Experience the history of the United States in Philadelphia with the children

More than 30 recruits stand at attention, arms at the ready.

"They may be young, but they are brave," notes the sergeant training.

Very young – some even in kindergarten yet, some who do not know their right from their left and sergeant commands to convert.

"Hip, Hip, Huzzah!" The crowd cheers as the group is inducted into the Continental Army.

That's right. The Continental Army. Here in the heart of historic Philadelphia on a steamy summer day, we have time traveled back to the heady days of the American Revolution, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the making of the famous flag Betsy Ross sewed the request of General George Washington – all rights which it happened – thanks to 30 wonderful costumed "History Makers," as well as 40 first-class storytellers from the nonprofit Historic Philadelphia stationed at 13 "Once Upon a Nation" banks across what is called the most historic square miles of America, all working hard to make American history more than a bunch of data from visitors – whatever their age.

"Who is brave enough to us to fight", "Major David Salisbury Franks' bellows to the growing crowd in Garden Signer's – as much as we think he really toen General Washington was an urgent need for more recruits – before they are marched to a lawn adjacent to "train" with wooden guns.

Fun with history "It makes history fun," offered 10-year-old Caitlan Tsarouh, visiting from Oregon with her grandparents and cousin, also an enthusiastic recruit.

"A great way for them to remember history," adds Gail Brown, visiting from Georgia whose son and daughter are among the army recruits, while their younger brother watches. "This makes for good memories," she added.

That's the idea, of course. And it's all free, all summer long – which is not the case with a visit to some of the stellar country living history museums, including Mystic Seaport in Connecticut, Connor Prairie in Indiana and Williamsburg in Virginia.

And this summer, as the nation commemorates the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the civil war, there are Civil War-era stories (listen to the story of Henry "Box" Brown, who escaped to freedom in 1849 by mailing it to Philadelphia in a wooden crate), Civil War-era History Makers (including 19th-century civil rights leader Octavius Catto, killed the day he threw his first round) and special exhibitions like "Rally Round the Flag" about the Civil War color carriers and the flags they carried at the Betsy Ross House.

You will also find free programs outside the city in Valley Forge, the site of brutal winter encampment George Washington but also in the historic area of Philadelphia, where the chance to meet and greet the history makers Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross have Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson and George and Martha Washington. Meet other fixtures of their time, although not as well remembered, including John Dunlap, who printed the first broadside of the Declaration of Independence, which was used when it was first read to the public, and Rebecca Franks, a loyalist ( third of Philadelphians were loyalists) who later married a British officer and moved to England.

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Stop in at the visitor center and pick up a Junior Ranger Activity Book for children to use as you tour the sites. You could meet a settler who can show you how to make rope or play a 18th-century instrument. Get a flag of one of the narrators and add a star to the circle of 13 stars for each site you visit. (Children receive a free ice cream if they have got all 13 stars on their flag.)

Take time out for a short film told from a kids' perspective on whether they wanted to remain faithful, rebelled against the king of England, or just were not sure (one third of Philadelphians were undecided). Check Ben Franklin in 3-D during the 15-minute "360 Liberty" show at the historic Philadelphia. It opened just last fall.

The children will lead you from narrator to narrator, because this excellent crew – actors, teachers and even opera singers – not just telling stories as they perform on stage, even belting out songs. We hear how the bald eagle, not the turkey the national bird came to be and how some Continental soldiers thought they were about to confront a ghost, but to discover it was a white horse carrying a had somehow wandered in and the steps of their barracks. In Elfreth's Alley – oldest street in America in continuous use – children discover that the very first Fourth of July celebration was held in Philadelphia in 1777.

The smallest history buffs – whether you want to become history buffs – can apply for the special "Valley Forge Secrets & Spies Tour" where General Washington recruits children are American spy network to connect to traitors to discover, learn 18th-century spy techniques in the process (yes, they were using invisible ink). While in Philadelphia, a member of the Colonial Kids Quest, which should help children to find the missing Declaration of Independence with a dog named Freedom. (There is also an adult-oriented dining program complete with the chance to listen to the Founding Fathers at Independence Hall.) The extra cost seems worth it.

When you break a modern entertainment, head to Franklin Square to have a burger and shake at Burger Square, ride a carousel (you knew Philadelphia was the center of the carousel industry?) Or play a round of miniature golf surrounded by mini- Philadelphia icons.

Do not try to see everything in one day – not as Philadelphia hotels offer a new hotel Overnight Package at $ 198 for two nights, including parking, which otherwise could reach $ 75, and a special teddy bear.

There's just so much history a child – or adult – can at once, after all.

Marching, either. Aaron Lawson, 10, said that when his enlistment was over, he had his wooden musket for the pool of the hotel trade.

More Source:

10 Best Historic U.S. Sites for Kids - Family Vacation Critic
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United States Mint Philadelphia — visitphilly.com
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Submited at Saturday, July 9th, 2011 at 6:00 am on Family by ethan
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