Old City Philadelphia is so chocked full of things to do and amazing history that it's hard to know where to even start - especially if you're only going in for a day trip! Well we've been there, and we recommend asking the people who know Philadelphia's history better than almost anyone: Historic Philadelphia! (Didn't see that coming, right?) Historic Philadelphia is made up specifically of a few of the most interesting things to do and see in Old City - namely The Betsy Ross House and Franklin Square and activities such as the Once Upon a Nation programs and Tippler's Tour Colonial Pub Crawls.
Our absolute favorite part of The Betsy Ross House was meeting Betsy herself. The guides and impersonators in Historic Philadelphia are not messing around with their characters, seamlessly blending modern conversation topics with visitors like ourselves and their early American personalities and knowledge. A small pleasant woman, Betsy Ross reminded us of the fairy godmother from Disney's Cinderella speaking Ye Olde English and making time to meet and greet all ages of visitors as well as give interesting talks in her upholstery shop. When one of the visitors mentioned that he was from Chicago, she immediately exclaimed: "How delightful - all the way from the Ohio Valley in the Northern Frontier!" throwing us all back in time and spreading historical knowledge from that time period. If you only manage to fit a couple of things into your schedule in Historic Philadelphia, make sure that a chat with Betsy Ross is on your list!
The museum itself, located right in the authentic 18th-century home where Betsy Ross lived, is fascinating, teaching visitors about not only the woman who famously committed treason by making the first American flag for General George Washington but also about everyday life during that time period. Some of our favorites moments included comparing an old painting of some very famous historic figures sitting in a parlor discussing the first flag with the actual real parlor right in front of us. Another enjoyable moment was visiting the upholstery shop and hearing Betsy tells us all about her very intricate work including one very recognizable old flag. We also loved the basement of the house with its servant work areas for laundry and cooking. Make sure you look around outside in the courtyard (which is FREE is visit during museum hours) to observe the final resting place of Elizabeth Ross and see if you can discover what animal Betsy was particularly fond of. (The museum is also nice and cool making it a great place to duck into during the heat of the day).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Vacationer Jr says:
The house maintains its historic authenticity with dimensions that only accommodate very winding narrow stairs, so strollers are a no go, but the flights are short and we observed even the smallest visitors slowly tackling the steps without a problem. Park strollers right inside the fence after purchasing your tickets in the museum shop. Older kids will love taking the museum at their own pace with the audio tour while little ones can be engaged in picking out the similarities between a painting on a wall and the room that they are standing in and discovering just what those pots on the bedroom floors were used for. The basement is very interactive with lift and discover little doors that share about common market purchases and what morning beverage you would be drinking depending on if you were a Rebel or a Royalist. One can also try their hand at lifting a 25 lb bucket of water to do the laundry and be reminded of just how grateful they should be for modern technology. The best place for kids in the house is the play kitchen located next to the historical kitchen. The littlest visitors can whip up a turkey pot pie and will most likely have to be coaxed away from the pretend play.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic Philadelphia is also home to one of the most fun public parks in the city: Franklin Square! Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Franklin Square is the only one of the four squares in Center City that feels like a party all day everyday it's open! The maintained carnival-like atmosphere is due largely to the exciting Parx Liberty Carousel. With $3 tickets (2 and under ride FREE), a ride on one of the exotic animals or the hometown racehorse heroes is an absolute must for any visit to Old City. While you're there, take a swing at the Center City themed Philly Mini Golf course with cool Philadelphia landmarks like the Art Museum Steps, Boat House Row, and the Liberty Bell. Franklin Square is also a great spot to relax and take a break from your Philly adventures. Grab a bite to eat from the super tasty SquareBurger (we recommend its namesake Square Burger with a refreshing milkshake) and sit by the beautiful fountain or at a table under the trees.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Vacationer Jr says:
Franklin Square is one of the best places in Philadelphia for kids to blow off some steam and just play. Not only will they be excited to experience the carousel and mini-golf, but they will be able to take advantage of the Square's TWO playgrounds! If you have plans spanning from daytime into evening, then use Franklin Square as a fun break to regroup before moving on to the next activity. If you're just in the city for the day, then make Franklin Square your last stop (being able to remind everyone that they get to ride a carousel and have a milkshake soon helps encourage little ones through less interactive moments of the day).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Once Upon a Nation programs bring Historic Philadelphia to life with free activities and events including the award-winning Storytelling Benches in 12 different locations around Old City. Listen for the marching drum at 2pm and 3pm to take part in musket and marching drills with the Continental Army during their Military Muster. Spend time meeting and learning from History Makers and Founding Fathers such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson behind Independence Hall, at the Free Quaker Meeting House, and other locations for crafting, gaming, and interactive music. New this year, visitors can enjoy the Colonial Kids' Quest Puppet Show twice a day on Saturdays. Check out Historic Philadelphia's Events Schedule for dates, times, and more information.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily Vacationer Jr says:
Believe it or not, kids will have a blast experiencing history first hand! The History Makers are great at chatting and interacting with all ages and really make the past come to life. The talks at the Storytelling Benches are only a quick 5 minutes and are tailored to keep antsy legs and wandering minds interested and engaged. The Military Muster and Colonial Kids' Puppet Show earn many points for teaching loads of historical knowledge under the guise of pure fun. (Expect some kids to be as excited to meet Ben Franklin and George Washington as others are to meet their favorite Disney characters.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Historic Philadelphia keeps things going into the evening with Tippler's Tour Colonial Pub Crawls on Thursdays at 5:30 (21 and over only). The tour changes depending on the time of year with a search for Mr. Franklin in summer with "Ben's Kites & Flights", then gets spooky in autumn for "Ghosts & Toasts", and then takes a festive turn during the holidays during "Yuletide Cheers & Beers". Make your way with guides such as Ben Franklin himself through venues including Salon 41 at The Franklin, National Mechanics, Victoria Freehouse, Independence Visitor Center Cafe, and historical City Tavern as you enjoy tales, toasts, and songs from 18th-century history and tradition. Make your reservations in advance for Thursdays or book a private tour for a group of 20 or more Sundays through Thursdays!
Look for special events at the Betsy Ross House and Franklin Square throughout the year including movie nights and holiday light shows. History, fun, and food, and so much more await you in Historic Philadelphia! So now the question should no longer be where to start exploring Old City, but rather how soon can you get there?
---------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment