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Visiting historic sites is an outstanding way to gain an understanding of the past. History comes alive when we step through the doorways of ancient buildings, allowing us to see the spaces of those who once lived and experience the locales of events that once happened. Philadelphia has an amazing history, and a rich heritage of preserving early American buildings. Over 2,000 pre-1800 buildings stand in the greater Philadelphia area. Dozens of them are open to the public on a regular basis, allowing us to encounter the past. Ironically, none of Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia homes have survived. When he died in 1790, his once-quiet retreat of Franklin Court was at the center of a thriving urban space, within a few steps of one of the new nation’s busiest ports and active markets. A while later, his daughter and son-in-law opted to sell the house and move to a less bustling area. Another irony is that the only one of Franklin’s homes to survive is in London, the capital of the empire that he revolved from in 1776. But many buildings Franklin knew very well continue to survive, and to tell his story in Philadelphia. As Franklin noted in his Autobiography, Philadelphia’s streets influenced his life from the first moment he walked on them on Sunday morning, October 6, 1723. Students find a vibrant link to the past by following in Franklin’s footsteps. Sites of Interest |
