i took a train up to philadelphia yesterday.. it was very cold ..an i'm a cold nature & urban hiker.. <br /><br />had breakfast at the reading terminal ( one of my favorite places ) .. food/cuisine from world over.. an many amish , produce, cheese, an butcher shops..<br /><br />walked down to old city.. first stop was the liberty bell.. seen it a 100 times but no lines to wait.. an went on in.. <br /><br />then independence hall an caught the tour straight away.. never tire of that tour..<br /><br />my main destination was the constitution center.. it's vertuely brand new.. an would rival anything in DC.. many hand-on / push button/ listening phone stuff.. it's really great.. but yet to take it al in.. but stopped at the new vistors center an got side-tracked by the info givers..<br /><br />told me about the new military museum.. good to see.. then to historic Elfreth's alley..a tiny cobble stone street in old city exactly how it was.. the little colonial houses are really neet.. many are open an a 'period actor' is there to talk to..<br /><br />from there a few blocks away to besty ross's house.. an a self guided headphone tour.. <br /><br />besty was a remarkable women..to say the least..<br /><br />she apprenticed as a teen in upholstering..which was rare for a women to be an apprentice.. when she 'topped' out,, she married an upholster shop keeper.. ( prosper matched in heaven)..<br /><br />he died 3 years later an remarried.. short time ,he fought for independence,, captured by the british,, died in prison..<br /><br />betsy ran her shop alone but in times of war,, upholstering was backburned.. eventho philly was the colonies main furnature hub at that time.. <br /><br />one day,, come thru her shop doors was 3 men.. two being geo washington an the other robert morris the financer of the revolution..asked betsy to make a flag.. <br /><br />she said she never has ,, but will try.. <br /><br />she saw the design they wanted an quickly said that there 6 sided star was wrong an should be 5 sided..<br /><br />the 3 men said it would be easier to make a 6 sided star.. betsy said nonsense.. <br /><br />she studied eastern origamy for her upholster trade .. took some white cloth folded it this away & that.. took scissors an alittle snip .. VILA,, a 5 sided star..<br /><br />besty was a Quaker an never got credit in er life time for the first flag of the USA.. for she didn't want any.. an if'n the british found out,, she'd be hung for treason..<br /><br />it wasn't untill 1870 was her greatgrandson spoke of her at congress..<br /><br />betsy died in 1834 at age 84.. totally blind .. but said to have been happy an quaker faithful..<br /><br />was gettin' late.. had to run to catch the last train to back home..<br /><br />it was a good day..
...always appreciated.