The Declaration of Independence

 The original Declaration of Independence, adopted on July 4, 1776, Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.



Independence Hall played an important part in the history of our country.

In front of the building stands a statute of George Washington, the father of our country.

When we visited in November of 2011, Independence Hall was undergoing renovations.

The weather vane on top had already been refurbished and was quite eye-catching.

Inside is the Assembly Room where George Washington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4,1776.  In the same room the design of the American flag was agreed upon in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781, and the U.S. Constitution was drafted in 1787.

 May our flag long fly over the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land

On the 4th of July we celebrate the birth of our country.  We visited Philadelphia November 1, 2011, and I took these images of some of the symbols of the United States.

"Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land"

Liberty Bell

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...."

Declaration of Independence

"We the People of the United States of America, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and ensure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America."

United States Constitution Preamble

The United States Flag

Flying at Independence Hall, Philadelphia

American Beginnings

We spent yesterday touring Valley Forge and today we visited downtown Philadelphia, which was the original capital of the United States and where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were forged and signed.

Early tomorrow morning we will be on a flight heading home.  We have two stops of a couple of hours each in Chicago and Anchorage, and we will have about 10 hours in the air before we are back in Fairbanks.  We've had a great time, and we have enjoyed a beautiful prolonged autumn, but now it's back to everyday life and winter.  I'll share more of our travel photos with you as I get time to go through them.