Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA

This is where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted. The lowest chamber of the original wooden steeple was the first home of the Liberty Bell. When that steeple was removed in the 1780s the bell was lowered into the highest chamber of the brick tower, where it remained until the 1850s.

Their web site is here and their wikipedia page is here.

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Liberty Bell, Philadelphia, PA

The Liberty Bell was initially placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House (now renamed Independence Hall) in 1752. Bells were rung to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776, and while there is no contemporary account of the Liberty Bell ringing, most historians believe it was one of the bells rung. It acquired its distinctive large crack sometime in the early 19th century - a widespread story claims it cracked while ringing after the death of Chief Justice John Marshall in 1835.

When I visited Philadelphia in the 1980s the Liberty Bell was in an open plaza. Now it is housed in Liberty Bell Center and you can actually get much closer to it now.

Their web site is here and their wikipedia page is here.

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Ben Franklin's Grave, Philadelphia, PA

Ben Franklin's Grave is in Christ Church Burial Ground. This is one of America’s most interesting Colonial and Revolution-era graveyards, with 1,400 markers on two acres right in the heart of Philadelphia. In 1719, Christ Church purchased two acres of land on the outskirts of town at the corner of 5th and Arch Streets.

When Benjamin Franklin died in 1790, he was buried in his family plot in the north west corner of the burial ground along with his wife Deborah and their two children Francis and Sarah. In 1858, Franklin's descendants requested that an opening be placed in the brick wall so the public could see Franklin's grave day or night, and a metal fence was installed. After the opening in the wall it was much easier for Franklin's many fans to show their respect and remembrance of him by tossing a penny onto his grave. "A penny saved is a penny earned."

Their web site is here and their wikipedia page is here.

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Betsy Ross' House, Philadelphia, PA

This is where Betsy Ross purportedly lived when legend says she made the first American Flag. Although the house is one of the most visited tourist sites in Philadelphia, the claim that Ross once lived there, and that she designed and sewed the first American flag are considered apocryphal. Regardless of the provenance of this site it is worth visiting.

Their web site is here and their wikipedia page is here.

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PS. There's a fringe benefit to visiting Betsy Ross' House. The Real World Philadelphia was filmed next door.

United Nations, New York, NY

The United Nations is headquartered in New York City. The day we drove by there they weren't in session so the national flags weren't displayed.

Their web site is here and the wikipedia article is here.

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Washington Square, New York, NY

Washington Square is a park in Greenwich Village. While much smaller that Central Park it is still a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of NYC.

The Washington Square Arch was built in 1892 to celebrate the centennial of George Washington's inauguration as President of the United States in 1789 and forms the grand southern terminus of Fifth Avenue.

The view to the south is of the new World Trade Center.

Their web site is here and the wikipedia article is here.

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Serendipity III, New York, NY

Serendipity III is a restaurant located at 225 East 60th Street, between Second and Third avenues in New York City. The restaurant has been the scene of several films, including the 2001 romantic comedy Serendipity.

The restaurant offers a full menu but is well known for its foot-long hot dogs and frozen drinks, particularly its trademark "Frrrozen Hot chocolate". The restaurant has constantly been ranked as a favorite among Manhattanites, tourists, and celebrities.

Their web site is here and the wikipedia article is here.

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Times Square, New York, NY

Times Square is an American icon.

There web site is here and the wikipedia article is here.

The picture below is of the ball that drops on New Year's Eve.

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Cleopatra's Needle, New York, NY

In my previous post on Cleopatra's Needles I had only seen two of them. Now I've completed the trifecta.

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