The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia

01/20/2025

On this day in history in 1734, American Founding Father Robert Morris was born.

An immigrant from Liverpool, England, Morris is one of only two people to have signed all three of America's major foundational documents, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution.

Morris also created a bank and loaned America significant sums of his own money to stabilize the American economy during the Revolutionary War and purchase vital supplies for the Continental Army. Due to this, he has been dubbed the "Financier of the American Revolution."

You can read more about Morris in our blog: https://buff.ly/3tQu1Yu

Pictured is a statue of Robert Morris that stands behind the Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia.
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01/20/2025

On this day in history in 1732, American Founding Father Richard Henry Lee was born.

Lee was the first person to formally propose independence to the Second Continental Congress of America in June of 1776. Lee's resolution began as follows:

"Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."

Less than a month later, Lee's Resolution was approved and America declared its independence from Britain.

You can learn more about Lee in our blog: https://buff.ly/3pnmBYu

Pictured is Lee's portrait as it hangs in the Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery in Philadelphia.
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01/20/2025

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day from all of us at The Constitutional Walking Tour.

Pictured is King in Philadelphia in 1965 fighting against racism and inequality just as he did throughout his life and across this country. King is speaking at Girard College which remained segregated and only accepted white students at the time of his speech. Joining local civil rights leaders like Cecil B. Moore, King pushed for an end to segregation at Girard College. Legal challenges against Girard College's practices were ultimately successful and the school was integrated in 1968.

01/17/2025

Happy 319th birthday to our favorite adopted Philadelphian, Benjamin Franklin!

On this day in 1706, Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts. After traveling to Philadelphia as a teenager Franklin found success working as a printer, a scientist and a philanthropist. He started the city's (and the nation's) first Public Lending Library, Scholarly Society, Volunteer Fire Department, Fire Insurance Company, Public Hospital, and University. He was also among the most important figures in the founding of this nation, signing the Declaration of Independence, Treaty of Paris, and United States Constitution.

Pictured is the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

To learn more about Franklin's incredible life, check out our blog: https://buff.ly/3fB2rWQ

01/16/2025

On this day in history in 1716, American Founding Father Philip Livingston was born. A prominent New Yorker, Livingston represented the state in the First and Second Continental Congresses in Philadelphia.

Due to confusion over whether or not their state government had given them the authority to declare independence, Livingston joined the rest of the New York delegation in abstaining in the historic vote for independence, but a month later, the confusion resolved, Livingston was among those who signed the Declaration of Independence. At 60 years old, Livingston was among the oldest signers of the document.

You can learn more about Livingston in our blog: https://buff.ly/3fvXqim
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01/15/2025

On this day in history in 1735, American Founding Father William Whipple was born. Whipple represented New Hampshire at the Second Continental Congress of America and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Whipple remained in Congress until 1777 before returning New Hampshire to take command of four New Hampshire militia regiments. Whipple was a hero of the Battle of Saratoga, the first major victory for the Americans in the Revolutionary War and a significant turning point in the war.

You can learn more about Whipple in our blog: https://buff.ly/3np9lmH
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01/11/2025

On this day in history in 1757, American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton was born. Hamilton attended King's College in New York City, (now Columbia University) before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War led to Hamilton leaving college and joining the New York Militia. From there, Hamilton rose through the ranks and eventually became General George Washington's aide-de-camp before becoming one of America's most important early politicians.

Though you may not get the impression if you're one of the many who has seen "Hamilton - The Musical," where any mention of Philadelphia is conspicuously absent, many of the most important events of Hamilton's life took place in the city of Philadelphia, including his signing of the Constitution and most of his time as the Secretary of the Treasury.

Pictured is Hamilton's portrait that hangs in the Second Bank of the United States in Philadelphia. To learn more about Hamilton and his time in Philadelphia, head to our blog: https://buff.ly/3hUTd8d
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01/10/2025

On this day in history in 1744, American Founding Father Thomas Mifflin was born in Philadelphia. A graduate of the College of Philadelphia, (now the University of Pennsylvania) Mifflin was a member of the First and Second Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, where he signed the Constitution of the United States.

