After a wonderful dinner with my son's preschool teacher, my son and I spent the next day sight-seeing in the Old City in Philadelphia.  We saw the Liberty Bell and visited Carpenters Hall, where the First Continental Congress met.  One place we didn't get to visit on this trip is Independence Hall.  Although entry is free, tickets are required, and by 2:30 in the afternoon, they were out of tickets for the day.


I saw that as a good thing since it means that many people are interested in seeing the place where our Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Constitution debated. 

One of my favorite places, though, was the National Constitution Center.  There is much there that visitors can learn from, starting with the show "Freedom Rising," which helps explain the birth of America and the changes it has undergone as it tries to make its principles a reality for all its citizens.  There is also a room with life-size statues of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.  You can feel as though you are in the room as they discuss Independence.  There is even a large book you can sign, pretending that you are signing the Declaration of Independence.

The Old City in Philadelphia is a great place to take gifted kids who are interested in history.  It is a place where history can come alive and kids can see the things they have read about.