Philadelphia - All along Arch Street

From the last two posts it sounds like we didn't make the most of the Betsy Ross House or Elfreth's Alley, not taking the tours or even spending very long. That is true, due to lack of information and circumstances, but that was still an important section of our tour.

First of all, you are in a very central location. We started right across from the Independence Mall, where you catch the tour buses. Everything we were doing was too close to take a tour bus to it.

We knew we were very close to the National Museum of American Jewish History, where we had already stopped by, and also quite close to the Philadelphia Mint, which we were not against seeing but we ran out of time.

(We were also quite close to the US Constitution Center, which didn't interest me much as it is set up for the interpretation of history rather than being an actual historic location, but it does get good reviews.)

However, what we really wanted was to see the Betsy Ross House, the Christ Church Burial Ground, and Elfreth's Alley. We made it to two of those, and although we went by the Burial Ground it didn't really seem to be open. (It was getting late in the day.) We took some pictures but there is really nothing to them, including no signs of ghostly activity.

However, just walking between those three locations brought us by so many other things. This sign may give you an idea of how densely crowded this area is with attractions.

It's got so many things it can list, it doesn't even mention an old but still in use Quaker meeting house and a synagogue, and yet we noticed them and their importance because religious freedom was an important part of Pennsylvania's foundation. Yes, the big attraction here is Christ Church, because not only is Benjamin Franklin buried in their cemetery but he, George Washington, and Betsy Ross attended the church itself, but it was only a part of the history of this area. The Old First Reformed Church that is on the sign goes back to 1727.

We also passed Girard Fountain Park, right near Engine 8 of the Philadelphia Fire Department, who maintain the park, with a large bust of the Fire Department's founder, Ben Franklin. Also, as the name implies, there is a fountain.

That is just the tip of the Ben Franklin ice berg for this area. If you go in the other direction you can find Franklin Court on Market Street and the Benjamin Franklin Museum on Chestnut. It really is his town, and that is shown in various subtle ways.

Now, Elfreth's Alley is not on Arch Street, so you cut along 2nd to get there. At the corner of Arch and 2nd is the Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society. I don't have any idea how historic it is, but we stopped and looked at the cute little animals. Priorities!