Hello all,
I ended up getting quite a bit of sleep last night, but the room became so hot at some points that I woke up due to that. There was another girl in my room but she left this morning, and she agreed with me that she wasn't a fan of the hostel either. Ah well, you win some you lose some!
I set off about 9am and passed the first ever bank in America, then headed to the courtyard where Ben Franklin's home used to stand. He owned this home in between 1765 and 1812, today there are steal "ghost house" frames to show where this and his grandson's printing press would have stood.
Ben Franklin was born in Boston in 1706 and was one of 17 children. He ran away after an apprenticeship with his older brother didn't work out. Amongst other things, his brother got annoyed at him because he used to write satirical letters under fake names (like Silence Dogood mentioned in 'National Treasure') and Fart Hing. He stopped in New York on the way but couldn't find a job, so kept going to Philadelphia. He met his wife Deborah on his first day in Philly in 1723 and they married in 1730.
In the museum it quickly became evident to me that Franklin was a very switched on and charismatic person. As well as being one of the men heavily involved in the revolution, declaration etc, Franklin also played multiple musical instruments, made many inventions including bifocal glasses, wrote funny stories, loved playing chess, cofounded the University of Pennsylvania, started the Philadelphia fire brigade and was a rarity of his time when he suggested that children of all races should be educated, even organising a school for African American children in Philadelphia. He was also an avid scientist. He conducted many electrical experiments and had theories about how colds were caused, and how he could use a kite to move along more quickly while floating in the sea. He left school after two years and had failed Maths twice during this time, but started the American Philosophical Society, a group that got together and discussed their theories and read books. It still exists today.
After arriving in Philadelphia and marrying his wife, Franklin started his own printing press business. Through his and his wife's hard work it became quite successful and he published his own newspaper, the Pennsylvania Gazette. This helped him spread his ideas and also maintain connections with important people. He was also asked to print government contracts.
By the age of 42 he had saved enough money to enable him to retire, and instead took up the job of Deputy Postmaster of North America. He went to London from 1757 to 1762 and then again from 1764 to 1775 to try and make the peace with Britain and strike a compromise. He was, however, unsuccessful so came back to Philadelphia to help out with the Continental Congresses and the Declaration of Independence. Sadly, his wife passed away in 1774 whilst he was away.
Franklin's electrical experiments had gained him a reputation in Europe and as a result, he went over to France after the Declaration was signed and America stated their independence in order to try and gain the support, troops and supplies of France. He told France that by joining forces they would help bring about the end of Britain. His love for chess meant he was a good strategist and negotiator, and it must have worked because in 1778 he signed the Treaty of Paris with France, declaring an alliance between France and the USA. He also was one of the signatories of the treaty with Britain in 1783. In 1790 he passed away here in Philadelphia.
The museum was great and had lots of interactive parts, I really enjoyed it. Just outside the museum was a print press shop set up the way that Franklin's would have been. A man in there showed me a demonstration of how the printing would have worked. He made a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
I intended to go to the Betsy Ross House next, but it was closed on Mondays. Betsy Ross is the woman who created the American flag back in 1777 with its stripes and at that time 13 stars to represent the 13 colonies. She lived in this house and was an upholsterer who took to making flags and naval colours during the war. I had a look at the exterior of her house and could see her grave in the front yard.
Then I went to the Christ Church Burial Ground. It is closed in January but luckily for me, Ben Franklin's grave is right near the fence. Due to snow it was completely covered, but I knew which one it was. John Dunlap (the made I spoke of yesterday who made copies of the Declaration) is also buried there. A kind caretaker walked past and told me that this Friday is Ben Franklin's birthday and the cemetery will be open for a special service. Shame I won't be here - oh well!
I passed the US Mint (so ugly!) and then got to Franklin Square. This Square held ammunitions and supplies during the revolutionary war. It looked like a carnival normally happened here, but it was a snowy ghost town today. There was a mini golf course with familiar Philadelphia landmarks, a carousel and more. But by this stage I was getting so cold that my eyes were hurting. It was -8 today!
As a break from the cold I went to the Reading Terminal Market. I stumbled across a beautiful fruit shop and basically just ate bananas, raspberries and apples for lunch. My poor tummy really doesn't cope with the rich, heavy food here so that was all I felt like! But the food all looked and smelled nice. Whilst sitting down and eating I met a couple from the Blue Mountains in NSW who were also Maths teachers. We had a good chat and they gave me a tip to go to the City Hall Building.
So that was where I headed to next! And it was another of those "right place, right time" moments as I just made it for the only tour of the day. I spent the next two hours on a tour of the building and the tower. I was the only non American! The city hall is absolutely beautiful and was built between 1871 and 1901. There are 700 rooms and we visited four - the mayor's reception and conversation rooms, the law library and the city council room. A man named Alexander Caulder created 250 statues for the exterior, one of which is the tallest statue atop a building in the world, a 37 foot tall statue of William Penn that had to be lifted up the top in 40 pieces and put together. After touring the building, we got to go up the top of the tower four at a time where we could appreciate how truly massive this statue is. The view was pretty good, albeit cold!
After the tour I walked up the Ben Franklin Parkway which was lined with the flags of every country in the world (yay Australia!) until I made it to the Art Museum. This is where Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) famously ran up the steps and raised his hands above his head. I got my picture with the statue at the bottom and then I of course had to run to the top. I actually did it twice because I filmed it the second time! Why not - it was a good way to keep warm! It was tricky, but I eventually found an Aussie couple about my age and we got to talking, and we each took a photo for each other of us pulling the Rocky pose. I had to pick someone super trustworthy as you face your back to the photo, I didn't want them running off with my camera!!!
The Art Museum was closed Mondays, but I had other plans anyway. I walked back up the parkway (had a laugh at the dinosaurs wearing scarves and gloves out front of the Natural History Museum!) and sat in Starbucks for a bit, and then met up with Priscilla, a girl I went to high school with who arrived here yesterday and has just started work here on secondment until April. We had a great time chatting and catching up whilst eating our first ever Philly Cheesesteaks. The cheese was very rich but I'm glad I tried it!
I said goodbye to Priscilla and walked home via the Declaration House, where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Now I'm back in the hostel relaxing and packing up, and in the morning I am getting a 7am train to Washington DC. I'm so excited because my friend Maria who I haven't seen for two years is meeting me at the station and has tomorrow off work. I can't wait to see her!
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
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