Photo TR: Philadelphia

[printersdevil78]

Continuing my summer vacation series, I took part of my most recent week off to visit Philadelphia with my dad. I had been before, but he hadn't, and he wanted to see some of the landmarks. Due to a last-minute doctor's appointment, we didn't get there until late on the first day of our two-day trip and subsequently only went out for cheesesteaks at Pat's King of Steaks... which I've covered on here previously.

 

With that in mind, we start (and end) with Day Two. Enjoy!

Having met our cheesesteak quota at Pat's the evening before, we opted for a Philadelphia delicacy we both had read about in different sources: a roast pork sub. It was surprisingly good and a great way to end our Philly adventure.

The South Philadelphia Walk of Fame is embedded in front of the building, honoring area natives and residents who have made an impact on the national entertainment landscape.

The al fresco restaurant was right on the edge of a major street, too busy to cross and too far away from a corner to get to a crosswalk (if there was one), so I didn't get any full building shots, which is unfortunate since it was a very neon-decorated storefront. But here's a side view so you can see what we were working with, anyway.

Time for one last stop on our way out of Philly: dinner at Tony Luke's.

Back outside, we waited for a cab near the World War I Aero Memorial.

This is a 19th century harmonic integrater. If you don't know what that is... look it up!

Perpetual motion machines are always fun.

The hands-on physics exhibit was pretty neat. And bonus: its logo reminded me of the PBS guy!

We didn't spend much time in the interactive sports area (geared toward kids like most of the rest of the institute), but authentic local memorabilia like this Chase Utley uniform was a nice touch.

Lego Philadelphia, anyone?

...and moon rock hammer.

...giant telescope (and planetarium)...

Lots of nice things here, too, for space enthusiasts, including this 5.5 billion-year-old meteorite...

The Franklin Institute is like paradise for rail fans.

Not many museum, however, offer a U.S. Air Force jet photo op.

This, on the other hand, it seems like just about every museum already has: a recreation of the first Wright Brothers flyer. Just this year I've seen the original and two copies.

Every museum should have a Foucault pendulum. Are you listening to me, Smithsonian?

I spy a hidden Mickey!

Sadly, Mary Kate still thinks she's fat.

To be honest, we were a little disappointed. But now at least we can cross that off the list. This, by the way, is what the inside of your heart looks like. Well, maybe not YOUR heart. Your heart is probably hard and black and two sizes too small. But this is what a normal heart looks like inside.

The main reason the Franklin Institute was on our agenda is because my grandfather visited in the 1950s and told my dad about its then-new walk-through heart exhibit. Ever since then, my dad has wanted to see it for himself, but never had the opportunity. Today, we did.

"I ain't got no body...."

You're on your own as far as the rest goes.

Any Trekkie/er/oid who's reading this no doubt already noticed the giant sign for the institute's traveling "Star Trek" exhibit a few photos back. We didn't go into the exhibit because A) we're not really that into "Star Trek," and B) it cost an additional $24, but they did have a little preview display, so here are some highlights for you to enjoy.

 

I don't know a tremendous amount about "Star Trek," but I do know enough to know this is a Klingon. I think.

It's also home to the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. Either that or Abraham Lincoln really let himself go.

See? I wouldn't lie to you.

The institute is home to the world's first stainless steel airplane.

Our last touristy stop of the day: the Franklin Institute. Remember when I mentioned earlier that all major U.S. cities have a science center/children's museum? This would be Philadelphia's.

Also along the coast of Penn's Landing: an odd yet no doubt expensive statue built by the U.S. 500 to commemorate Christopher Columbus. Because, as we all know, Columbus had strong ties to Philadelphia (note the sarcasm). This, I believe, has a good deal to do with why the economy is the way it is right now.

...and the battleship U.S.S. New Jersey, which isn't really at Penn's Landing and is a museum, only not connected with the Independence Seaport Maritime Museum. Mostly because it's located in New Jersey. Barely.

...the "Freedom," a ferry that shuttles tourists across the Delaware River between Philadelphia and New Jersey...

Rounding out the non-museum vessels at Penn's Landing are the "Moshulu," a restored 1904 luxury liner that now serves as a restaurant...

If the Liberty Bell made you all hot and bothered, here's another treat!

Patriotic.

But have no fear! New Jersey calls on its No. 1 superhero to save the day!

Oh no! Those guns are pointed right at New Jersey!

"Hey, baby, check out my five-inch projectile!"

Enemy ship sighted off the port bow! Actually, that's the "Gazela," a restored 1883 Portugese cod fishing vessel (which is not part of the museum's collection--it's one of those private "experience" ships).

