JOURNEY TO AMERICA'S BEGINNINGS IN INDUSTRIOUS PENN SYLV ANIA

tThe first Continental Congress, the gathering place of the nation’s Founding Fathers, the second state admitted to the Union—the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a cornerstone of history in the United States of America.

From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between, Pennsylvania offers up incredibly diverse geography, a unique culture and food scene, and centuries of history to explore.

With so much to see and do, the opportunities across Pennsylvania are too numerous to experience on just one trip, but let’s take a look at a few of the top offerings in the Keystone State.

Naturally, your student group will want to visit Philadelphia, the largest city in the state and the second most-populous on the East coast— home to 67 National Historical Landmarks. Start with sweeping views of the city at One Liberty Observation Deck , the tallest deck around. From 57 stories up, see 360-degree panoramic views of the city, day or night. Visiting students can utilize the Go Find Your Philly Interactive Boards, focusing in on key landmarks and getting even more information on their particular history, architecture, and cultural impact.

Back on the ground, at the Penn Museum , students can connect with the cultures of Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Mediterranean through the more than 1 million objects on display from across the globe. Galleries dedicated to Egypt, Greece, Rome, Etruscan Italy, Israel, China and Japan, and the Middle East provide in-depth insight into the past, while a newly added 25,000-pound red granite Sphinx of the Pharaoh Ramses II offers a great photo op upon entering the museum.

Situated mere steps away from Independence Hall—where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed—the National Constitution Center seeks to engage visitors through interactive programs and exhibits that explore the history and relevance of the Constitution and celebrate freedom. Students can get a U.S. history refresher with Freedom Rising, an inspiring 17-minute multimedia theatrical performance, before standing among 42 life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers in Signers’ Hall!

Not far away is Philadelphia’s newest museum, the Museum of the American Revolution , which uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. An interactive presentation of George Washington’s actual Revolutionary War tent is among the many artifacts that will leave students with a deeper understanding of this period of American history and how it relates today.

Next, we travel north to Lackawanna County, home to Scranton and full of history, art and science. Head back in time to the Industrial Revolution with the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour. Put on a hardhat, board a mine car and descend 300 feet below the Earth’s surface through an anthracite coal mine originally opened in 1860, as your guide explains the heroic efforts involved as men and boys worked to heat the nation.

All aboard! Step back in time to learn, see and experience how steam-powered engines drove the Industrial Revolution at Steamtown National Historic Site. Students can learn the history of the steam engine, see the giant locomotives that helped expand our nation, and hear the sensational true stories of those that rode, worked for, and built these beautiful machines.

While there, you can also learn how Scranton got the name Electric City—which you may remember from Kevin’s cover band Scrantonicity in The Office—at the Electric Trolley Station & Museum . This attraction commemorates the first successfully operational electric-powered streetcar system in the U.S. Enjoy the interactive exhibits and displays including vintage trolleys, then climb aboard an authentic 1926 or 1932 antique trolley for a 5.5 mile trip over Roaring Brook through the mile-long tunnel and along the original “Laurel Line.”

Lastly, head to The Ritz Theater, the same stage where Harry Houdini performed his famous escape acts, Frank Sinatra soothed audiences with his voice, and Yul Brenner dazzled in “The King & I.”

If you want to head west to Pittsburgh, first stop in Gettysburg for the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. The site of a turning point in the Civil War, this museum and memorial is a great opportunity for students to remember the Battle of Gettysburg and stand right where soldiers did during this historic event. A guided battlefield tour, led by a highly-trained Licensed Battlefield Guide, takes students on a journey through a story of conflict, conciliation and remembrance.

Finally, we arrive in Pittsburgh, known as the Steel City. The second-most populous city in Pennsylvania is impressive in many ways, from its 446 bridges to its long history as an early industrial capital. One big highlight here is the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh , a family of four diverse, dynamic museums.

Visit the Carnegie Museum of Art for an impressive array of art pulled from a collection of more than 30,000 works. Exhibitions cover everything from global modern art to the museums large collection. Then, you can head to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History for a day of science and history. Guided tours can cover fossils, minerals, ecosystems and ancient cultures.

At the Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh’s most-visited museum, experience four floors of interactive exhibits exploring the human body, the journey to Mars, Viking artifacts and much more. Last but not least, the Andy Warhol Museum tells the controversial artist’s story and explores his legacy through the largest collection of Warhol art and archives in the world.