Bucket-List Philly: Five Historic Sites to Cross Off Your List

This is it: The internationally recognized symbol of American freedom. Big and bold. Imperfect and enduring. (A little like America itself.) The 2,080-pound Liberty Bell stands proudly on Independence Mall in the middle of Philadelphia’s Historic District . See it up close at the Liberty Bell Center (for free!) and discover its powerful history — from the night it was rung to announce the Declaration of Independence to its current status as an international emblem of freedom and justice. Check out our guide to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall for the latest on visiting the bell.

In the summer of 1776, 56 delegates gathered at the Pennsylvania State House and pledged their “lives, their fortune and their sacred honor” in the pursuit of independence. Now known as Independence Hall , this UNESCO World Heritage Site is where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where — 11 years later — representatives from 12 states gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution. In the 1960s, activists gathered outside of the historic space each year for the Annual Reminders, among the earliest LGBTQ demonstrations in the nation.

Visit the Assembly Room on a guided tour to see the space arranged as it was during the Constitutional Convention. Then, stop by the West Wing, which contains original printed copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Tickets are required to tour the hall; check out our full guide for details on planning your visit.

Before the White House, there was The President’s House , home to both George Washington and John Adams, when Philadelphia was the capital of the United States from 1790 to 1800. The open-air exhibit located next to the Liberty Bell Center commemorates the nation’s first executive mansion and reveals a long-obscured glimpse into the lives of the enslaved Africans who toiled at the house during Washington’s presidency. The site’s complex and powerful story is told through timelines and dramatic video vignettes. Visitors can also view archaeological fragments that were unearthed at the site in 2007 through a glass display case.

At Valley Forge National Historical Park , visitors travel back in time to the harrowing 1777-1778 winter encampment of George Washington’s Continental Army. Woodlands, streams, meadows, monuments and 26 miles of trails commemorate the sacrifice and transformation of the Continental Army during these pivotal six months of the Revolutionary War. Four must-visit spots:

• the renovated-in-2022 visitor center
• the reconstructed log huts at the Muhlenberg Brigade Area
• the iconic National Memorial Arch ; and
• the moving Patriots of African Descent Monument .

The site also played a role in our nation’s LGBTQ history: More than 200 years before “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” was signed, challenged and repealed, Prussian military genius Friedrich von Steuben — who had “affections for the same sex,” according to Benjamin Franklin — transformed General Washington’s ragtag army at Valley Forge into a professional force.

Despite the Founding Fathers’ assertion that “all men are created equal,” our nation has often struggled to live up to the ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence. That reality is evident at the Johnson House Historic Site , a National Historic Landmark that served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Tours of the site offer visitors an opportunity to learn about the injustices of slavery and the 19th-century resident Johnson family, who risked their lives offering refuge to freedom seekers. Among the freedom fighters who stayed here: William Still and, according to family lore, Harriet Tubman.

It’s only four pages long, but the U.S. Constitution is among the most influential and important documents in the history of the world. The 160,000-square-foot National Constitution Center dives into all aspects of this amazing document — drafted just a few blocks away — through high-tech exhibits, artifacts and interactive displays. The museum is home to rare copies of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. While you’re around, be sure to visit the site of Benjamin Franklin’s grave across the street at Christ Church Burial Ground . (Throw a penny for good luck!)

Opened in 2017 just steps away from Independence Hall, this compelling museum brings to life the world-changing American Revolution through an unmatched collection of artifacts, including weapons, documents, personal items, works of art and General George Washington’s headquarters tent. With powerful films, digital touchscreens and historical vignettes, the museum recreates the drama and the details of the country’s dramatic birth.

Founded in 1976, The African American Museum in Philadelphia is the first institution built by a major U.S. city to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage and culture of African Americans. The museum takes a fresh, bold look at the roles of African Americans in the founding of the nation through the core exhibit Audacious Freedom. Visiting exhibitions and frequent programs reveal the history, stories and cultures of those of African descent throughout the African diaspora.

Did Betsy Ross make the first American flag or not? Ask her yourself when you visit the iconic (and pint-sized) home of America’s most famous seamstress and one of the few prominent women remembered in Revolutionary War-era Philadelphia. Chat with Betsy to hear about the history of the flag and her interaction with George Washington as you explore the tiny rooms and tight staircases of her 1740s abode.