos by Kelsey and Kathleen

Penn's Landing

Penn's Landing

William Penn first traveled up the Delaware River in 1682 on a ship called "Welcome", which docked near a tidewater basin referred to as "The Dock". His vision for the colony that he wanted to create was a place where people of all different religious backgrounds would be able to worship and pray whenever they pleased. When Penn had first arrived, there were only a small number of people living there, including some Swedes, Indians, Dutch, and landowners who were part of what he named his "holy experiment". On this piece of land he had also planned on creating a "tree lined promenade" that would be planted in memory of his dreams as well as the accomplishments that he made. After about 300 years, this dream finally became a reality. In 1967, the city transformed the area into a recreation park alongside the river. They also made walkways, created and amphitheater as well as a World Sculpture Garden, and planted various types of trees.

The Ben Franklin Bridge

There are many different, interesting historical places on the strip of land known as "Penn's Landing", the first being the Ben Franklin Bridge. Along with commercial traffic, there was also a great deal of ferries crossing the Delaware River toward different sections of New Jersey. However, traveling by ferry was inevitably deemed impossible when the Ben Franklin Bridge (in honor of Ben Franklin) was built in the year 1926. It was designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret who painted the entire bridge what was referred to as an "electric blue" color. Some years later, they added a computer-controlled lighting system that would blink on and off very quickly as each train passed by. It was made by the workers of the architectural firm of "Venturi, Scott Brown, and Associates". This bridge is very complex and beautiful, especially at night when the lights are in full glow.

Penn Treaty Park

Long before the Penn Treaty Park had been built, and historic event happened in 1682 between William Penn and the Native Americans. They Meet at this spot located today on North Delaware Avenue along the Delaware River to agree over a treaty of friendship that has been looked back upon in the world as a "universal symbol of religious and civil liberties". Many famous writers have mentioned this legendary spot in their work along with drawings of it being used to promote commercial interest in the emerging land. A large elm tree that once stood at this spot is usually featured in the painting, depicting where Penn and the Native Americans had meet and is presented as a living monument to the event.
In 1810 the famous tree collapsed, and with the public worried that this place would be forgotten, they collected the remaining wood left over from the storm and used it to build reelects reflecting the sight. After 83 years, in 1893 a permanent park was established to recognize the sight. This park is till a happy part of the Native American history and is seen by their people as a "peaceful even along the river." Today this public park is a great place to visit for beautiful views of the Delaware River.

Ride the Ducks Boat Tour

Looking for a great way to tour historical places in Philadelphia like Penns Landing? Ride the Ducks is a fun and interesting way of sightseeing that combines history, musics and entertainment all in one. This one of a kind tour bus is made from an actual boat the drive you through the historical streets of Philadelphia, and then leads you onto the Delaware River off Penns Landing for a river tour. The rides unique experience is the best way to view all of Philadelphia and is perfect for all ages. This guided tour by your very own Boat Captain takes you around some of the best spots in the city including Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross' House and South Street all while telling fun facts and stories of the past and present of Philadelphia. If you're just visiting for the day or, or even the week, make sure to hop aboard the Ride the Ducks boat for an exciting and Historical view of the city of Philadelphia.

Blog Created By Lauren Gardner and Casey Stanert and Group 1 Historical Philadelphia
Pictures taken by Lauren Gardner and Casey Stanert

APA citations:

Independence Hall Association (1995). Penn's Landing. Retrieved from http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_landing.htm

Keyser, S. Charles. Penn's Treaty with the Indians. Philadelphia: David McKay (1882). Retrieved from http://www.penntreatymuseum.org

Philadelphia Ride the Ducks (2006). Experience the Fun. Retrieved from http://www.phillyducks.com

The Underground Railroad in Philadelphia

The term "Underground Railroad", coined in the early 1840's, was used to describe a network of people and places that helped runaway slaves escape the oppression they faced South of the Mason-Dixon. As slaves were harbored from the South to the North, they would stop at various "stations", or safe havens where they could rest during the day before they continued their journey the following night. These were often the homes of free Blacks and Whites alike. The individuals who helped the runaways along their journey came to be known as "conductors", while the slaves themselves were called "passengers".

