The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia

09/23/2024

On this day in history, September 23rd, 1777, the Liberty Bell was removed from Philadelphia and sent to Allentown, Pennsylvania. The British had won the Battle of Brandywine and were marching into Philadelphia to take over the city. Assuming that the British would destroy the bell and melt it down to cast munitions, the Pennsylvania government sent the Liberty Bell out of the city in secrecy and hid the bell beneath the floorboards of an Allentown church.

By this time the Liberty Bell was believed to have already been rung to announce the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. However, there is no evidence that the Liberty Bell was saved due to any historical significance, and it was still referred to as the State House Bell at this time. It was simply a very large, very expensive bell, that the Pennsylvania government did not wish to lose; especially to the British who would likely melt the bell down to cast munitions that could be used against Pennsylvanians on the battlefield. The Liberty Bell was sent out of the city along with 10 other large bells that hung throughout the city.

09/22/2024

Happy First Day of Fall! Fall is a beautiful season in Philadelphia and the perfect time for a ghost tour!

Our Spirits of '76 Ghost Tour guides our guests through the most historic square mile in America and tells the terrifying stories of the ghosts that have been haunting Philadelphia for centuries. We also sneak a little history into the tour as well, considering we love it so much. Tickets for September, October, and even Halloween weekend are available NOW! Get yours today: Spiritsof76.com

09/21/2024

On this day in history in 1737, American Founding Father Francis Hopkinson was born. Hopkinson, among other accomplishments, is credited with designing the American Flag and composing America's first National Anthem.

Learn more about this signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey in our blog: https://buff.ly/3lJ7V4D

Pictured is Hopkinson's portrait in the Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery.

09/19/2024

On this day in history in 1737, American Founding Father Charles Carroll was born.

Carroll was elected to the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, the same day that the assembly approved the Declaration of Independence. While too late to vote for Independence, Carroll did arrive in Philadelphia in time to sign the Declaration on August 2, 1776. Learn more about this patriot from Maryland in our blog: https://buff.ly/3EzcEyi

09/18/2024

On this day in history, September 18th, 1793, George Washington laid the ceremonial cornerstone of the United States Capital Building in Washington, D.C. ⠀

Learn more about the Construction of the United States Capital Building and about the capital's move from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. in our blog: https://buff.ly/3RPWMxM

09/18/2024

On this day in history in 1733, American Founding Father George Reed was born. Read was one of only six people to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Pictured is a statue of George Read (on the right) located inside the . Learn more about this prolific signer from Delaware in our blog: https://buff.ly/39hMHoM

09/18/2024

Happy 237th Birthday to the United States Constitution! The Document was signed by members of the Constitutional Convention in Independence Hall on this day in 1787. To celebrate this historic day, The Constitutional Walking Tour invites students from across America to enter into our essay contest for the chance to win a field trip for your entire class! Learn more here: buff.ly/3DE7Ver

09/16/2024

Attention all students! How would you like to get out of the classroom and explore historic Philadelphia on a field trip? Enter The Constitutional's American Freedom Essay Contest to win a FREE field trip of Historic Philadelphia for you AND your entire class. https://buff.ly/3DE7Ver

09/14/2024

On this day in history in 1742, American Founding Father James Wilson was born. Wilson was one of only six people to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

George Washington named Wilson to be one of the original six justices on the United States Supreme Court. Wilson was also the first law professor at the University of Pennsylvania and is believed to have taught the first Constitutional Law course in 1789, two years after he helped to write the Constitution.

Learn more in our blog: https://buff.ly/3z6Cq9v

09/13/2024

School is back in session! Time to book a field trip on The Constitutional Walking Tour! There are still some fall dates available and its never to early to reserve your date for the spring! Call 215-525-1776 or go https://buff.ly/2HMqkLN

09/11/2024

Attention all teachers! Enter The Constitutional's American Freedom Essay Contest to win a FREE field trip of Historic Philadelphia for your entire class. buff.ly/3DE7Ver

The Constitutional Walking Tour provides an overview of Historic Philadelphia. Sightseeing tour visits more than 20 sites including the Liberty Bell & Independence Hall.

09/11/2024

The Battle of Brandywine, the largest battle in the Revolutionary War, was fought on this day in 1777. General Howe's defeat of George Washington and the Continental Army led to the British Capture of the Philadelphia, then the American capital. Washington attempted to recapture Philadelphia in the Battle of Germantown but another crushing loss led to Washington's long winter at Valley Forge.

09/10/2024

On this day in history in 1736, American Founding Father Carter Braxton was born. Learn more about this signer of the Declaration of Independence from Virginia in our blog: https://buff.ly/3yXvT0D

09/10/2024

On this day in history in 1721, American Founding Father Peyton Randolph was born. The President of the First Continental Congress and the first President of the Second Continental Congress, Randolph was likely destined for a far greater roll in American history had health issues not interceded. Randolph was replaced by John Hancock as the President of the Second Continental Congress and then died shortly afterwards at the age of just 54. Were it not for his untimely death, perhaps today when requesting a signature we'd be asking people for their Peyton Randolph.