The crew slept and ate here. True story: according to an exhibit in the photo-free museum, the dining tables originally hung from the ceiling just like the hammocks. That changed within a few years of the ship's commission, and then went with the more standard tables seen here.

This is the ash hoist, where coal ash was hauled up in buckets from the engine room for overboard disposal. Personally, I would have called it the coal hole, but that's just me, I guess.

Need to poop on a battleship? This is the place!

...and operating room.

...pharmacy...

...dentist's office...

The boat was almost like a cruise ship, amenity-wise, complete with a full-service kitchen...

The officers' individual quarters were larger than my college dorm room!

...and even a formal dining room. The only thing missing was a pipe organ!

...a sitting room complete with fireplace...

It may have been all military on the outside, but on the inside it looked like something out of a Jules Verne novel! There was a wood and leather salon...

The museum's other ship is the 1892 U.S.S. Olympia, the hero of the Spanish-American War and the oldest battleship in the world still afloat.

This is where they dropped their depth charges.

The crew mess had board games built right into the tables. Because really, what else are you going to do to pass time on a submarine?

Until recently I'd never been on a submarine; now I've been on two in the past month (the other being U-505 in Chicago). This is the Becuna's torpedo room, by the way.

...and the World War II submarine U.S.S. Becuna.

Outside, they had a number of sailing craft on display, including these small boats of local design...

Next we took a cab to Independence Seaport to partake of its maritime museum. For $12 we could look all we wanted, but no photos were allowed. It's kind of like the Cedar Point of maritime museums.

Circling the Independence Hall area were the ducks, people's fascination with which I will never understand. But hey, they're something you'll find in every single major U.S. city (along with an aquarium, science center/children's museum and Hard Rock Cafe), so someone must be forking over good money to ride 'em.

...so we opted to take a picture of his grave through the fence instead! People traditionally throw pennies onto the slab as an homage to Franklin's saying, "A penny saved is a penny earned." Apparently the people who leave coins for his corpse aren't all that clear about the meaning of this phrase....

Across the street from the complex on the other side is Christ Church Cemetery, where Benjamin Franklin is buried. But it cost $2 to get in there...

We also bypassed the U.S. Mint. Unfortunately, they weren't giving out any free samples that day.

Across the green from Independence Hall National Park is the National Constitution Center. It costs $12 to get in, so this is as much as we chose to see of it.

And here's Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell together in the same shot... as if by magic!

Across the street is the Liberty Bell. Apparently they don't take very good care of their things in this building. The bell was all cracked!

Speaking of George Washington, here's a statue of him outside the Independence Hall complex. Supposedly he's the only person that representatives from 11 of the 13 colonies could agree upon for president (Connecticut was three months too late to vote, and Rhode Island's reps never showed up).

Upstairs: the original chambers of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Next door: the building containing the room where George Washington and John Adams were inaugurated.

But if we exit only Independence Hall, how will we get out of all the other buildings we go into today?

...and then shooting them 34 times.

Apparently he entertained them by playing the harpsichord...

Independence Hall originally was built as a government building for the colony of Pennsylvania. Downstairs was a courtroom and upstairs (seen here) a meet-and-greet area for the governor to entertain important people.

This is the room where the Continental Congress debated all three documents. You may also recognize it from the back of the $2 bill. Assuming you've ever seen a $2 bill.

Which, of course, led to the drafting of this, the U.S. Constitution, in 1787. This was George Washington's proof copy.

The declaration and subsequent revolution led to this, the Articles of Confederation, which as it turned out, no one particularly liked.

Independence Hall is where this was written. This is believed to be the first copy read to the American public, from the steps of the hall in a sort of 18th century press conference.

We started our day at Independence Hall. If you have a bicentennial half dollar handy, you can see it engraved on the back. Also, you're halfway toward a purchase at the Dollar Tree. Minus tax.

[Hercules]

Ah historical center city Philadelphia - surrounded by drugs, murder, more drugs, more violence, poverty, dog fighting, more poverty, and people urinating in the streets.

 

Nice report.

[dandaman]

On one hand, damn you for going to all these places I so desparately want to visit. But on the other...

 

"I ain't got no body...."

 

Quote win.

 

Also, happy birthday!

[bigstevet07]

Man I miss Philly. Tony Luke's is cool if you want something other than a philly. But if you want a philly, you go to Geno's or Pat's. I think Geno's or Pat's are pretty equal. The only difference is whehter you want your cheesesteak chopped up or not.

 

How could you do a musuem/slash culture tour and hit up the museum of art? Its only where the most famous stair running scene in the history of movies was filmed.

[VegasCoaster]

That statue / monument thing for Christopher Columbus is one of the most phallic things I've ever seen.