Anniversary highlights in Philadelphia South Street, Penn's Landing & Betsy Ross House

Here is how we started our day…

Driving to garage sales on a bright and chilly morning and home for a simple breakfast. There were many community sales but I didn’t find any treasures this day.

Then it was over the bridge to a city…

that loves their Phillies!

Our first stop… where all the hippies meet, South Street, South Street.

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“Where do all the hippies meet? South Street, South Street!” (“South Street” by the Orlons)

South Street is Philadelphia’s hip strip and trendy melting pot. Here you’ll find a many-splendored promenade alive with way-kewl boutiques, eccentric shops, singular restaurants, bars, night clubs and cafes — and where the people-watching is as fun as the window-shopping. Aging hippies, the fashionably unfashionable, tongue-piercers, spike-haired skateboarders, and even nuclear families commingle comfortably on this eclectic and electric swath. If you feel a bit self-conscious because you’re old enough to remember the above lyric from the 1963 hit rock-‘n’-roll tune, just relax — like the song says, “it’s the hippest street in town.”

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South Street ends right at the Delaware River, so we parked at Penn’s Landing where we could see the Battleship New Jersey moored on the Camden, New Jersey side. I will share in a later post our visit to this magnificent ship a few summers ago.

We walked across this pedestrian bridge to get a better view.

a marina under the Benjamin Franklin Brigde

We watched an artist create spray paint art.

Next we headed a bit north to Old City and visited The Betsy Ross House. I have been there several times but John never was. It is tiny with equally small, spiral stair steps. (Note: Top right photo is not mine but a internet photo) Bottom left photo shows where Betsy and her husband, John are buried in the courtyard. The bottom right is a self-portrait of John and I in the sitting area of the courtyard.

The House’s History

Ross never owned this house, but rented here between the years of 1773 and 1786. The house was built about 1740 and consists of 3-1/2 floors and six rooms plus an attic. Betsy and her husband, John Ross, lived here and ran their upholstery business out of the house as well.

Other businesses occupied the House, after Betsy moved from here in 1786, until it was acquired by the Betsy Ross Memorial Association. Starting in 1898, two million Americans donated dimes to the Association to help convert the house from a time-worn building into a national shrine. In the 1920s, as the neighborhood declined, serious consideration was given to moving the structure to Fairmount Park (the largest urban park in the U.S.) due to a concern for its safety because of the severe risk of fire posed by two adjacent factories.

Sightseers today find that the factories are gone. In 1937, the building was donated to the city of Philadelphia and restored with the monetary assistance of radio-manufacturing millionaire Atwater Kent.

Salute the dedication of House staff and the generosity of donors, that makes it possible for over 250,000 visitors annually to be able to tour Betsy’s house in person. In addition, over a half million visitors take this virtual tour each year!

Today, in Philadelphia, only the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall draw more visitors than the home of the adored flagmaker. Annually, over a quarter of a million guests visit the Betsy Ross House.

Location: 239 Arch Street (between Second and Third Streets).
Built: circa 1740; Style: Georgian

Around the corner from The Betsy Ross House is Elfreth’s Alley.

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Elfreth’s Alley — popularly known as “Our nation’s oldest residential street” – dates back to the first days of the eighteenth century. Twenty years after William Penn founded Pennsylvania and established Philadelphia as its capital, the town had grown into a thriving, prosperous mercantile center on the banks of the Delaware River.
Since 1702, Elfreth’s Alley has been home to more than 3,000 people. Today thirty-two houses, built between 1728 and 1836, line the alley. They form one of the last intact early American streetscapes in the nation. Elfreth’s Alley is a National Historic Landmark District, one of the first districts that celebrates the lives of everyday Americans.

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Tuckered out and very hungry, we headed back across the bridge to our regular stomping grounds and had a perfect dinner at Bertucci’s. I enjoyed the Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp & Asparagus and John had the Chicken Piccata ~ delicious!

I mentioned that we were celebrating our 35th anniversary and our server brought us a complimentary Apple Cranberry Crostata. It is a new menu item and it was a perfect way to end a delightful day with my sweetie.

♥

From Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant on-line menu

Comments

marie says
October 18, 2010 at 4:47 am
I enjoyed seeing Philadelphia with you and John…looks like you had a wonderful time. Dinner at Bertucci's looked so yummy!
I was born on Flag Day and I loved hearing all about Betsy Ross. Thanks for the bit of history!
crochet lady says
October 17, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Sounds like you had a very pleasant day with your sweetheart! Happy 35th Anniversary.
Julie says
October 18, 2010 at 12:37 am
Thanks for sharing your wonderful day with us!!! Also, I have never been to Philadelphia, so it was great to get a glimpse into the city. Happy Anniversary!
Snippety Gibbet says
October 17, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Congratulations on the anniversary!!! You seem like such a loving couple.
Your day sounded great to me. I love old cities and visiting historic places. jan
Walking on Sunshine... says
October 17, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Happy Anniversary!!!
Your day sounds like something hubby and I would do! We're not into big vacations or getaways. We like it simple. The food looks really good and how sweet for them to give you dessert!
May you enjoy many, many more years to come!
natalia says
October 17, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Ciao ! Congratulations and AUGURI !
NanaDiana says
October 17, 2010 at 1:58 pm
What a wonderful visit to a great, history0infused city. I lived in PA my whole young adult life and only visited Philly twice. I love that it is called the City of Brotherly Love. Thanks for sharing your trip! Hugs- Diana
Ann says
October 17, 2010 at 10:27 am
You had the perfect day. The Betsy Ross house is charming, I would love to visit there some day. Happy Anniversary to you both.
Beth says
October 17, 2010 at 10:21 am
Happy anniversary! Looks like you had a wonderful day. What a wonderful city with lots of history and good food. Good luck to the Phillies!
Mildred says
October 17, 2010 at 9:50 am
Your day together looks like so much fun! I would love to visit the Betsy Ross House! Your meal sounds very good and the weather looks great too! Congrats on 35 years together ~ may God bless.

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