Patriotic Landmarks of Pennsylvania

What patriotic landmarks can be found in Pennsylvania?

african american daughter and mother in military uniform with american flag at home.

Besides the Statue of Liberty, what other patriotic landmark comes to mind--one that is located in Pennsylvania? If you thought of the Liberty Bell, then you're on the right track. The Liberty Bell is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Watch this video to learn the story behind this famous bell.

The Liberty Bell
This special bell rings for all
of us, it's the Liberty Bell.
The Liberty Bell was rung on
July 8th 1776 to summon
everyone to come
to Independence Hall in
Philadelphia to hear the first
public
reading of the Declaration of
Independence.
The bell was originally ordered
to celebrate the 50 year
anniversary
of a special document to the
people in Pennsylvania. It was
written by William Penn.
Religious freedom was very
important to William Penn, so
the assembly inscribed this
line;
"Proclaim liberty throughout
all the land onto all the
inhabitants thereof."
This is from the bible and it
means that every time the bell
rings
it is announcing our freedoms
to everyone who hears it.
When they were first testing
the bell it cracked.
Two Philadelphia men, John Pass
and John Stow were given
the bell to melt down and
re-cast.
They added more copper, but
then it didn't sound right,
so they broke it up and cast it
again.
They tried to fix the crack,
twice. But later the crack
appeared again.
Still it was sturdy enough to
ring from the bell tower
in Independence Hall for many
years.
During the Revolutionary War
they took the bell down and hid
it so the British wouldn't melt
it into cannon balls.
After the war, it summoned the
government representatives
to meet in Philadelphia, the
nation's capitol at the time.
It called people out to vote.
And it rang out to celebrate
Washington's birthday
and the Fourth of July.
Later the Liberty Bell was
taken to cities throughout
our country to proclaim
liberty.
It stands for America's
independence.
Some cities have even made
copies of it, so freedom can
ring in their state.
The last time it was rung
loudly was on Washington's
birthday in 1846.
That day the crack got larger
and the bell was no longer safe
to ring.
Today it's displayed in the
Liberty Bell Pavilion in
Philadelphia.
Still every year on the Fourth
of July the bell is tapped and
thousands
of bells across the country are
rung to celebrate our freedom.

Transcript

Print an image of the Liberty Bell and paste it into your scrapbook. Or you can draw and color a picture of it. Be sure to include a caption under the picture that includes this information: name of the landmark, city of location, and the year it was first rung. You can review the video for this information if necessary.

Liberty Bell photograph with tape holding it up.

Independence Hall photograph with tape holding it up.

Independence Hall is located in Independence National Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two key documents were written in this building. Watch this video to learn about these two important documents and the years they were signed.

THIS IS INDEPENDENCE HALL IN PHILADELPHIA.
IT'S CALLED THAT BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE, IN 1776,
THE LEADERS OF THE 13 COLONIES
DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM GREAT BRITAIN
AND KING GEORGE III.
IT IS ALSO THE PLACE WHERE THE LEADERS OF THE 13 STATES
CAME IN 1787 TO WRITE A CONSTITUTION
FOR THE NEW COUNTRY.

Transcript

Then print an image of Independence Hall and paste it into your scrapbook. Or you can draw and color a picture of it. Write a caption under the picture that includes the following information: name of landmark, city of location, two documents signed there, and years they were signed.

This is the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge National Historical Park. It is dedicated to George Washington and the United States Continental Army. Watch this video for a tour of the park. Listen for where it is located and watch for what you can see, including the arch.

[MUSIC PLAYING] During the third year of the Revolutionary War, over the winter of 1777 and '78, this was General Washington's winter encampment, now preserved and interpreted by the Valley Forge National Historical Park. Here, he and his 11,000 men endured a harsh winter after having lost two battles to the British at Brandywine and Germantown. Nearly 2,000 men died here from disease, cold, and starvation. A difficult time for all, but it was here they regrouped, spent the winter, were drilled and trained by Baron Friedrich von Steuben in the arts of war. In addition, he introduced latrines and new hygiene standards to the camp that improved life, health, and morale to the previously somewhat slovenly troops.

