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The City of Brotherly Love is also the birthplace of the United
States. It was here on July 4, 1776, that the Declaration of Independence
was adopted.
Philadelphia has historic landmarks around every corner and some of
the same cobblestone streets that the nation's Founding Fathers once
strolled. In the heart of the city two of the nation's symbols of freedom,
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, are in Independence National
Historical Park. Originally built as the Pennsylvania Statehouse,
Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and
the U.S. Constitution was written. The Liberty Bell rang from the top of
Independence Hall on the day the Declaration of Independence was read
publicly for the first time.
More than a dozen other historic attractions are within the park
including Carpenter's Hall, where the First Continental Congress met in
1774; the First Bank of the United States; Franklin Court, where Benjamin
Franklin's home once stood; Christ Church Burial Ground, where Benjamin
Franklin is buried; and the Declaration House, where Thomas Jefferson
drafted the Declaration of Independence.
The oldest continuously occupied residential street in the nation---Elfreth's
Alley---is off Second Street between Arch and Race Streets. This National
Historic Landmark consists of 33 Colonial- and Federal-style homes.
Some of the city's most famous residents besides Benjamin Franklin
include Betsy Ross and Edgar Allan Poe. The home where Ross stitched
together the first American flag is within walking distance of the Liberty
Bell. Poe lived in Philadelphia for about six years. For the last 18 months
of that time he lived at a home on Seventh Street, now the Edgar Allan Poe
National Historic Site.
Philadelphia is more than just a city of history; it is also a city of
restaurants with a large variety of ethnic eateries. Perhaps one of its most
popular dishes also bears the city's name, the Philadelphia cheesesteak.
Included among the city's many parks is Fairmount Park, the nation's
largest landscaped city park, encompassing 8,900 acres of winding creeks,
lush green meadows, and 100 mi of trails. Nearby is the Philadelphia Zoo,
the oldest zoo in the nation, which is home to more than 1,800 animals.
Philadelphia's diverse shopping districts include Jewelers Row, the
nation's oldest diamond district and one of the largest; South Street, with
150 stores, boutiques, and galleries; and the Italian Market, the world's
largest outdoor market.
Several museums within the city limits are sure to entertain and
educate those who visit. The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin
Institute Science Museum, the Natural Science Museum, the Philadelphia Doll
Museum, and the Independence Seaport Museum are just a few of the many
museums here.
Philadelphia is home to four professional sports teams: the
Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, 76ers, and Flyers.
Where the Schuylkill River flows into the Delaware River, Philadelphia
has served as an important port from its beginnings.
The city is home to 27 colleges and universities including the
University of Pennsylvania, which was founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740
and was the first school in America to earn the title of "university" in
1779.
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