Today we were headed on a history whirlwind which started at the Visitors Center. After checking in and grabbing our tickets, we got junior ranger books and some trading cards. Brayden loved this idea and couldn't wait to answer more questions from park rangers for more!
We walked next over to Franklin Court where we first enjoyed the Ben Franklin Museum. The girls wanted to do a scavenger hunt of sorts so I was paired up with Ryan for most of our exploration. Brayden explored on his own and worked on his Junior Ranger book.
We were all surprised by just how many things Ben Franklin invented or founded like the first public hospital, the fireplace damper, swim fins, the odometer, and the first public library! Ryan and I are thinking about inventing fart glasses so we can see who the culprit is of our family stink bombs.
We were buying post cards in the gift shop when we heard about the first post office that hand-stamps the cancellation of Ben Franklin's signature. The kids grabbed a few more postcards when they heard this! So everyone pay attention to your stamps if you get a post card from Philadelphia!
We learned about his time working a printing press and visited there next to watch 1776-style printing of the Declaration of Independence. By the end of this spot the kids were up to about 10 cards already!
Next we visited the uncovered section of Ben Franklin's tenant house that held all kinds of fun artifacts of the time. We also met up with our park ranger again who gave the kids more trading cards and shared a bunch more knowledge with us. If only all the park rangers could be this much fun!
Our next stop was the Liberty Bell since it is a very popular attraction in the area. The last time we'd been here the line was wrapped around the building so we just peeked in through the glass windows. This time the line wasn't terribly long so as the kids worked on their books we snaked around through security. The exhibit was lengthy so full of information but the kids had one goal in mind so we walked straight through to the bell. I half wished the line would have snaked around the informational displays so I could have read them while we were waiting! Next time.
The kids studied the bell intently trying to find the hairline crack the ranger had told us about that had actually decommissioned it. They also had a few things to complete in their books so we circled it and imagined how loud it would be if we rang it.
There was a fun kids stop Brayden spotted so we enjoyed the air conditioning a little while longer while the kids played. Ryan rang the virtual Liberty Bell to see how it sounded before and after the crack. Brayden played with the toy he tries every time we see it that is just about impossible but he knows he going to get some day. And of course after trying some of the activities, Laney dressed up.
They had a wall where the kids could post what "Liberty" means to them - I like Laney's answer!
Our next stop was a place we all wanted to take Grammie - Reading Terminal Market. We'd been there last time and it was about time for lunch so we walked the 8 blocks sweating away. It felt like Florida this day! We found her a cheese steak and we returned to get By George pizza the kids had enjoyed before. The ranger told us not to miss getting an ice cream at Bassett's so we made sure to stop there as well. This ice cream rivaled all the delicious tastes we'd had in Michigan last year! My raspberry truffle was outstanding!
Rumor had it there was a museum that had the most trading cards so the kids could finish their Philadelphia collection. Brayden asked me 142 times if we could go there. We headed to the Second Bank and had a great tour by one of the rangers who pointed out things to the kids they really enjoyed. It was, as you would imagine, the second bank in America. There was an extensive portrait gallery inside which the ranger told us about and pointed us in the direction to finish a page in the kids' junior ranger books. They asked him for some trading cards and he was surprised they had most of what he had!
Our last stop was the visitor's center to check back in with our favorite ranger and turn in their books. We were supposed to bring her chocolate, but we sacrificed Ryan and told her she'd eaten it. It was obvious with the chocolate drip down the front of her shirt!
She loved to see how many trading cards they had which meant they'd been learning and answering questions all day. After looking through their books and talking to them about their answers, they were sworn in as Independence National Park junior rangers. They were thrilled to get the nice wooden badges this time as well as a Happy Birthday badge for the national park centennial.
We walked through the kids area at the visitors center and of course the kids had to dress up again. While Laney was again a colonial lady, the other two decided to be park rangers.
One of the statues Ryan remembered from our last trip was the Rocky statue outside the art museum. I'm not sure if we did this picture before, but she was excited to see a painted version this time and get a picture!
We hopped in an uber car with Ox who had just returned from living in Orlando so we had a nice conversation about the weather. This was our earliest return to the apartment yet so we relaxed and watched the Olympics as the kids ate through the leftovers in the refrigerator. Ryan and I tried out a new game in the closet that she instantly loved called Labryinth because of the mazes and strategy. We have been so fortunate to be able to relax and spread out in such a wonderful place.
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