FROM MY PHOTO ALBUM -- OLDE CITY PHILADELPHIA

 

Hello, friends.  Hope you had a good Friday.  I have been spending much of my time in the hospital having tests.  Had two more yesterday and now have to go see a specialist next week.  It goes on and on.  But today I didn't have to go anywhere and it was nice.  I actually got to read about 4 chapters in my book.  Only 10 more chapters and the epilogue to go and then I will share it with you.

Today I thought I would go back in my old photo albums again and show you some pictures from August 5, 1979.  That's 41 years ago.  Wow!  I don't know where that time went because it sure doesn't seem that long ago.  I went to Olde City with some friends.  Unfortunately I used to keep these pictures in one of those magnetic photo albums and the color has drained away.  They are now in an album with just paper pages but the damage is done.  You can still see the pictures though.

This first one is the Second National Bank of the United States.  It opened in 1816 and was a bank until 1836.  Its main duty was to regulate public credit and to establish a sound and stable national currency.  Today it is a portrait gallery.  I have spent many hours in there looking at the paintings.  The one of Washington is huge and a spectacular painting.

Here is a horse and buggy ride.  There are still these kinds of rides in center city.

Of course this is the Liberty Bell.  It is in its old building.  A new state of the art larger building was erected two blocks from this site.  Everything is now climate controlled and there is an interactive space to tell you all about the bell.

Across the street from the Liberty Bell is Independence Hall.  It's been quite a while since I was in there.  I have to make sure I visit it once things open again.

This is the Betsey Ross House where the first flag was made.  Or so the story goes.  It is really interesting inside.  You can see how people lived in the 18th century.  I remember how tiny the stairs are in the house.  I could not get my entire foot on them.  People must have been much smaller in those days.

Elfreth's Alley is the oldest constantly inhabited street in the United States.  Since 1703 there has always been someone living in these houses.  In fact, the son of a lady I used to work with lived on this street.  One of the houses is a museum.  I must go see it sometimes.  I've been outside, but never inside.  It is so narrow that no traffic can go through it.  If you are having something like furniture delivered, the truck has to park on another street and the people carry the furniture to your house.

And finally a fife and drum corp that was performing on Independence Mall.  I always enjoy listening to the fife and drums.

Hope you enjoyed this trip through the past.  I have to find some more photos to share with you.

Have a good night and I HOPE to be back tomorrow.

Kathy