The Historic Philadelphia I saw.

I was in New Jersey for a couple of weeks and my interest was to see only the island of the great Statue of Liberty which I missed in my previous visit.If you are lucky to be in New Jersey and if you are still lucky to be in July on 4th then there is no better place to enjoy but to go and stay in this wonderful city of Philadelphia which welcomes you with so much history of American Independence if you do not know.

America celebrated its birth day right here,you will surprised to find so many events from the reading of Declaration of Independence Mall and the designer of America's Flag Betsy's Independence day Bash.You can see how Betsy Lived in her home as a designer of Flags for the Govt and her complete Home as it was during her period 1736 to 1786.The present location is not the original location as it was shifted to the present place by people of America by their contribution to honor this Lady who made a Flag for the Nation.Once I learned about Betsy Ross I wanted to know who made the flag of India.

In our flag in India there is a significance for colors with descriptions of color and the wheel.In case of this American Flag the 50 Stars signify the 50 States.What are the stripes for and why the color Red.

This City of Philadelphia is a Historic city of greater importance than any other city in America.It was here the the Independence of America from the British was drafted and presented to the congress and a Independence of America from the British was declared .You cannot visit this city with out doing a research on what are the things one has to see in Philly to know fully how this city is historic.There are so many firsts from starting a Post Office to Ice Cream to be started in United States of America.If you have no time to visit don't worry you can see all the most important monuments just by Hoping in a sight seeing Bus which takes you to all the places in just 1 hour.The expert guide will tell you in his African Voice lot of information about all the places he shows.In case you miss the spots as they are located both on the left and right side of the sight seeing tour bus, you may travel once again after refreshments and getting refreshed since the ticket you purchased for $ 27 will last for 24 hours.This sight seeing Bus will take you to the most famous spots in Philly for a sweet short name or Philadelphia meaning Brotherhood.The most sought after places can be classified as:

1. Historical Sites.(a) Independence Hall. ( b) The Liberty Hall (c) Betssy Ross House. (d) Christ Church Burial Ground.(e) The Presidents House.
2. Attraction Highlights.(a) Liberty 360 Show in the PECO Theater. (b) Franklin Square..
3. Museum Highlights.(a) National Constitution Center. (b) National Museum of American Jewish History. (c) The African American Museum in Philadelphia. (d) Portrait Gallery at the Second Bank.
4. Tours Highlights. (a) Independence After Hours. ( b) Tippler's Tour. (c)Second Bank of the U.S.Orientation Tour .

There are other places which are also interesting if you have time to spend and interest to know the beautiful country's history they are:-

1 - Independence Visitor Center.

2 - National Constitution Center.

3 - United States Mint - ( The guide said that here $100 Bills are made from paper shreds.)

4 - Fireman's Hall Museum.

5 - Betsy Ross House.

6 - US Federal Reserve Bank.

7 - African American Museum.

8 - China Town.

9 - Hilton Garden Inn.

10 - Reading Terminal Market.

11 - Pennsylvania Convention Center.

12 - Marriot Hote.

13 - City Hall.

14 - Love Park

15 - Logan Square.

16 - Philadelphia Museum of Art.

17- Memorial Hall Fairmount Park.

18 - Philadelphia Zoo.

19 - Franklin Field.

20 - Antrak 30th Street Station.

21 - Academy of Music.

22 - Kimmel Center.

23 - Head House Square.

24 - Bourse Building.

25 - Liberty Bell.

26 - Independence Hall.

27 - Independence National Historic Park.

28 - Carpenter's Hall.

29 - First Bank of USA.

30 - Penn's Landing.

31 - Independence Sea Port Museum.

32 - Vietnam Veterans Museum.

33 - Eastern State Penitentiary.

34 - Edgar Alen Poe National Historic Site.

35 - Elfreth's Alley.

36 - Rocky Steps and Rocky Statue.

37 - American Jewish Museum.

38 - Penn Museum.

39 - Mutter Museum..

40 - Masonic Temple.

41 - Hard Rock Cafe.

We had no idea that Philadelphia is one of the best city's in USA it was our thinking it's a coastal city like our Mangalore in India and we headed towards New York to see Statue of Liberty Island as we had seen the Statue from the shores of the sea Manhattan.We still had few more days of work and had to stay in New Jersey.On the last weekend we turned right after the exit from our apartment and drove straight to words Philadelphia hoping to see some thing that may be interesting like always in any state in USA.

As we approached Philadelphia we were wonder struck by the sight we saw in front of us on going to the destination guided by the female voice over the GPS it was nothing but full of such wonderful surprises which made us very shy that we did not.

The National Flag was designed by Betsy Ross.When the Flag is hoisted the National Anthem must be sung as per our custom in India.In America the National Flag is flying always some where and in many places every where.My interest was to hear that song sung by a voice and played on instrumental music.I have done this first as I can then say something beautiful after seeing the Freedom Bell and the home of the designer of the national flag.All the glory of the designer is fine but there is no mention of the man who wrote the national song nor any monument for the person who wrote the song I could not see anywhere while going on a tour of the sight seeing Bus with a guide who explained every thing including Ice cream that was invented and enjoyed by the people of India as much as the people of America.

The song was written. after seeing the war of independence from where ever the poet who was seeing the battle being fought by the brave American solders fighting the British all night.The man who wrote the song was Francis Scot Key.

However I give you the lyrics and music for you to sing with a video as the Flag waves in the Sky try the video if you want to learn singing this song. At a competition to sing this song and select a grand prize winner Jorden Shelton of Avada,Colo was selected as the grand prize winner of the Star-Spangled Banner few more artists also joined and generously agreed to donate their time and expertise to select the winning performance: pop singer-songwriter, DeLyn; international, Grammy Award-winning guitarist and singer,The prize was made possible by Grand Blanc Travel, which included a trip for two to Washington, D.C., including airfare; tickets and transportation to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game; and $400 in spending money. Three nights lodging were provided by JW Marriott Washington, D.C., a luxury hotel located on Pennsylvania Avenue within walking distance to the White House, the National Mall, the National Museum of American History, and a myriad of dining and shopping destinations.The Video of this is presented in this Hub as my contribution from India.

Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

While no one knows the exact origin of the first American flag, some historians believe it was designed by Congressman Francis Hopkinson which and has been sewn by Philadelphia seamstress Betsy Ross.There are rules as to how to fly the American Flag which are as under:-

1. The Flag should be displayed from Sun Rise to Sun Set - I did see the Flag flying all day every where I went.
2. Never allow the Flag to touch the ground.
3. If the Flag is illuminated at Night it is acceptable - Yes I saw all flags illuminated.
4. When displayed on the wall or window the Blue field must be in the Left hand Corner.
5. The must be raised quickly and lowered ceremoniously.
6. The Flag is Flown half mast to show respect to some one who is dead.
7. When Flown at half mast the flag should be raised to the top for an instant and lowered to the half - mast position.
8. The Flag should be hoisted to the top and lowered when lowering from half-mast at the end of the day.

The history of American Flag has been researched and preserved in text but the real original flag researched is not shown anywhere ordinarily.