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.