Sitting 16 stories up in the Penn Mutual Towers in
Philadelphia, located at 510 Walnut Street, the view is exquisite. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Looking out
one window your view overlooks the Delaware River, staring straight out at the
USS New Jersey and the aquarium. The other window is even better. There is
Philadelphia as far as the eye can see on a clear day. The Ben Franklin Bridge
in all its glory, Aramark, Dow, almost anything you could think of. But the
most majestic part of this view is what is known as Independence Square. That
is made up of three things that are near and dear to us in the US as a part of
becoming our own country. The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall have been
around what seems like forever. The National Constitution Center on the other
hand, is relatively new, but tells the story that those of us from the United
States have come to know by heart. This area was a mainstay for those in the Philadelphia area when it came to field trips year after year. Looking out that window is like looking directly into the year 1776. As you look out, you see beneath you, Independence Hall. It at one time was our capital building and Philadelphia was our capital. After a few years of construction, it has been restored to the glory of 1776. This makes the view that much more historical. Behind the building is statue of Commodore John Barry, namesake of one of Philadelphia's four main bridges.
The other thing you see is the National Consitution Center. Built in the early 2000s and opened in 2003, it tells the story of the United State's struggle to become an independent nation. The main exhibit hall presents a chronology of constitution history which includes artifacts and original documents, interactive exhibits based on the preamble of the Constitution and ways to discuss the Constitution.
The one thing that you can't see from our windows on the 13th floor is the Liberty Bell. It is considered to be one of the most iconic Revolutionary War artifacts an at one time was in the steeple of Independence Hall which lies now about 100 feet away. Its crack and its story make it what it is today. A symbol of Freedom.
Looking out that window, you almost can hear the story being told to people from all over the globe. It is a symbol that our meager beginnings as a country have never been forgotten and will live on in all their glory as a part of Philadelphia.
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| Independence Hall & the Liberty Bell |

