Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States of America. The declaration of independence was designed, written and signed at Independence Hall. Eleven years later, while the newly formed United States founded, the country has gone from a confederation of independent states to a national government with the drafting of the Constitution in these same sacred rooms. As a result, there are so many historic Philadelphia sites throughout the city.
The symbols of freedom and freedom persist in the old town – from Bell Liberty, to Independence Hall, to the National Constitution Center, to the myriad of museums and historical buildings which are packed in a few blocks of blocks.
With so many things to see, it is easy to spend days wandering from one historic site to another, but families traveling with children may have trouble keeping their interest through all these attractions, so here are some tips for visiting the historic philadelphy with children.
Advice for visiting the historic sites of Philadelphia
1. Take a start early.
There is a lot to see and certain attractions, such as Independence roomrequire timed entry tickets that sell quickly. For example, when we arrived around 11:30 am, we had the chance to get tickets for an entry at 4:00 p.m. If we had been much later, we would have missed the opportunity of the day. Make yourself a favor and make sure you reserve them in advance via Recreation.Gov.
2. Start in the center of independence visitors.
Located in the heart of Historical Philly, the Independence visitors Center will be your attachment base. Independence Hall is a historic national park (do not forget your passport of national park to be buffered), so there is no fee but you will need a ticket to enter the independence room. The visits are made every 15 minutes with timed entry tickets.
In the visitors center, you can also use the toilets, load your phone, listen to discussions on history and learn more about other visits and activities in the region.
3. Visit the Liberty Bell late during the day.
The line to visit the Liberty Bell can be exceptionally long. If your children are not ready to wait from 30 minutes to an hour to see a cracked bell, make it one of the last stops of the day when the line is a little shorter. In addition, you will have the advantage of not taking pictures of the Liberty Bell directly in the sun.
Of course, if you can visit mid-two or a Sunday during the slow season, you will probably find no line.
4. If you are in a hurry, see the back of the Liberty Bell from the outside.
Visiting the Liberty Bell is free, you will only have to wait in a very long line. Once you enter the building, you will go through an self-guided exhibition on the history of the bell before taking a look at the historic bell itself.
Its famous cracked front faces the interior, but if you are in a hurry, the back of the Liberty Bell faces a glass wall and can be easily seen from the outside.
5. Visit the National Constitution Center first.
Unless you have the chance to take early tickets for independence hall, start your tour National Center for Constitution. You will have to buy tickets and receive a timed input, but these are much more easily available and flexible than Independence Hall.
We bought our tickets early, but we ended up visiting after the Liberty Bell and there was no problem. Your visit will start with a performance by “Freedom Rising” in a 360 -degree theater using a live narrator and multimedia. This is a good overview of history around the declaration of independence, revolutionary war and constitution.
This should prepare children for what they will see during the rest of the trip. After this presentation, you can explore the main exhibition, which includes more than 18 hours of equipment in a number of interactive exhibitions very well made. Plan to spend 1.5 to 2 hours here at least.
6. Make sure you include a visit to Independence Hall.
Obtaining tickets for independence hall can be a challenge and the tour itself does not have the whizban interactivity that you will find at the National Constitution Center, but the park rangers do an excellent job to give life to history and instill their passion for history in children.
The real visit only lasts 30 minutes and moves in three rooms so that children do not have too much attention problems. It is worth seeing such an important place in the history of the country.
Just be sure to arrive 30 minutes earlier to pass security, then align in the line of ticket holders (not the waiting line for people with subsequent tickets that hope to get a place.)
7. Do not miss the new Museum of the American Revolution.
Located near Independence Park, the Museum of the American Revolution is exceptional. Through short films, interactive exhibitions and small galleries, the museum does incredible job to tell the story of the war for independence. He addresses things that you have not learned in history class, like the Amerindians who fought in this war (and each war since.)
Even children will appreciate learning history in this context. Be sure to leave at least 1.5 to 2 hours for this museum.
8. See Betsy Ross house from the outside.
If you or your children are also fascinated by Betsy Ross that I was a child, then go for it and visit his house, which has been kept as a historic monument. But if you don’t want to pay the price of the ticket, you can see the outside of the house and a flag of the courtyard.
Inside, the self -guided tour does not take more than 10 minutes, walks through the house to take a look in a few rooms and you can “meet” Betsy in his padding workshop and ask him questions if you wish. In total, there is not much to see.
9. Take a break to eat.
If everyone in your family wants something different, you can also stop Reading terminal marketwhich is like a giant catering area, about five houses.
A little closer, you will find the Catering Hall On the Stock Exchange. We walked a few house pâtés through Washington Square Park for a quieter meal in Talula’s DailyA market / coffee with salads, sandwiches, cheese boards and hot items.
10. Stay nearby.
You will walk, so it will be easier if you book a hotel nearby if you spend the night. There are a number of hotels in the old town region, including Monaco Hotel Just near Independence Hall. I stayed there twice and I loved the style and you absolutely cannot beat the location!
11. Ask the Rangers questions
When at Independence Hall, if you ask a forest guard a question, it will give you a special sales card. Or, if they ask you a question and you answer properly, you will get a commercial card (it may be just for children.) In addition, if you ask a security application agent, you will get a sales card of their special police dog. Try it and tell me how it goes !!
If you have more time … Make a stop US Jewish History National Museum of Weitzman. It is an excellent representation of the complete American Jewish experience.
If you really want your children to get the best party of their visit, you will be well served by presenting an American story and its main actors before leaving for them. If they have not studied revolutionary war at school, here are some books that could help:
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Tamara Gruber is the founder and publisher of We3Travel. Former director of marketing and travel advisor, Tamara is a award -winning and expert travel writer recognized in family trips. Tamara is a member of Satw, Natja, Ifwtwa and Adventure Travel Trade Association, and headquarters to the Board of Directors of the Family Travel Association. She is also the publisher of YourTimeTofly.com and the co-host of the Mavens Travel Podcast Podcast.
