This statue of Robert Morris, by sculptor Paul Wayland Bartlett, was cast in 1925 and originally dedicated on the Chestnut Street steps of the Second Bank of the United States on June 18, 1926. In 1961, it was moved to its current site in a courtyard, facing north towards the bank. The statue depicts Morris making his way through the snow during his mission to raise funds for Washington's troops at Valley Forge. In his proper left coat pocket is a scroll representing the $1,400,000 subscription list he obtained in order to help Americans win at Yorktown. Robert Morris Jr. (1734-1806) was an American merchant and a signer to the United States Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. Morris was known as the Financier of the Revolution, because of his role in securing financial assistance for the American side in the Revolutionary War. Ironically, he was sent to debtor's prison in later life.
The Second Bank of the United States, at 420 Chestnut Street, was chartered five years after the expiration of the First Bank of the United States in 1816 to keep inflation in check following the War of 1812. The Bank served as the depository for Federal funds until 1833, when it became the center of bitter controversy between bank president Nicholas Biddle and President Andrew Jackson. The Bank, always a privately owned institution, lost its Federal charter in 1836, and ceased operations in 1841. The Greek Revival building, built between 1819 and 1824 and modeled by architect William Strickland after the Parthenon, continued for a short time to house a banking institution under a Pennsylvania charter. From 1845 to 1935 the building served as the Philadelphia Customs House. Today it is open, free to the public, and features the "People of Independence" exhibit--a portrait gallery with 185 paintings of Colonial and Federal leaders, military officers, explorers and scientists, including many by Charles Willson Peale.
Independence National Historical Park preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution. Administered by the National Park Service, the 45-acre park was authorized in 1948, and established on July 4, 1956. The Second Bank of the United States was added to the Park's properties in 2006.
Second Bank of the United States National Register #87001293 (1987)
Independence National Park Historic District National Register #66000675 (1966)
Tags: 2nd Bank of the US William Strickland 2nd Bank of the United States bank statue perspective sculpture colonial center city greek revival landmark Philadelphia Phillyist Pennsylvania Robert Morris Paul Wayland Bartlett Second Bank of the United States old city Independence National Park Independence National Park Historic District National Historic Park Independence NHP NHP 1776 american revolution revolutionary war INHP Second Bank Portrait Gallery Portrait Gallery Second Bank Second Bank of the U.S. old custom house custom house Historical District columns doric Philly National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places historic district U.S. Historic District National Historic Landmark NHL U.S. National Historic Landmark Independence National Historical Park
The Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of the American Revolutionary War, originally hung in Independence Hall and is traditionally believed to have rung on July 8, 1776, to call Philadelphia’s citizens to hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was also rung for the First Continental Congress in 1774 and after the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, though historians doubt this due to the deteriorated steeple. The bell, commissioned in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House to mark William Penn’s Charter of Privileges’ 50th anniversary, was cast in London, cracked during testing, and recast by Pass and Stow in 1753. In 1777, it was hidden in Allentown to prevent the British from melting it down for ammunition.
The term “Liberty Bell” was popularized by the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1837, previously known as the Independence or Old Yankee’s Bell. The exact timing of the bell’s crack is unknown, but it was repaired in 1846 and last tolled on Washington’s birthday that year before becoming unusable. Displayed in Independence Hall’s “Declaration Chamber” since 1852, it toured various expositions until 1930. For the 1976 Bicentennial, it was moved to a glass pavilion and then to the Liberty Bell Center in 2003.
Independence National Historical Park preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution. Administered by the National Park Service, the 45-acre park was authorized in 1948, and established on July 4, 1956.
Independence National Park Historic District National Register #66000675 (1966)
Tags: Liberty Bell Independence National Park National Historic Park center city Philadelphia Phillyist landmark Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Center Independence Bell Old State House bell Tower Bell Old Yankee's Bell Independence National Park Historic District Independence NHP NHP John Dock Pass John Stow Pass and Stow Pass & Stow 1776 american revolution independence mall INHP Philly National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places historic district U.S. Historic District Independence National Historical Park
The Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of the American Revolutionary War, originally hung in Independence Hall and is traditionally believed to have rung on July 8, 1776, to call Philadelphia’s citizens to hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was also rung for the First Continental Congress in 1774 and after the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, though historians doubt this due to the deteriorated steeple. The bell, commissioned in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House to mark William Penn’s Charter of Privileges’ 50th anniversary, was cast in London, cracked during testing, and recast by Pass and Stow in 1753. In 1777, it was hidden in Allentown to prevent the British from melting it down for ammunition.
The term “Liberty Bell” was popularized by the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1837, previously known as the Independence or Old Yankee’s Bell. The exact timing of the bell’s crack is unknown, but it was repaired in 1846 and last tolled on Washington’s birthday that year before becoming unusable. Displayed in Independence Hall’s “Declaration Chamber” since 1852, it toured various expositions until 1930. For the 1976 Bicentennial, it was moved to a glass pavilion and then to the Liberty Bell Center in 2003.