Learn more in our blog: https://buff.ly/38VsNzI

Pictured is Randolph's portrait as it hangs in the Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery in Philadelphia.

09/09/2024

Celebrate the upcoming anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on September 17th at the National Constitution Center. Visitors to the museum will receive FREE admission on September 17th!

While checking out the National Constitution Center be sure to also get tickets for the Constitutional Walking Tour! Tours will leave at 10, noon, and 2 and depart from directly in front of the National Constitution Center! Get your tickets now: https://buff.ly/2W9S6ck

09/06/2024

Today is opening day for the 92nd season of our Philadelphia Eagles! The Eagles debuted in 1933 and were named after Franklin D. Roosevelt's National Recovery Administration, the centerpiece of his New Deal Program, which used an eagle as its symbol. In their first season the Eagles played in the Baker Bowl, which was also home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Pictured is a game against the New York Giants at the Baker Bowl from their inaugural 1933 season.

09/06/2024

On this day in history in 1757 American Founding Father, the Marquis de Lafayette was born.

Born into wealthy French family, Lafayette was just 19 when he was inspired by the story of the American Revolution and traveled to Philadelphia to volunteer for the cause.

After Lafayette impressed General George Washington at a meeting in Philadelphia, Washington took him onto his staff as a major general. At the Battle of Brandywine the Americans lost, but Lafayette was heroic in defeat, holding his post even after being shot. Lafayette continued to rise up the ranks and played an important role in the Continental Army until it was decided that Lafayette could better serve the Revolution in another way.

in 1779 Lafayette was sent back to France where he helped to secure further French support. Lafayette eventually returned to America with 6,000 French soldiers who would eventually aid America during the Battle of Yorktown, the decisive victory for America in the Revolutionary War.

Read more about the Marquis de Lafayette in our blog:
https://buff.ly/3BinwRU

Pictured is Lafayette's portrait as it hangs in the Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery.

09/05/2024

On this date, September 5th, in 1774, that the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia at Carpenters' Hall. Delegates from 12 of 13 American Colonies came together to voice opposition to laws the Parliament of Great Britain passed in retaliation to the Boston Tea Party. Over the course of the First Continental Congress the colonists began to unite and think of themselves as Americans for the first time. Today we call Carpenters' Hall the "Birthplace of American Identity."

Check out our blog on this historic meeting: https://buff.ly/2MUbFkV

09/03/2024

The Treaty of Paris is signed on this day in 1783, officially ending the American Revolutionary War! Celebrate your independence by taking the Constitutional Walking Tour and learn more in our blog: https://buff.ly/3tbSZ2f

09/03/2024

Labor Day has passed and you may have started to sense a chill in the air. This can only mean one thing, it's ghost tour season!

Our Spirits of '76 Ghost Tour guides our guests through the most historic square mile in America and tells the terrifying stories of the ghosts that have been haunting Philadelphia for centuries. We also sneak a little history in the tour as well considering we love it so much. Tickets for September, October, and Halloween weekend are available NOW! Get yours today: Spiritsof76.com

09/02/2024

On this day in history in 1766 American Founding Father James Forten was born.

Born into a free African American family in Philadelphia, Forten was educated in Quaker Schools before beginning work as a sailmaker. After his father's death he was his family's primary source of income by age nine. Forten volunteered to serve on a privateer ship serving American in the Revolutionary War when he was just 14 years old. Forten's ship was captured by the British and he was held as a prisoner of war for years.

After finally making his way home after the Revolution, Forten founded a very successful sailmaking company and became one of the most wealthy and powerful African Americans in the country. In the years following the ratification of the Constitution, Forten was a leader who spoke up for those left behind by the Constitution and fought for justice.

Read more about Forten in our blog:
https://buff.ly/3qqjEZn

09/02/2024

Happy Labor Day from The Constitutional Walking Tour! Pictured are members of the Quaker City Drum and Bugle Corps in the 1941 Philadelphia Labor Day Parade.

08/30/2024

It's Back to School season! Contact The Constitutional Walking Tour to set up a field trip and reserve your date today! And don't forget to ask about our scavenger hunts including our Selfie Scavenger Hunt! https://buff.ly/3jrCxYD

08/27/2024

On this day in history, August 27th, in 1776, the Battle of Long Island took place. The crushing defeat for General Washington and the Continental Army was one of the largest setbacks on the road to independence.

Learn more in our blog: https://buff.ly/32s1Gsh

08/26/2024

After being ratified by the requisite three-fourths of the states earlier in August of 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment of the United States was officially certified by the United States Congress on this day in 1920. The official certification of the Nineteenth Amendment was the conclusion of a fight for women's suffrage in America that had lasted nearly a century and cleared the way for American Women to participate in the 1920 Presidential Election which was just over two months away. Pictured are protesting suffragettes in Philadelphia in front of City Hall circa 1917. Photo Credit: Temple University Libraries. ⠀
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Learn more about the women's suffrage movement in our blog: https://buff.ly/3iQWzsc
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