Happy 250, America, from Independence Hall!

In honor of our 250th birthday, today’s post celebrates where it all happened: Independence Hall in Philadelphia. For those not in the know, the Declaration of Independence was adopted on this day in 1776 and marked the official separation of our country from the British Empire. Was it all smooth sailing after that day? Hell no! It rarely is, but here we are today, still able to celebrate. Originally known as the Pennsylvania State House, this brick building has become called Independence Hall in honor of that day 250 years ago. This vintage undated 1950s image was most likely taken at an event on Independence Day. Anyone out there know who the “dignitaries” are? You can see the Liberty Bell through the doorway.



In May 1967, the family made its first trek to Independence Hall after our move to Pennsylvania:



I’m the shortest one; in the large envelope my brother holds a souvenir copy of the Declaration of Independence:



I have photographed this historic place many times over the years including December 1983:



July 2009:



Even some interior shots of the Assembly Room where the signing occurred, circa November 2010:



If this desk and pen set could talk…



My most recent photos are from June 2014; I think I’m overdue for a return.



A November 2010 shot of the Liberty Bell, which no longer resides inside of Independence Hall, but rather across the street:



Nearby is the National Constitution Center, which I visited in June 2014. It includes 42 life-size bronze statues of the framers of the Constitution in a display titled, “Signers’ Hall Walk.” When I went, you could actually walk up to each statue and see every amazing detail.



From the website:

…relive the moment that launched a government ruled by “We the People.” One of the museum’s most popular and iconic attractions, Signers’ Hall invites you to walk among the framers who added their name to the Constitution—as well as those who dissented—on September 17, 1787. Signers’ Hall brings to life the final day of the Constitutional Convention in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. There are numerous famous faces in the room, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton. Pose beside your favorite framer for a great photo op. The statues in Signers’ Hall were created by artists at Studio EIS in Brooklyn, who used numerous historical sources, including portraits and written descriptions, to create the most accurate likenesses possible.





Benjamin Franklin:



See more Independence Hall photos at my main website.

Go East Old Man, Pt. 2

My trip to the east coast was timed for Mother’s Day; Mom and I had brunch in the dining room of her community. Below is my official Mother’s Day portrait:



We watched two movies during my visit; one was “Mother” (1996), which I am CONVINCED Debbie Reynolds based her portrayal on my mom…



and “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006). Mom stayed awake during the entire movie. That is the hallmark of a good film! Hopefully when I return this fall we can watch the sequel together.



When the family migrated from California to Pennsylvania, we visited nearby Valley Forge State Park, as seen in the December 1966 photos below:



Exploring the rolling hills, the log cabins, and the other Revolutionary War structures filled me with wonder and helped develop my interest in history.



On this visit when I got a little stir crazy, I suggested we return to Valley Forge. The cabins are still there:



Washington’s soldiers were NOT glamping during that cold winter of 1777-1778!



A selfie outside of Washington’s headquarters:



There have been some modifications to this building over the years in an attempt to bring it back to the period when Washington lived here. Circa 1961:



…and May 2026:






The nearby train station:



Inside you can find some of the artifacts that were recovered from the area:



I hadn’t photographed the nearby Washingto Memorial Chapel in fifteen years…yikes!



I love the Gothic Revival architecture of this structure:






This 1914 bronze sculpture in the Cloisters of the Colonies garden area known as “Sacrifice and Devotion” is by American artist Bela Lyon Pratt, as a dedication to the mothers who lost sons in the war.



The chapel interior is breathtaking:



The dogwoods were in full bloom at the nearby cemetery:



Always red, white, and blue here:



A statue of General Baron von Steuben overlooks the Grand Parade Trail, where my brothers and I used to sled on snow covered hills in our youth:



To have this Park so close to us was a true blessing, at a time when kids explored the land, not their phones.

See more Valley Forge photos at my main website.

90th in Philly

Once I was able to board my Amtrak train to Philly (after a 90 minute delay), things moved quickly. If you’ve never been on an Amtrak train, here’s a tip: don’t dawdle. The trains rarely wait more than a few minutes at each stop before departing. There were very few stops between New York and Philly and it seemed like barely any time had passed before I was seeing the city of Brotherly Love in the Golden Hour. Once I got to my Mom’s retirement community, I was greeted by the giant inflatable decoration that was in front for Halloween. Bryan - does this quality for a cat?



On the one day that I took some time for myself to go for a run (and breathe fresh air!), I was so happy to be able to experience Fall. This is the one season I miss from the East Coast.



Granted, the leaves had already turned and were falling off most of the trees, but I was still able to see some of those magical reds and golds.







Note: some of these photos were taken on my iPhone, so they aren’t necessarily up to snuff. However, when you are able to escape family and go for a run, you have to make do with what you have! The gas prices were almost as exhilarating as the leaves; at the time I left California, they were hovering around $7/gallon. The East Coast was almost $3 cheaper. Yowza.



For my Mom’s 90th birthday, I selected the General Warren Inne, which is also where we dined for her 70th. With the pandemic, you never know what you might get when you return to an old favorite.



I am happy to report that the Inne was the perfect venue (again) for Mom’s big celebration.



Established in 1745, it has seen a lot of history over the years, especially during the Revolutionary War.



My oldest brother and his wife were able to make it as well.



 A champagne toast to Mom was a great way to start off the evening. 



For dinner, I chose the Beef Wellington. It was delicious and melted in my mouth.



For Mom’s dessert, the firecracker candle lit up the room!





The service at the Inne was fantastic; our waitress gave the right level of attention and did everything she could to make it a special evening for Mom. All of us were pleased with the experience. Thanks, General Warren; see you in another 20 years? Actually, I hope to go back much sooner. Apparently they have a few rooms that they rent, and that’s something for my bucket list next time I return to the area.

For years, Mom had talked about how much she enjoyed lunch at Neiman Marcus in the King of Prussia Mall. I got tired of hearing about it and told her she better take me next time I’m in town, and she did!



I’m not much of a mall person anymore, so being inside this place really took me back in time.



The Neiman Marcus Cafe lived up to the hype.



One of my teachers from junior high (who also happens to be a very good friend of my Mom’s) joined us for lunch, too. The large popovers on our plate are a signature of NM’s lunches. I know I enjoyed mine!



Outside of the restroom, I enjoyed looking at the vintage ads hanging on the wall:



And that pretty much wraps up my East Coast trip. If it appears that all I did was eat, well…that’s just about what occurred. When the family gets together, you’re planning the next meal before you’ve finished eating the one in front of you. This is why I run!
 
See more Main Line photos at my main website.