I have wanted to go to Philadelphia ever since my dad went on a trip there and came home with a sweatshirt that read "Philadelphia" on the front and "aihpledalihP" on the back :) The boys had a few days off from school last week, so we took a quick trip out to the keystone state! The boys love the "National Treasure" movies, and have been really interested in seeing Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. It was really fun to be able to show it to them! It was really an amazing place! It was so neat to see the actual rooms where our country really began. There was really a neat feeling there. To walk in the same place as the founders of our country was just an awesome experience. The kids loved the tours, and learned so many great things! The buildings were beautiful!
Our first stop was downtown Philly, and the Liberty Bell. There was a museum that gave all the history of the bell, as well as other events and people during that time. We learned a lot, and Traeden enjoyed asking the tour guide lots of questions. (tour guides love Traeden, because he is not afraid to ask questions and tour guides love to share their knowledge!) Next we went to the Portrait Museum, where there are hundreds of paintings of all the well-know men and women from that time.
We then took a tour of Independence Hall. This is the court room. The fence is the box where defendants would stand while on trial.
The Declaration Room. Wow. The Declaration and the Constitution were signed in this room. Pretty cool.
Congress Hall. This is where the senate used to meet. It is such a beautiful building!
The main congress meeting room in Congress Hall.
On our second day there we headed to Valley Forge. The kids were able to soak up a little more history, and have a lot of fun with their (our) cousins, McKenzie and Peyton!
They were happy to be outside, even though it kept trying to rain on us. Luckily it held off for a little while.
I didn't pose her. She loved standing with her hands like that on the cannon and yelling "FIRE!!!" She is so stinkin cute.
These are the log cabins that the troops built and stayed in for a winter.
The kids had to try it out, get the full experience. They decided they like their own beds better.
We had to let them run a little. They just kept going. They had so much fun! Isn't this a beautiful place this time of year? Wow!
George Washington actually lived in this house. That is amazing to me. I love history stuff, and its kind of fun to try to imagine what went on in this home over 200 years ago. It gets me! To think I have been in a place where George Washington lived, slept, ate dinner with his wife! It's awesome to me!
This monument was built in honor of the soldiers that lived and died here.
What a great trip! We definitely plan on going back, since there is still so much that we didn't see! GIANT thanks to Tim and Toni for letting us stay! What a fun weekend!
