The constitutional virtual field trip

Virtual Field Trip of Historic Philadelphia, Where Every Day is Independence Day!™ Follow in the Founding Fathers’ Footsteps and Exercise Your Right to Explore America’s Birthplace

For those who cannot travel to Philadelphia, The Constitutional Walking Tour provides free “Virtual Field Trips" so that you can "walk" in the Founding Fathers' footsteps and learn about the birth of America, including the creation of The Declaration of Independence and The Constitution of the United States, by taking The Constitutional's tour online. The Constitutional’s “virtual field trip” is a great way to celebrate Constitution Day! Above, you’ll see some of the historical figures we’ll meet along our journey today.

The Constitutional Walking Tour tells the dramatic story of the brave men and women who were responsible for creating America. The rest is simply history… Today, on this “virtual trip” to Historic Philadelphia, you will follow in the Founding Fathers' footsteps. The Constitutional takes you on a journey through America's Most Historic Square Mile - the birthplace of our nation. Step back in time to see where The Declaration of Independence and The United States Constitution were created. Following our map, today you will “visit” more than 30 historical sites including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center. If you’re ready, let’s get started!

Welcome to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love! Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn. At that time, Philadelphia was under British rule, and it was the largest city in the Colonies. Philadelphia also served as the capital for the United States from 1790 until 1800. Today, Philadelphia is the 5th largest city in the United States, and the second largest city on the East Coast with a metropolitan area population of approximately 5.8 million people.

Stop 1 - National Constitution Center The National Constitution Center is the first museum in the world devoted to dramatically telling the story of The United States Constitution from Revolutionary times to the present through more than 100 interactive and multimedia exhibits, film, photographs, text, sculpture and artifacts. Be sure to walk through Signers’ Hall with its life-size statues including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Watch Freedom Rising which brings to life the historical context of The Constitution and its impact on our lives today. Take the Presidential Oath-of-Office and vote for your favorite President of all-time.

Stop 2 – Independence Visitor Center Visitors to the Independence Visitor Center will discover a range of services and amenities that provide a warm welcome and all of the information you need to plan your visit to the Philadelphia area including Independence National Historical Park. Get your free timed tour tickets for Independence Hall on the morning of your visit, on a first-come, first-served basis. Throughout the day, you can watch two films: Independence and Choosing Sides. Visit the Independence Store for souvenirs and the Pennsylvania General Store Café for refreshments.

Stop 3 – The Liberty Bell Center As the official bell of the Pennsylvania State House, which is today called Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell rang many times for public announcements. It may have rung on July 8, 1776 to announce the first public reading of The Declaration of Independence. The Liberty Bell, which weighs about 2,000 pounds, was silenced by a crack in 1846. Its inscription reads: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof" - Leviticus XXV, v.10, The Bible . The new Liberty Bell Center features exciting exhibits on the history of this world-famous icon of freedom.

Stop 4 - Independence Hall Independence Hall, the birthplace of America, was built in 1732 as the Pennsylvania State House. Within this hallowed hall, the Second Continental Congress met in May 1775, and The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. Independence Hall is also where the Constitutional Convention met to draft, debate and then sign The United States Constitution on September 17, 1787 .

Stop 5 – Congress Hall Constructed between 1787 and 1789 as the Philadelphia County Court House, Congress Hall served as the United States Capitol, the meeting place of the United States Congress, from 1790 to 1800, when Philadelphia was the Capital of the United States. The House of Representatives met on the main floor, while the Senate assembled upstairs. From its earliest days the Senate thus came to be referred to as the "upper chamber." Among the historic events that took place here were the inaugurations of President George Washington (his second) and President John Adams.

Stop 6 – Old City Hall The United States Supreme Court met here from 1791 until 1800 when the Capital of the United States was moved from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. Early members of the Supreme Court included: John Jay, Chief Justice, 1789 to 1795 and Oliver Ellsworth, Chief Justice, 1796 to 1800.

Stop 7 – Philosophical Hall The American Philosophical Society was founded in 1743 as a home for thinkers about nature, machines, industry and governance. It was founded through the outgrowth of an idea fostered by Benjamin Franklin, and it is the oldest learned society in the United States. Today, the Society continues as an eminent scholarly organization of world-wide reputation, renowned for its excellence in scholarly research and publications, its library, its exhibitions and its international roster of elected members who make up a veritable “Who’s Who” of outstanding individuals in the arts, humanities and the sciences. The Museum in Philosophical Hall presents exhibitions and programs based on the Society’s rich collection of art and artifacts. The museum is free and open to the public.

Stop 8 – Tomb of the Unknown Soldier The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies within Washington Square, one of the five public parks drawn up by William Penn in his 1682 blueprint for Philadelphia. In 1954, the Washington Square Planning Committee decided to erect a memorial that honored both George Washington and an unknown soldier from the Revolutionary War.

