Throughout my passion blog I have discussed places across the country and their historical and environmental importance. All the places that are protected by the National Park Service are important and irreplaceable in some way. As we move forward it is important to protect these lands and monuments to history and nature. Today, for my last passion blog, I want to talk about a place that is very dear to me and my city. Growing up in Philadelphia can be a lot of things, but for me, it was a gateway into the world of politics and history. The city itself has always been home to me, and it also happens to be the birthplace of our country. Old City is home to sites like Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell, The Constitution Center, Ben Franklin’s house, and so much more. It is a modern city that tells the story of the country, and that was how I became so fascinated with the past.  

I remember watching the movie National Treasure with Nicholas Cage as a kid. I saw him and his team wind through the streets of Philadelphia uncovering secrets left behind by the Founding Fathers. And as sad as I was when I found out that none of that was true, it did introduce me to the significance of the places just minutes from my house. My initial reaction was that the proximity of these all-important locations to my home shocked me; my second thought was that I wanted to learn the true history of these places. I want to specifically focus on Independence Hall today, a monument to a lot of things and one of the most important sites in America.  

Independence Hall sits down the street from City Hall, an overpowering building, but once you set eyes on Independence Hall its grandeur sets in. Set on a picturesque square, red bricks rise up to form a meeting place, a looming clock tower, and well-kept but crumbling arches. Throughout the seasons, snow, rain, and constant heat, it stands tall. Often, I think that these places must be different from what they were when the most important events happened there, but when you walk in it feels stuck in time. Creaking wooden floors and lofted ceilings lead to the grand meeting room with chairs set up as it would have been during the meetings that took place over 200 years ago. It can be mesmerizing to stand in a place that changed history so greatly, but it is also a reminder that normal places and normal moments have the opportunity to become just as important.  

To me, Independence Hall is a symbol of the city and what it can be. The controversial history of our country is one that we as a country are still having trouble grasping, but in that building, men stood to change history. For better or for worse, the words that they wrote in those meetings created a country that would shape the world for the next two centuries. As America stands at a new turning point, I think back to that room and wonder where the next decision of that magnitude will happen, and how it will turn out.  

The Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes sound very innocent and yet they transport you to a different world. Going to the beach my whole life I always thought I knew what a sand dune looked like. Those small protective mounds pale in comparison to the otherworldly mammoths that are the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore. It’s hard to describe what it’s like driving up to these sand dunes. Located in northern Michigan, it feels isolated and alone. I remember a winding road walled with trees. As you drive down the road the trees give way to giant sand dunes that do not seem real. They seem to rise out of nowhere, and from the parking lot you can’t see the top. My family and I had just gotten out of our yearly visit to Michigania, a family came run by the Alumni Association of University of Michigan. My Dad grew up outside of Detroit and spent his college years at the University of Michigan. 

Exploring my Dad’s home state is amazing to me because it is like peeking into a different world. It is hard to imagine my Dad’s life without me in it, but he lived for decades before my birth. The Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes were a symbol of the mysterious world for me. I remember getting out of the car in the heat of summer. The large sand dune looming over head, seeming to taunt me. As we set out to climb the dune ahead of us, I quickly realized how hard it was going to be. My feet sank into the soft ground and I could barely keep my place on the side of the dune. Each step became a task by itself. But the views were worth it. As big as one dune may seem, there are more on the other side.  

Sand dunes seem to go on forever and suddenly they kiss the shore of the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes themselves seem like oceans. The other side is out of view making it seem like they go on forever, and yet they are not an ocean, they are something else. This environment leads to something amazing and unique. It seems like a world to itself and almost impossible to comprehend on google images alone. On the top there was a bench that sat on a little platform. As my family and I reached the top I heard my sister scream. 

“Ow! I think a bee stung me!”  We all looked back to see my sister sitting down sinking in the sand. As she went down with my Mom, my Dad and I sat on the bench looking out at the coast. To me that is why these places are so special. These natural wonders are irreplaceable on their own, but they are also a view into the past that bring people together. Each state Is so unique and comes with history and stories. This specific location allowed me to look into my Dad’s past and share a moment with him that I will never forget.  

