We’re back in Pennsylvania and we began our Philadelphia story with a visit to the Reading Terminal Market, getting lost in the sights and aromas of the fresh food and produce on offer. Serving Philadelphia since 1893, the Reading Terminal Market is one of America’s oldest and largest public markets. The many and varied retailers include Bassetts Ice Cream, America’s oldest ice cream company.
A Philadelphia company and established in 1861, Bassetts was the first merchant to sign a lease at the Reading Terminal Market in 1892. It stands today in its original place in the market and is a fifth-generation family run business.
Dressed up in almost everything we brought to America in our clothes-for-cold-weather bag, we set out into the sub-zero wind chill factor that descended upon Philadelphia. We had a great day spent exploring the City of Brotherly Love and a just as great evening thawing out in our Airbnb 😂
Betsy Ross House. It is widely believed, though not confirmed, that Betsy Ross designed and sewed the first American flag.Elfreth’s Alley, the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited residential streetCarpenter’s Hall: The First Continental Congress met here in 1774 to air their grievances against Great BritainChrist Church Burial Ground, the resting place of five signers of the Declaration of Independence: Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Hewes, Francis Hopkinson, George Ross, and Dr. Benjamin RushThe grave of Benjamin Franklin and his wife Deborah. The grave is covered in thousands of pennies each year that are left by visitors, somewhat ironically, as a sign of respect to the man who coined the phrase “A penny saved is a penny earned”.Downtown Philadelphia with City Hall on the leftThe Free LibraryPhiladelphia Museum of Art with the steps Rocky made famous in the moviesPennsylvania Hospital. Founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond, Pennsylvania Hospital was the nation’s first established public hospital.The Benjamin Franklin Bridge crosses the Delaware River and connects Philadelphia with Camden, New JerseyLiberty Bell. The inscription reads “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all inhabitants thereof.”
On the advice of locals we found ourselves at Jim’s Steaks in south Philadelphia for our Philly cheesesteak experience. Almost as good as the sandwich itself was watching the ingredients come together by the chef to make the sandwich in under ten seconds.
Jim’s Steaks opened in 1939 in this location on South StreetPhilly cheesesteak
We said goodbye to Philadelphia and headed to Valley Forge to continue our American Revolution history lesson. Valley Forge was the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army. This encampment is considered a major turning point in the Revolution as it was during this time that the Continental Army was reorganized and emerged the following June as a well-disciplined and efficient fighting force against the British. With plenty of historical sites and monuments throughout the park, Valley Forge is well worth the visit.
Muhlenberg Huts: recreated huts depicting where General Muhlenberg‘s soldiers lived in Valley Forge, twenty men to a hutWashington’s Headquarters: the house where Washington and his officers lived and worked, overseeing and making plans for the encampment and the continuation of the war. Up to 25 people lived in the house including his wife Martha who joined him for four months out of the six spent in Valley Forge.Grand Parade: the vast valley at the center of the park where the Continental soldiers trained to work together as a single unit, notably under Baron Friedrich von Steuben. Accordingly, Grand Parade is often referred to as the birthplace of the United States Army as it stands today.National Memorial Arch, dedicated in 1917, is inscribed with the words: “Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery” – Washington at Valley Forge, 16 February 1778Washington Memorial Chapel
From Valley Forge to Lancaster where we are staying for a few nights. We’ve had a fantastic albeit chilly few days but Pennsylvania, we’re not done with you yet!
