A week off from work.

[7 miles]

Thanks for the pics.

[Piper]

I remember when you used to be able to touch the Liberty Bell.

I can be in center city Philly in about 20 min., by car. When I was a youngster, I spent many Saturdays over in the historic area. I'd walk up the hill, catch a bus and spend the day around Independence Hall, Carpenters Hall, the Atwater Kent Museum, and so on. As Woodsman noted, the Bell used to be in Independence Hall, and you could touch it (though they did tend to get twitchy if you tried to ring it). I even remember getting up to the second floor of Independence Hall a couple of times.
No more. The security is nearly the same as at an airport. It's been years since I've been inside any of the locations. It may be the curmudgeon in me, but I refuse to surrender my fourth amendment rights to look at the room in which it was signed.

[Keith A]

I can be in center city Philly in about 20 min., by car. When I was a youngster, I spent many Saturdays over in the historic area. I'd walk up the hill, catch a bus and spend the day around Independence Hall, Carpenters Hall, the Atwater Kent Museum, and so on. As Woodsman noted, the Bell used to be in Independence Hall, and you could touch it (though they did tend to get twitchy if you tried to ring it). I even remember getting up to the second floor of Independence Hall a couple of times.
No more. The security is nearly the same as at an airport. It's been years since I've been inside any of the locations. It may be the curmudgeon in me, but I refuse to surrender my fourth amendment rights to look at the room in which it was signed.

I know what you mean, it was very sad to have to undergo a bag search, and have to deal with armed security were ever you looked. I don't have a problem with there being security at the site but I do think it was over done. Iv been to East Berlin before the wall came down, and Iv been to a lot of country's that would be called total totalitarian states, and the feeling was very much the same, at Independence Hall, a feeling of your free to do what your told to do.

[SteveB]

Tartan Shortbread Jack and others,
Everywhere has it's lore.
Benjamin Franklin was very famous for "A penny saved is a penny earned." When visiting Franklin's grave, only a penny may be tossed and it is heads for good prosperity (luck), tails and hard work is in your future towards prosperity.
This superstition has been around for many generations, and is almost as good as the sightings of Scotland's beloved "Nessie".

Slainte