The idea of America’s monuments has been covered through this blog. I often think that many can get caught up in the complicated history and not enjoy the cool, distinct, and interesting places that have luckily been preserved by the Federal Government. The American South is filled with terrible history. As a kid I was always fascinated by the unique culture it had and was very sad to learn about how that culture was built. One place that really opened my eyes to this history was Fort Sumter in Charleston, North Carolina. Charleston is a picturesque city that I have to say I loved being in. It’s a city born with a unique culture. A port city used by the French; its history goes back towards the 1600s. It’s a city with colonial and colorful streets, palm trees, and its own food culture. The city is steaming in a vibrant culture. Countless heritages combine to create a plethora of noteworthy foods, music, and museums. 

There is one very important location on top of the list that one should visit when going to Charleston. That is Fort Sumter in the Charleston Bay. Fort Sumter is a manmade island with a strategic military fort on top. It has been a staple of the harbor for over 200 years. Originally built as a way to protect the United States coast from Invaders after the War of 1812, it would remain incomplete until 1861 when gunshots would etch its name into history. After the South succeeded from the Union, Abraham Lincoln tried to restock the fort. This led to the Battle of Fort Sumter. Thirty-eight hours of battle led to a Confederate victory, and this would go down as the first battle in America’s bloody Civil War. It is a monument to pain and a monument to America’s faults.  

During the war the fort would eventually be leveled by Union forces. Rebuilt during other wars, it is now a monument protected by the National Park Service. This piece of history fascinated me. A building overlooking the water welcomes you and tells you about its history. This would lead to a dock where you could pay to go to the fort. The fort felt like a different world. Heat made sweat stick on my back as we walked through what felt like colonial brick. Beige walls in the shape of a pentagon look out across the water watching and waiting. Canons point towards the windows seemingly poised to fire. It is a remnant of a different world and a different way of life. The way that these battles were fought will likely never be done again. But it is important to look at the places that people fought in this country. Taking a trip down south can be a once in a lifetime and eye-opening experience. It can often feel like a different world and a different way of life. It can be easy to think that the things that people think divide us are not real, but as you visit a place only a few hours away you can see the truth in it.  

History.com Editors. “Fort Sumter.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/fort-sumter. 

I often think that it can be easy to get into a rut when talking about this country. I am very guilty of this as can be seen through my blog, but that does not mean that there aren’t amazing people and places in this country. When you grow up you hear about the ideals of America, the ideals of what is apparently right for all, and the longer time goes by, the more this image of perfect ideals cracks. No man better describes this façade of American ideals better than Abraham Lincoln. His memorial sits in the middle of the nation’s capital. A building made to look like a monument to the gods with him gazing across the water from his throne. And growing up I loved Lincoln, and in many ways I still do. But I cannot say that I love him for the same reasons that I used to. He to me represents what this country can be and reminds me to look at the positives. He was a very flawed man and I do not want to excuse his actions in this blog, but I do like to look at his presidency as a time of massive change in this country. It was a time that moved the country miles ahead of where it was.  

Lincoln can be quoted saying he thinks white men are superior, and his actions towards Native Americans should and can be seen as what they are, terrible and destructive like those before him, but I also think it’s fascinating to look at these pivotal points in time and see how they were shaped. The Civil War changed how Americans view each other and changed the national identity. Its effects are felt today in good and very bad ways. This often reminds me of how politicians today speak on TV. They say that we are a country full of good people, that they know we can do amazing things, and I believe them. Although I am not sure how, I know that there are points where no matter the intention there is a change so drastic that every country in the world can feel the pendulum of society shift. Because of this I like to think of the Lincoln Memorial as a positive place. 

It has been the site of Dr. Martin Luther King’s most famous speech, the site of countless marches, and most recently the site of our national COVID Memorial. And while I think it is very important to hold those accountable for what they did no matter how long ago that was, I often feel that the most change happens when there is a symbol for hope towards a better future. And when you stand at one end of the water you can see Lincoln and his massive body gazing over the water. It is very calming and serene. It is natural for countries and empires to create monuments to what they believe are their greatest leaders and depending on who you ask this man is one of them. That being said the troubled and conflicting past and the hope it gives is a perfect symbol for what America really represents to me.