As you have probably guessed by now, one of the sites that the railroad passed through was non other than historic Philadelphia. Some of these sites included the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Belmont Mansion, where Presidents George Washington and John Adams stayed, as well as the Johnson House and Roadside, home of the prominent abolitionist Lucret Mott.

The Johnson House (right), built in 1768 was home to John Johnson Jr. and his wife Rachel Livezey. The home, which was a wedding gift from John's father, would later become home to John's son Samuel and his wife Jannet in 1805. As Quakers, the Johnsons promoted their anti-slavery beliefs and began to open their doors to slaves traveling the Underground Railroad. "They provided sanctuary, food, clothing, and transportation to untold numbers of African freedom seekers".

Homes such as Roadside, the Johnson House, and the Belmont Mansion, were instrumental in helping African Americans reach the land of the free. Philadelphia natives such as Edward M. Davis, and Robert Purvis risked spending time in jail and thousands of dollars in fines to help right a serious wrong that was prevalent in our young nation. Their display of compassion bettered many lives, and for that they are honored with signs detailing their work throughout the Philadelphia region.

Blog created by Joshua Griffin and Jenna Lee and Group 1 Historical Philadelphia

Works Cited:

Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition; 10/1/2009, p1-1, 1p

Web. 16 Mar. 2010. http://johnsonhhouse.org/

Douglas, F. (1881). Life and Times of Frederick Douglass. Glaucester: Smith, P.

The Eastern State Penitentiary

The Eastern State Penitentiary was the first of its kind. Opening on October 25th, 1829, the penitentiary introduced a new system of incarceration known as the “Pennsylvania System” or “Separate System”. According to this new form, inmates lived in solitary confinement, with the exception of receiving daily visits from the warden. It was believed that environment dictated behavior. Therefore, it was thought that if inmates were confined to a single cell, with limited interaction with others, they would change their ways and become penitent for their actions. Many precautions where taken to keep the prisoners in solitude, some included keeping masks on all the inmates along with feeding doors on their cells and even their own exercise gardens. Whatever was needed to have the least amount of contact.

The Eastern State Penitentiary held many criminals; none more famous then Alphonse “Scarface” Capone. Al Capone served eight months at Eastern State in 1929-1930. He was arrested outside a movie theater for carrying a concealed, unlicensed .38 caliber revolver. The Philadelphia courts gave him the maximum sentence of one year in prison. Capone lived what many other prisoners would consider a luxurious stay while in prison. Al Capone had fine furniture, oriental rugs, oil paintings and a fancy radio all in his cell.

The Penitentiary was seen as a marvel for many other institutions, with extraordinary architectural systems like heated cells, state of the art plumbing and sewage systems. The Prison is thought of as a model, which was used throughout the world. But many people such a Charles Dickens who made visits to the prison believed that the prisoners where being treated very cruelly and that it was “strict and hopeless solitary confinement…”

In 1945, Pennsylvania legislature recommends abandoning Eastern State Penitentiary and with one of the largest riots happening in 1961, plans to close the institution begin. In 1970 the building is closed and since then there have been many ideas for the large abandon historic building now owned by the City of Philadelphia. Today one of its most popular uses occurs every year during the fall as their haunted ghost tours. The Penitentiary also sees more than 10,000 visitors years for its historical tours and you may have also seen its use in the 1995 movie 12 Monkeys with Brad Pitt.

Blog created by Karen Montross and Michael Chamberlain

and Group 1 Historical Philadelphia

Works Cited:

"History Timeline." Eastern State Penitentiary. Ed. Francis X. Dolan.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc., 2007.

Web. 20 Feb. 2010. http://www.easternstate.org

The Ben Franklin Parkway

While venturing through Historical Philadelphia, you will most likely come across the mile long road way that crosses through the city's grid plan starting from City Hall to the Museum of Art. This grand road that connect some of the city's most well known buildings was originally named The Fairmount Parkway, but was changed to The Ben Franklin Parkway in 1937 to honor the city's most celebrated son.

The Development of the parkway was long process that took place during most of the 20th century. And although the construction took longer than hoped, the finished project represented the urban challenges of the "city beautiful movement" that many other American city's were trying to accomplish

Plans for the Parkway first constructed of grander ideas including a new Episcopal Cathedral, along with new campuses for Temple University and The University of Pennsylvania. But a more formal design by Jacgues Greber was used. So now, the parkway you see today is lined with a large amount of scientific, cultural and education institutes including...

The Free Library of Philadelphia

The Free Library of Philadelphia serves as Philadelphia's public library system. Pioneered by Dr. William Pepper in 1891, he cultivated his ideas of a general library free to everyone. The Central Library opened in January of 1927 and with much expansion, today the library houses over six million collection ranging from reading materials to music. In addition, the library's education facility broadens as it offers numerous programs such as the Adult Basic Education Program. The service provides adults with the opportunity to take pre G.E.D and G.E.D courses.

The Benjamin Franklin Institute

Founded by Samuel Vaughan Merric and William H. Keating in 1824 in memory of Benjamin Franklin. The institution commemorates Franklin's desire to learn about science and technology. BY January of 1934, the Franklin Institute Science Museum opened and became one of the first science museums in the United States to focus on projects and exhibitions that incorporated physical interactions in learning the fundamentals of science and technology. By May of 1990, the institution expanded with the addition of the The Mandell Center, The Tuttleman IMAX Theater, and the Musser Theater. The centers tremendously enhanced interactive programs and the viewing of IMAX films. In 2005, one of the most memorable exhibits was featured, called Body Worlds, and this exhibit showcased the complex inner workings of the human body in dramatic poses. The popularity of the event led to Body Worls 2 & the Brain, which discusses the body in addition to new discoveries and teachings about the functioning of the brain. This exhibit led to the first specialized presentation of the brain in Philadelphia.

City Hall

Philadelphia City Hall is used to facilitate many state government functions. The building once stood as the tallest building in the world in the early 1900's, but today, its the fifteenth tallest building in Pennsylvania. The area hosts many festivities such as an event known as Christmas Village in Philadelphia. Running from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve, This event attracted over 100,00 visitors in the past with musical performances, bright lights, and a tree lighting ceremony. Influenced by German Christmas market traditions, this event also gives the city a different cultural experience while celebrating festive holidays. Towards the west side of City Hall is Love Park, which was built during the 1960's and became a popular site for skateboarders. Due to street skateboarder's infatuation with this area, Philadelphia became the only city to host ESPN's X Games for two consecutive years.


The Philadelphia Museum of Art

Located at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, its striking appearance captivates much attention. The museum's preliminary ideas came about during the 1870's when an act from the Pennsylvania State Legislature called for a "memorial Hall." A few years later, the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art collaborated in order to construct a museum of art. Construction began around 1919 and the first section of the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Art opened to the public in 1928. Today, there are over 200 galleries holding over 225,00 pieces of art work. Some of the most notable pieces of art are housed in these galleries. Such as Van Gogh's "Sunflowers," Picasso's "Three Musicians," and the large "Bathers" by Cezanne. The museum's architectural design reflects that of a Greek temple but in large proportions is seen as Roman design.

Logan Circle

At the end of the parkway, in front of the Museum of Art is the large pasture called Logans Circle. In the center of the circle are two promanent statues, one being the Swann Memorial Fountain. Designed by Alexander Stirling in honor of Dr. Wilson Carry Swann, founder of the Philadelphia Fountain Society. The fountain is meant to have Native American figures symbolizing the area's major local waterways: The Delaware River, The Schuylkill River, and Wissahickon Creek.