Stop 9 – Library Hall The Library Company of Philadelphia, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1731, was housed on the site of Library Hall from 1790 to 1880; the Library Company served as the Library of Congress from 1774 to 1800. In the 1880s, the Library Company moved to 1314 Locust Street, and the original Library Hall was then demolished. In the 1950s, a reproduction of Library Hall was constructed on its original site. Today, Library Hall houses some of the American Philosophical Society’s collections, and the Library Company still functions as a prominent research library on Locust Street.

Stop 10 – Second Bank of the United States Completed in 1824, the Second Bank of the United States is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture, modeled on the Parthenon in Greece. The Second Bank was designed by William Strickland who was known as the "city architect" because he created a large number of Philadelphia’s public buildings. The Second Bank was incorporated in 1816, and it was one of the most influential financial institutions in the world until 1832. Today, the building houses a collection of late 18th and early 19th Century portraits.

Stop 11 – Todd House Built in 1775, the Todd House was occupied from 1791 to 1793 by lawyer John Todd, and his wife Dolley Payne. Todd died during the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. Following her husband’s death, Dolley married James Madison, who later became the fourth President of the United States.

Stop 12 – Bishop White House The Reverend Dr. William White, rector of Christ Church and St. Peter’s Church as well as the first Episcopal Bishop of Pennsylvania, lived in this house from the time it was built in 1787 until his death in 1836.

Stop 13 – Polish American Cultural Center Museum The Polish American Cultural Center Museum features exhibits on Polish history and culture, including a pictorial display of "Great Men and Women of Poland." Some of the notable people featured in the exhibit from Colonial and Revolutionary times are Thaddeus Kosciuszko, one of the 18th Century's greatest champions of American and Polish freedom, and Casimir Pulaski, "Father of the American Cavalry."

Stop 14 – Merchants’ Exchange The Merchants’ Exchange, designed by William Strickland in 1831, is the oldest stock exchange building in the United States. During President Andrew Jackson’s first term in office, Philadelphia, along with the rest of America, was in the midst of an economic boom, and the building was a hub for financial and commercial activities.

Stop 15 – City Tavern The City Tavern is a reconstruction of the tavern where delegates of the First and Second Continental Congresses met, as well as where delegates of the Constitutional Convention met. The City Tavern played host to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. Today, the restaurant serves lunch and dinner, and it offers visitors the chance to enjoy a taste of the past.

Stop 16 – The First Bank of the United States The First Bank of the United States was chartered by Congress and President Washington in 1791 under the direction of the Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton. Architecturally, the First Bank of the United States building won wide acclaim upon its completion in 1797, and it is believed to be one of the first examples of Classical monumental design. The constitutionality of the First Bank of the United States sparked the first great debate between "strict constructionalists" and "loose constructionalists" regarding the interpretation of The United States Constitution.

Stop 17 – Carpenters’ Hall Carpenters' Hall was built in 1770. The First Continental Congress met at Carpenters' Hall in September 1774 to draw up a Declaration of Rights and Grievances and an appeal to King George III. This was in response to the Colonies' outrage towards the British Parliament over punishing Massachusetts for the Boston Tea Party. During the Revolutionary War, Carpenters' Hall served as a hospital and an arsenal for American forces. It was here at Carpenters' Hall during the First Continental Congress that Patrick Henry stated, "The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian but an American."

Stop 18 – New Hall Military Museum The New Hall Military Museum is devoted to interpreting the role of the military in early American history. This building is a reconstruction of the one built by the Carpenters' Company in 1791, and it originally housed the office of the first Secretary of War, Henry Knox, and his staff. The building currently houses exhibits highlighting the origins of the United States Army, Marine Corps and Navy with displays featuring weapons, uniforms, battle flags and more.

Stop 19 – National Liberty Museum The National Liberty Museum was created to help combat America's growing problem with violence and bigotry by celebrating our nation's heritage of freedom and the wonderful diverse society it has produced.

Stop 20 – Franklin Court Benjamin Franklin, one of America's Founding Fathers, was a very accomplished author, diplomat, inventor, philanthropist, political pundit, printer, statesman and scientist during his 84-year life. Franklin's house once stood in Franklin Court, however it was razed in 1812. Today, the Robert Venturi-designed "Ghost House" stands depicting the frame of Franklin's home. Below Franklin Court is a museum which is filled with paintings, objects and inventions; the museum also continuously shows The Real Ben Franklin movie.

Stop 21 – B. Free Franklin Post Office & Museum B. Free Franklin Post Office & Museum is the only Colonial-themed post office operated by the United States Postal Service. It is a living portrayal of a bygone Colonial lifestyle, and it is the only active post office in the United States that does not fly the American flag (because there was not yet one in 1775 when Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster General). The postmark "B. Free Franklin" is still used to cancel stamps. The museum on the second floor features displays of postal history and memorabilia.