The park is here, about 20 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The visitor center has a terrific display of artifacts from the period and information about the encampment

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Trams leave regularly for a tour of the park. Bicycles are available for rent, or you can bring your own. And the tour road is open to private vehicles, if you'd rather.

Along the tour road, there are examples of the 2,000 or so cabins that once were here. Some are open to give visitors a real sense of what it was like back in the day. This is the Muhlenberg Brigade area. At various times, living history demonstrations are given here by volunteers and rangers dressed in 18th century attire. There are other layouts of cabin locations along the way.

The National Memorial Arch is the largest monument in the park, commemorating Washington and his Continental Army's arrival to Valley Forge. There are a number of monuments placed throughout the park, commemorating various units who were there.

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Washington's headquarters is here, near the Schuylkill River. He rented the house from Mrs. Deborah Hewes for 100 pounds in Pennsylvania currency. Washington felt it was important to pay for lodging rather than just take it, which was the way of the British army. The interior of Washington's headquarters is decorated with period pieces and reproductions to give visitors a feeling that he and his staff were just there a few minutes before.

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Nearby, his personal guards built cabins to remain close to their general.

There, of course, is much, much more to see here, but, hopefully, this little bit will entice a personal visit, which is the only way to truly appreciate the beauty and value of your national parks.

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Transcript

Next, print an image of the National Memorial Arch and paste it into your scrapbook. Or you can draw and color a picture of it. Write a caption under the picture that includes this information: name of landmark, city of location, and name of the park.

Gettysburg National Military Park photograph with tape holding it up.

The Gettysburg National Military Park is another patriotic landmark. This is a memorial for all of the soldiers who fought in the Civil War. Watch this video for a tour of the park. Listen for where it is located and the number of those who were killed or lost in the three day battle of Gettysburg. Also, listen for how many monuments are in the park.

[MUSIC PLAYING] Gettysburg National Military Park marks a turning point in the Civil War, memorializing those valiant men on both sides who fought, were wounded, and died here. Gettysburg is in southeastern Pennsylvania, a little over 100 miles west of Philadelphia. There's a large visitor center, which is the place to plan your tour of this very expansive park. It's spread out over 10 square miles of farmland and the community of Gettysburg. There are a variety of tours and attractions here as well as a few free exhibits in the visitor center.

The three-day battle at Gettysburg was arguably the largest ever fought in North America, involving over 160,000 soldiers and officers. When the smoke cleared, 51,000 Americans were killed, wounded, captured, or missing. To grasp the significance of the proportions of this encounter, almost as many soldiers died in three days of combat here as during the entire war in Vietnam. Of all the soldiers in the Civil War, 25% would never return home to their loved ones.

In the park are over 1,400 monuments, markers, and memorials over 26 miles of roads covering about eight square miles. Consider the impact this engagement had on the 2,000 or so residents in the community of Gettysburg and surrounding farms. Driving through the various battlefields, it becomes apparent that fighting was going on in and around farms and those who lived and worked here. Certainly the landscape has changed a bit since then-- but in reality, not all that much.

Every large building in Gettysburg-- churches, schools, stores, and hotels-- were used as hospitals after the battle. Not only were there dead combatants everywhere, but horses and mules too. There were few doctors, nurses, and medical supplies. The sounds of the injured echoed across the landscape as limbs were amputated without anesthetic. It was a horrific scene from which many residents likely never fully recovered.

Transcript

Now, print an image of the Gettysburg National Military Park and paste it into your scrapbook. Or you can draw and color a picture of it. Write a caption under the picture that includes this information: name of landmark, city of location, and number of monuments in the park.

Your scrapbook pages are complete. Pennsylvania is the home of many other patriotic landmarks, too. Many important events related to American history happened in this great state, which was one of the original 13 colonies.