Valley Forge, Philadelphia

In Dec. of 1777 George Washington and his soldiers went to Valley Forge. In Feb. of 2009 B and E went to Valley Forge and it didn't feel any warmer than in 1777. There wasn't any snow but the wind was blowing and it started out being overcast. Since it has valley in it's name, I always thought that they were camped in a valley. NOT SO! Their cabins outlined the ridge that circled around the area. We rented a tape and drove the area. There are some monument marking the different areas and where different regiments were located.
Would you believe that these housed twelve people?
After being there it was easy to see why they chose this area.
The next morning we went into Philadelphia. It took us a little doing, but we found Independence Hall. We say the Liberty Bell and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. It was one published at the time to be read in another area. The signed one is in DC. We were able to go into Independence Hall and some of it's rooms.
The court room was interesting. It was to the right of the mail hall with no door, just a rail
like is in our court rooms today. The proceedings were very open to the public. Note the cage in the rt. for ground where the accused stood.

We also saw where the Senate and House met as this was the capital until the District of Columbia was formed.

The following is of the room in which the signers of the Declaration of Independence met and hashed it out. The next is of the chair at the front of the room. Ben Franklin said that he didn't know if it was a setting or a rising sun. When the Declaration was signed he said he decided that it was a rising sun.