Stop 22 – Christ Church Often called the "Nation's Church," this Episcopalian church has been an active parish since 1695, and it is where Benjamin Franklin, Absalom Jones, Robert Morris, Betsy Ross, Benjamin Rush and George Washington worshipped. It was the first parish of the Church of England (Anglican) in Pennsylvania. It is also the church where the American Episcopal Church was born. The steeple, financed by a lottery organized by Franklin, was the tallest structure in the Colonies for 83 years.

Stop 23 – Elfreth’s Alley Named for blacksmith Jeremiah Elfreth, Elfreth's Alley, with its 33 houses, is the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, since 1713. Elfreth's Alley includes a museum about the living history of the Alley.

Stop 24 – Betsy Ross House The Betsy Ross House, a row home built in 1740, has been restored to about the year 1777, and it commemorates Betsy Ross' legend and history. In 1777, Ross was commissioned by George Washington to create the first American Flag. Although no official records exist to prove the story of Ross creating the legendary "Stars and Stripes," the descendants of Ross have passed her story down from generation to generation, which detailed Ross' role as a national matriarch and the feminine face of the American Revolution.

Stop 25 – Arch Street Friends Meeting House Built in 1804 on land that William Penn gave to the Quakers in 1693, the Arch Street Friends Meeting House is the oldest Friends Meeting House still in use in Philadelphia, and it is the largest in the world. The Society of Friends grew out of the teachings of George Fox in 17th Century England. Penn, a disciple of Fox, founded Philadelphia as a haven for his persecuted co-religionists. Penn's "Holy Experiment" was to build a society according to Quaker ideals: the absolute right of conscience, the equality of man and nonviolence.

Stop 26 – Christ Church Burial Ground Christ Church Burial Ground is one of America's most interesting graveyards from the Colonial and Revolutionary Eras; the burial ground has 1,400 markers on two acres. The graveyard is the final resting place for some of America's most prominent leaders including Benjamin Franklin and four other signers of The Declaration of Independence.

Stop 27 – National Museum of American Jewish History The National Museum of American Jewish History's mission is to present educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore and celebrate the history of Jews in America. The museum's purpose is to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire.

Stop 28 – Congregation Mikveh Israel Congregation Mikveh Israel was founded 1740, and it is the second oldest synagogue in the United States. Notable members from the Colonial and Revolutionary Eras included: Haym Solomon, one of the financiers of the American Revolution; Nathan Levy, whose ship, the Myrtilla, transported the Liberty Bell to America; and Rebecca Gratz, philanthropist and founder of the first Hebrew Sunday School.

Stop 29 – The Bourse Building The Bourse Building, opened in 1895, was the first Commodities Exchange in the United States. The Bourse Building was the first in the world to simultaneously house a stock exchange, maritime exchange and grain-trading center. Be sure to visit The Bourse's souvenir shops and food court, which serves everything from cappuccino to world-famous Philadelphia cheesesteaks.

Stop 30 – Signers’ Walk Signers' Walk provides a tribute to 56 members of the Continental Congress who risked their lives, reputations and fortunes by signing The Declaration of Independence.

Stop 31 – Atwater Kent Museum The Atwater Kent Museum is Philadelphia's official history museum which tells Philadelphia's 300-year story. The museum features a collection of more than 80,000 objects as well as exhibits, educational programs and family activities.

Stop 32 – Declaration House (Graff House) Declaration House, or Graff House as it is also referred to, is on the site where Thomas Jefferson lived when he wrote The Declaration of Independence, appealing to the natural principles of justice and equality. Be sure to request to watch the free 10 minute movie entitled Portrait of a Patriot which tells the story of Jefferson and the writing of The Declaration of Independence.

Stop 33 – The African American Museum in Philadelphia Founded in 1976, The African American Museum in Philadelphia is dedicated to collecting, preserving and interpreting the material and intellectual culture of African Americans in Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Americas. The Museum is also a proud affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

If you plan to visit Philadelphia in-person, The Constitutional offers Field Trips and Group Tours year-round. Please visit www.TheConstitutional.com/schools . To view The Constitutional’s Interactive Map to complement your Virtual Field Trip, visit www.TheConstitutional.com/map . For more information on The Constitutional’s Constitution Day programming and educational resources , visit www.TheConstitutional.com/constitutionday . For more information on The Constitutional’s Constitution Day educational materials and merchandise , visit our online store at www.TheConstitutional.com /store . For more information on The Constitutional Walking Tour, please contact our Education Department at: info@TheConstitutional.com or 215.525.1776. Thank you for taking The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia’s Virtual Field Trip to Historic Philadelphia.

The constitutional virtual field trip

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The constitutional virtual field trip