Celebrate July 4th All Year

PHILADELPHIA - There is no better place to celebrate America’s independence than in Philadelphia, the city where it all began. Known as “America’s birthplace,” Philadelphia is home to iconic locations and artifacts that tell the story of America’s founding in a way no other place can match. At any time of year, visitors can learn and explore where history happened by touring prominent sites in the city, including where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776.

Philadelphia is a playground for history buffs. As the first World Heritage City in the United States, the city has 68 National Historical Landmarks that played an important role in the country’s formation in what’s called the nation’s “most historic square mile,” making it the best place in America to celebrate its independence.

Kick off your celebration of the nation’s beginnings at Independence National Historical Park a robust collection of sites including Independence Hall — where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, and the Constitution was written and debated — and the Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of freedom, as well as the Benjamin Franklin Museum, Franklin Court Printing Office, the Second Bank of the United States, Declaration House, New Hall Military Museum, and more.

Situated on Independence Mall, the President’s House marks the footprint of the residence of Presidents George Washington and John Adams while in office. The site features a display telling the story of the enslaved persons who built and worked in the house while examining the paradox of slavery and freedom in the new nation.

Another prominent historic site to visit is Carpenters’ Hall, the site of the first Continen- tal Congress in 1774. Here is where you will have the chance to see hand tools, the chairs used by Founding Fathers and other historic artifacts on display. Then, take a tour of the home of reported American flag maker Betsy Ross and learn about her interaction with the Founding Fathers. The Betsy Ross House is also a great place to learn about how working people lived in 18th-century Philadelphia. Continue your journey back in time with a stroll down carefully preserved Elfreth’s Alley — the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited street — lined with 32 Federal and Georgian-style homes.

Explore the dramatic story of the U.S. Constitution from Revolutionary times to the present at the National Constitution Center or head to the Museum of the American Revolution for an overview of the historical sites located throughout the region.