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Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania
In 1681, England's King Charles II granted the son of Admiral Sir William Penn a charter for the land that would become Pennsylvania — "Penn's Woods" in Latin — as repayment for a £16,000 loan.  The younger William Penn founded his colony on the principle of political and religious freedom, as a place where dissenters such as himself — a member of the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers — could practice their faiths freely.
A number of battles were fought in Pennsylvania during the Revolutionary War, and General George Washington billeted the Continental Army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-78.  Pennsylvania also witnessed military action during the Whisky Rebellion (1794), and again during Civil War, culminating with the epic Battle of Gettysburg in 1863.
Nowadays, the "Keystone State" — so called for its central position among the original 13 colonies — is the 6th most populous state.

Philadelphia
Philadelphia holds an illustrious place in American history.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted here by the Second Continental Congress on July 4th, 1776.

The following year, Congress drew up the Articles of Confederation for the new United States.

 The US Post Office features the Liberty Bell on its 2007 "Forever Stamp"

A Federal Convention was assembled here in 1787 to draft the current U.S. Constitution.

Philadelphia twice served as the new nation's capital — from 1776 to 1783, and again from 1790 to 1800.
View of Colonial-era Independence Hall, with the modern Philadelphia skyline America's first president stands in front of the building where he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775 The Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and Constitution were all drafted in Independence Hall
Constructed between 1732 and 1756, Independence Hall was originally the Pennsylvania State House Founded in 1682, the "City of Brotherly Love" was laid out according to William Penn's plan. Built in 1787-89 as the county court house, Congress Hall was home to Congress from 1790-1800
  Demolished to make room for the 10-story Drexel Building, Library Hall (1790) was rebuilt in the 1950s  
Robert Morris, "financer of the Revolution", stands in front of the Second Bank of the United States Laura photgraphing Carpenters' Hall, which hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 By the late 18th century, Philadelphia had grown to be the largest city in America. Built in 1727, Christ Church was the tallest building in America for nearly a century George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, & Betsy Ross regularly worshiped at Christ Church, the first Anglican parish in Pennsylvania
Laura in front of the Second Bank of the United States (1819-24)
The Liberty Bell Center, across the street from Independence Hall, is home to the former Pennsylvania State House bell The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in 1774 to formulate a colonial response to Parliament's "Intolerable Acts". Getting a photo of the Liberty Bell is not as easy as it looks ...
The National Constitution Center was opened on Independence Mall in 2003 Inside the interactive National Constitution Center
"Ghost structure" in Franklin Court, where the house of Benjamin Frankin once stood  The Second Continental Congress directed the war for independence from Philadelphia from 1775 to 1781 — with brief recesses to Baltimore (1776-77) and York, PA (1777-78) whenever British troops approached the city. Monument to Benjamin Franklin, across the street from the square which bears his name
  Betsy Ross was supposedly commissioned by George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross to create the first flag  
Home of Betsy Ross, credited by many with sewing the first "stars and stripes" Grave of Benjamin & Deborah Frankiln, in Christ Church Burial Ground
Craig takes a break behind Independence Hall   Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution, in Washington Square   Craig in Washington Square, one of five main squares in the original city plan
Philadelphia again served as U.S. capital while Washington, DC was under construction.
In the meantime, the Pennsylvania state capital moved to Lancaster in 1799.
Old St. Mary's Church was the first Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Philadelphia Philadelphia remained the second-largest city in America until the end of the 19th century, and it is still among the top five largest cities. Old Pine Street Church (1768) is the only pre-Revolutionary Presbyterian structure still standing in Philadelphia
 

 

 Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church rests upon the oldest parcel of land continuously owned by African-Americans  
Philadelphia boasts professional teams in all four major sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL). However, no Philly franchise has won a national championship since 1983.
The spire of St. Peter's Church was designed in 1842 Built in 1761, St. Peter's was founded by congregants from Christ Church parish Nicholas Biddle, Charles Willson Peale, and Commodore Stephen Decatur are buried in the St. Peter's graveyard
  Built by Henry Hill in 1786, this house is named for a later owner, Philip Syng Physick, "Father of American Surgery"  
Row houses along Sixth Street More row houses along Fourth Street
Some blame this losing streak on the "curse of Billie Penn", ever since downtown skyscrapers were erected which overshadow Pennsylvania's founder atop City Hall — long Philadelphia's tallest building.
Ironically, the city's most famous sports legend may be the fictional Rocky Balboa. South Street offers an eclectic mix of boutiques, bars & restaurants His statue stands next to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Laura at Jim's Steaks, on South Street Jim's Steaks on South Street is famous for its cheesesteaks

Other Philadelphia Links:
  • Independence National Historic Park: Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Old City Hall, Second Bank, Carpenters' Hall, Franklin Court, Christ Church, Washington Square, Liberty Bell Center, National Constitution Center, and more

This page was first published 4 July 2007, and last updated 21 June 2007