Philadelphia

Philadelphia translated from the Greek means 'City of Brotherly Love'. This was the aim of William Penn when he made it the capital of his new territory in 1682. Significantly, he laid his new town out on a grid system, one which became a blueprint for many other US cities to follow. Philadelphia was once the second largest city of the British Empire. As home to Ben Franklin and others it was at the heart of revolutionary thinking and was capital of the new nation until 1790 when it was superseded by Washington DC. By the 19th century, New York had supplanted Philadelphia as the countries leading cultural and economic centre and it was down hill from here until the 1970's when regeneration began.

Philadelphia now is an ethnically diverse city, which offers a unique experience to the traveller from both its contemporary atmosphere and its cultural heritage.

Where to Go and What to See

Independence Hall National Park

The area of the city that most visitors make a beeline for. This has been dubbed Americas 'most historic square mile' and it certainly makes a fair claim to that title. The buildings which make up the district are of the traditional redbrick Georgian style of the period.

The Independence Hall is where delegates from the 13 colonies met to sign and proclaim the Declaration of Independence. The Liberty Bell was housed here originally. The bell was tolled at the declaration of independence and its symbolic value was later increased when it was adopted by abolitionists. They seized on its inscription 'Proclaim liberty throughout the land, to all the inhabitants thereof' in support of their anti slavery views. It was moved to its present site, a somewhat austere pavilion, in 1976.

Ben Franklin is celebrated in Franklin Court an underground museum on the site of his original house.

Other sites in the park and nearby include the Betsy Ross House (she is the lady who allegedly made the first Stars and Stripes Flag) and Library Hall, which contains a copy of the Declaration of Independence, hand written by Jefferson. Also worth a look there is Congress Hall where members of the first US congress met, there is also the First Bank of the United States which was set up in 1797 to give the new nation a standard, universal currency. Many of the sites in this district get very crowded so it is a good idea to arrive early. If one place is crowded though it is a good area just to stroll around and slowly explore.

African American Museum in Philadelphia

Many American cities have such museums but this is one of the best. Due to the Quaker influence, slavery had never been significant in Philadelphia; the city therefore became a magnet for runaway slaves. After the war, the booming economy again made it an attractive place for the disenfranchised from the south to come and seek their fortunes. Philadelphia was the first city to elect a black mayor and the majority of the population is black. All of this adds resonance to the superb exhibits in this museum.

Not on a Diet? Then try one of these!!

This local delicacy is a must for any visitors. Take a warm soft roll, add thinly sliced roast beef and fried onion all topped off with squidgy melted cheese for a South 'Philly Cheesesteak. Dee-licious. Never mind the diet, try one anyway.

Mutter Museum

The only thing that may put you off your cheesesteak! This museum is a curiosity only for those with a strong constitution. It is devoted to medical oddities of all sorts from a collection of replica skin infections to syphilitic skulls and many skeletons.

Those with a fascination for such things may also enjoy the Edgar Allen Poe Historical Site. This is a small museum devoted to the works of the original master of the macabre.

Fairmount Park

At 900 acres, this is one of the world's largest city parks with great opportunities for cyclists and joggers. The park also contains a number of early American mansions, all of which are open to the public. Philadelphia zoo, the countries oldest, is also in the park and has recently been updated to accommodate modern thinking on wild animals in captivity.

Near to the park are a number of museums. One of these (Philadelphia Museum of Art) features famously in the film 'Rocky'. Not that Mr Bilboa dropped in to view the collections of Renaissance or Impressionist art or the exhibits of Shaker furniture or Pennsylvania Dutch crafts. No, he ran up the majestic, Greek temple style, steps.

Other museums in the vicinity include the Franklin Institute Science Museum. Apart from sections devoted to the great mans scientific works this museum pioneered the hands on style so common in science museums at the moment. Catch the world of the dinosaur at the Academy of Natural Sciences.

Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology

Reckoned to be one of the finest museums of this sort in the world it is part of the University of Pennsylvania. Contained within are exhibits from across the globe and down through the ages.

Food, Drink and a Place to Sleep

Accommodation in hotels downtown can be costly as can graduation week anywhere in the city. Many hotels offer weekend deals. The ethnic mix of the city guarantees a wide range of excellent places to eat. There is cuisine to suit all tastes and budgets. There are many decent clubs and live music venues across the city.