Mifflin did not have the opportunity to vote for Independence as after George Washington was named General of the newly formed Continental Army, Washington named Mifflin a major and Mifflin accompanied Washington and his army north. Mifflin would go on to serve as Washington's aide-de-camp and rose to the rank of major general.

Mifflin eventually returned to the Continental Congress where he served as President. Mifflin also served as President/Governor of Pennsylvania.

Both Fort Mifflin and Mifflin Street in Philadelphia are named after Mifflin.

You can learn more about Mifflin in our blog:
https://buff.ly/3f7efjz
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The Constitutional Walking Tour provides an overview of Historic Philadelphia. Sightseeing tour visits more than 20 sites including the Liberty Bell & Independence Hall.

01/10/2025

On this day in history, Thomas Paine's influential pamphlet, Common Sense was published in Philadelphia. The most widely distributed pamphlet throughout the American Revolutionary War, Common Sense was critical in convincing Americans to support declaring Independence from Britain. Beyond advocating for independence, Common Sense also extolled the possibilities for the revolution to be a chance to break not only with Britain itself but the entire British system of governance. Highly critical of the monarchy, Paine advocated for a radically democratic system of government that gave a voice to all.

Read more in our blog: https://buff.ly/3teLKIV

01/08/2025

On this day in history in 1736, American Founding Father Andrew Adams was born. A graduate of Yale University, Adams was a lawyer before joining the Continental Congress in 1778.

Adams was one of the first signers of the Articles of Confederation, America's first government while in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Adams would later return to Connecticut where he served in the Connecticut Militia during the Revolutionary War.

There is no known image of Adams, pictured is his grave in Litchfield, Connecticut.

You can learn more about Adams in our blog:
https://buff.ly/3npx32f
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01/04/2025

On this day in history in 1745, American Founding Father Benjamin Rush was born. A graduate of the College of New Jersey, (Now Princeton University) Rush became a renowned doctor and professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

In 1776 Rush served on the Second Continental Congress and was among those who voted for Independence and was one of 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence.

During the Revolutionary War, Rush worked as the Surgeon General of the Continental Army. He is also known as "The Father of American Psychiatry."

You can learn more about Rush in our blog: https://buff.ly/3sPxIxk
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01/01/2025

We hope that all Philadelphians are enjoying a happy and healthy start to 2025! ⠀
Pictured is a vintage photo from Philadelphia's 1926 Mummers Parade. ⠀

#2025

12/31/2024

Happy New Year's Eve from everyone at The Constitutional Walking Tour!

12/26/2024

On this day in history, American Founding Fathers John Banister and Thomas Nelson, Jr. were born in 1734 and 1738 respectively.
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Both men hailed from the state of Virginia and served in the Continental Congress. While in the Continental Congress, Nelson signed the Declaration of Independence and Banister signed the Articles of Confederation, America's first official system of governance.

Both men also served in the Virginia Militia and fought in the American Revolutionary War.

To learn more about each Founding Father, you can check out our blogs for Banister (https://buff.ly/3pu1PIr ) and Nelson (https://buff.ly/3FuENqE ). Pictured is a portrait of John Banister by Philadelphian portrait artist Gilbert Stuart.
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12/26/2024

On this day in 1776, General Washington and his men successfully completed the crossing of the Delaware River and marched into Trenton, New Jersey, achieving a resounding victory over the Hessians. Before the battle of Trenton, Washington's Army was on the verge of collapse. The victory at Trenton, while small in size, greatly inspired American soldiers and attracted new recruits to the Patriotic cause.

12/25/2024

Happy Hanukkah from all of us at The Constitutional Walking Tour! On this first evening of Hanukkah, we'd like to share with you this photo of the very first public menorah lighting on Independence Mall in 1974.

12/25/2024

On This Day in History, December 25, 1773, the Philadelphia Tea Party Occurred. You've heard of the Boston Tea Party, but the Philadelphia Tea Party? Learn all about the Philadelphia Tea Party and its influence on the Boston Tea Party in our blog: https://buff.ly/3aHyof5.
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12/25/2024

Merry Christmas from The Constitutional Walking Tour!