Independence National Historical Park preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution. Administered by the National Park Service, the 45-acre park was authorized in 1948, and established on July 4, 1956.
Independence National Park Historic District National Register #66000675 (1966)
Tags: Liberty Bell americanrevolution Independence National Park National Historic Park colonial pennsylvania center city Philadelphia Phillyist landmark Liberty Bell Center Independence Bell Old State House bell Tower Bell Old Yankee's Bell John Dock Pass John Stow Pass and Stow Pass & Stow Independence National Park Historic District Independence NHP NHP 1776 independence mall revolutionary war INHP Philly National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places historic district U.S. Historic District Independence National Historical Park
The Liberty Bell, an iconic symbol of the American Revolutionary War, originally hung in Independence Hall and is traditionally believed to have rung on July 8, 1776, to call Philadelphia’s citizens to hear the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. It was also rung for the First Continental Congress in 1774 and after the Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775, though historians doubt this due to the deteriorated steeple. The bell, commissioned in 1751 for the Pennsylvania State House to mark William Penn’s Charter of Privileges’ 50th anniversary, was cast in London, cracked during testing, and recast by Pass and Stow in 1753. In 1777, it was hidden in Allentown to prevent the British from melting it down for ammunition.
The term “Liberty Bell” was popularized by the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1837, previously known as the Independence or Old Yankee’s Bell. The exact timing of the bell’s crack is unknown, but it was repaired in 1846 and last tolled on Washington’s birthday that year before becoming unusable. Displayed in Independence Hall’s “Declaration Chamber” since 1852, it toured various expositions until 1930. For the 1976 Bicentennial, it was moved to a glass pavilion and then to the Liberty Bell Center in 2003.
Independence National Historical Park preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution. Administered by the National Park Service, the 45-acre park was authorized in 1948, and established on July 4, 1956.
Independence National Park Historic District National Register #66000675 (1966)
Tags: Liberty Bell Independence National Park National Historic Park center city Philadelphia Phillyist landmark Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Center Independence Bell Old State House bell Tower Bell Old Yankee's Bell John Dock Pass John Stow Pass and Stow Pass & Stow Independence National Park Historic District Independence NHP NHP 1776 american revolution independence mall revolutionary war INHP Philly National Register of Historic Places NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places historic district U.S. Historic District Independence National Historical Park
The building at 239 Arch Street, now known as the Betsy Ross House, is generally recognized as the place where the famous seamstress lived when made the reportedly made the first American Flag. The house served as both a business and a residence for many different shopkeepers and artisans for more than 150 years. In the 18th century it was occupied by a shoemaker, a shopkeeper, an apothecary and the legendary upholsterer, who is believed to have lived here from 1773 to 1785.
Oral history, supported only by 19th century affadavits, recounts the widowed Ross meeting with George Washington, Robert Morris, and George Ross (the uncle of her late husband, John) in her upholstery shop in 1777. Washington pulled a folded piece of paper from his inside coat pocket. On it, was a sketch of a flag with thirteen red and white stripes and thirteen six pointed stars. As the story goes, Betsy suggested changing the stars to five points, showing them how to do it with just one snip of her scissors. Despite the absence of proof of origin, evidence does exist that Ross did in fact make flags for Pennsylvania Navy in May 1777, and a folded star pattern with her name was found in a Philadelphia Quaker Society safe.
The structure is a variation of a "bandbox" style house, with one room on each floor and a winding staircase stretching from the cellar to the upper levels. The front portion of the house was built around 1740, with the stair hall (or piazza) and the rear section added 10 to 20 years later. Over the years, various structural changes to the house and general wear and tear left it in dire need of restoration.
In 1937, Philadelphia radio mogul, A. Atwater Kent offered to pay up to $25,000 for the restoration and commissioned historical architect Richardson Brognard Okie. Original elements were kept wherever possible. A new structure was added in the rear, made from period bricks. Kent then purchased the two adjacent properties to develop a "civic garden." In 1941, the entire property, including the historic house and courtyard, were given to the city of Philadelphia. In 1965 an annex building was added to the property and in 1974 the courtyard was renovated and the fountain added.
In preparation for the United States Bicentennial, bones deemed to be that of Betsy Ross, born Elizabeth Griscom (January 1, 1752 - January 30, 1836), were moved to a grave in the courtyard.
Today, the Betsy Ross House is run by Historic Philadelphia, Inc. Seven period rooms, including a kitchen, bedrooms, parlor and the only interpretation of an 18th century upholstery shop in the country, are furnsihed with period antiques, 18th-century reproductions and objects that belonged to Betsy Ross and her family. Highlights of the collection include Betsy Ross' walnut chest-on-chest, her Chippendale and Sheraton sidechairs, her eyeglasses, her quilted petticoat and her Bible.
Tags: Betsy Ross Betsy Ross House center city Philadelphia Phillyist Pennsylvania Philly historic district U.S. Historic District