Independence Hall (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

With the choice of either a 5-hour or 10-hour layover in Philadelphia on the way to our honeymoon in Scotland, the 10-hour seemed a much better choice since it would give us time to leave the airport and explore the city a little bit. We chose to do this. Immediately after landing, we grabbed a cab and headed to the area of Independence Hall. While this was my second trip to see the historic site, it was my new wife’s first. The cab ride was uneventful and we were let at the visitor center, where we checked the tour schedule. Acquiring tickets, we realized we had a couple of hours to wait and so walked a few blocks in the area looking for an interesting place to have lunch.

We finally settled on a wonderful little bistro on a nearby street corner. The meal was wonderful, and included an appetizer pizza with four types of cheeses and slices of pear – strange, but delicious. After lunch and a couple of drinks, we made our way back to Independence Hall, taking a moment to view the Liberty Bell through the glass of its display building. We probably would have gone in, but the line was extremely long.

Just across the street lay Independence Hall, the birthplace of the great experiment we all America. Seeing it from across the courtyard, it resembles many other buildings of its ear, but it emits some type of aura that few can. It must be our forefather’s spirits holding vigil over the birthplace of their great labor. Unfortunately, the hall was currently under renovation during this visit. There was scaffolding all around the spire of the building, but the construction team, had carefully placed artistically painted sheets around the scaffolding imitating the structure behind it. It was a nice touch.

Upon entering the building with our tour guide and a few dozen other tourists, we made our way into the two main rooms. The first was the colonial courtroom from when this served as the regional courthouse. It was adorned with original furniture and decorative items, which made it easy to imagine the atmosphere of trials that may have taken place here.

The second room we were lead to by our very knowledgeable tour guide was the Assembly Room, where the magic happened. Just prior to the American Revolution, delegates from the thirteen colonies met in this room to debate an action who’s heart and soul would be captured in the words of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence, which separated the colonies from England and initiated the Revolutionary War. Men such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Hancock and many others sat in this room and debated the very nature of man and the truth of his existence in this world as it relates to his own freedom. They were titans and the work they did here defined a nation. One can’t help but feel the glow emanating from this small room. 

In addition to the first two rooms, we also visited the Governor’s Council Chamber and the Long Room on the second floor of the great hall, and while they are certainly interesting, my mind couldn't help leave the Assembly Room and the amazing discussions that must have taken place there almost a quarter of a millennia ago.

Upon completion of the tour, we thanked our wonderful guide and made our way back to the airport. Time to visit the motherland.