Saturday in Philadelphia

We started the day taking the bus tour of Philadelphia.  The two most exciting things on the tour of Philadelphia were a tomb and steps - Ben Franklin's tomb and Rocky's steps (at the art museum -- from the Rocky movie).  No, there was a third.  An old firehouse, that was the original firehouse on the continent... an idea of Ben Franklin's.  It was interesting to see how many inventions were his. 

Maria did get a picture of the Love sign from Love Park.  I guess that traces it roots back to that park and the artist that created it - Robert Indiana.  Then we ate lunch in the Philadelphia Borse (what's a Borse?).  Then we toured Independence Hall and Congress Hall.  It was exciting to hear that the Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain on July 2 - 235 years ago today.  The final wording of the Declaration was accepted July 4. The document was signed over the course of the next few months.  Maria commented that she had heard everything that the Park Ranger told her today.  But it sounded a lot more interesting here, than from her history teacher. She was excited to see the rising sun on the back the chair that George Washington used when he led the Second Continental Congress to draft the Constitution. Bob was impressed how much it did look like the movie set from "1776".

We got to sit in the House of Congress on the first floor

 

and view the Senate on the second floor.  

The Senate was on the second floor, thus they are the upper house of Congress, and the House of Representatives was on the first floor - thus the lower house of Congress.


Last, we stopped by and looked at the Liberty Bell.