Independence Hall in Philadelphia stands at the very heart of American history. Completed in 1753, this handsome civic building is famous as the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where the Constitution was drafted. The structure forms the centerpiece of the Independence National Historical Park, and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Assembly Room -

A guided tour of the hall's interior will bring you to the very space in which these two historic documents were signed, the Assembly Room.

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Liberty Bell -

Across from Independence Hall is the pavilion housing the Liberty Bell. The bell is an iconic symbol of freedom and independence in the United States. In the 1840s, a narrow crack developed in the bell's waist after nearly 90 years of constant use, and it was subsequently retired.

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Elfreth's Alley -

You can absorb more of Philadelphia's compelling history by treading Elfreth's Alley. Dating back to 1702, it's often referred to as America's oldest residential street.

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Philadelphia Museum of Art -

Allow a good couple of hours or so to browse the extraordinary collections of art housed in this excellent museum. The vast portfolio includes paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative art. The museum also houses an impressive display of medieval armor.

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Eastern State Penitentiary -

Opened in 1829, Eastern State was the world's first "penitentiary," designed to rehabilitate prisoners through solitary confinement. Instead, it drove them insane. Mobster Al Capone was incarcerated here, as was infamous bank robber Willie Sutton. Closed in 1971, the jail reopened as a visitor attraction in 1994 and today welcomes a captive audience.

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Reading Terminal Market -

Sightseeing Philly can work up an appetite. Appease your taste buds by grabbing a snack and something to drink at Reading Terminal Market. They've been feeding hungry tourists since 1893.

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Hersheypark -

If you're traveling with kids, a wonderful out-of-town option is the fantastic Hersheypark. Located in Hershey (where the famous candy bar is manufactured), this renowned amusement park features a wealth of thrill-a-minute rides and entertainment for kids and adults alike.

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Gettysburg National Military Park -

Pennsylvania encloses hallowed ground, that of the Gettysburg National Military Park. It's on this site that the Battle of Gettysburg was fought between July 1–3, 1863. The battle claimed over 50,000 lives in just three days, and is marked by several monuments and memorials.

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Gettysburg National Military Park -

Many of the park's 43,000 American Civil War artifacts are displayed in the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center. Also within its boundaries is the Gettysburg National Cemetery, the final resting place of Union and Confederate fallen, plus those killed in the Spanish–American War (1898), the First World War, and other conflicts.

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Presque Isle State Park -

Pennsylvania is blessed with an especially appealing conservation area, the Presque Isle State Park. Located near Millcreek and sitting on a peninsula that curves out into Lake Erie, the park is a favorite outdoor recreation destination offering as it does popular activities such as swimming, boating, hiking, and biking. Pictured is the Presque Isle Light, in operation since 1873.

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Tom Ridge Environmental Center -

Presque Isle State Park is a National Natural Landmark noted for its birdwatching opportunities. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center houses exhibits about local history, habitats, and ecosystems. The building features a 22-m (75-ft) observation tower from which visitors are afforded sweeping views of the surroundings.

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Rare wildlife -

The Pennsylvania Audubon Society has listed the park as one of the best birdwatching sites in the state. Many of the bird species found at Presque are listed as "endangered" or "threatened," including the piping plover, cerulean warbler (pictured), rusty blackbird, and saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow.

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Bicentennial Tower -

If you find yourself in Eire, climb to the top of the 57-m-tall (187 ft) Bicentennial Tower, an observation tower located at the end of State Street on Dobbins Landing. It, too, offers an inspiring panorama of Presque Isle State Park.

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Fallingwater -

Fans of architecture should head out to the Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania to admire Fallingwater in Mill Run, a remarkable house designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939. It's built partly over a waterfall on Bear Run and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. After musing over the interior, visitors can browse a fine collection of artworks displayed inside.

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Phipps Conservatory -

Pittsburgh deserves a few days of your time for its variety of visitor attractions, places that include the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens set in the city's Schenley Park. This exceptional horticulture hub contains among other permanent environments the Center for Sustainable Landscapes, which is considered to be one of the "greenest" buildings in the world.

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Andy Warhol Museum -

Did you know that Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh? One of the city's most famous sons, Warhol was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His life and work is celebrated at the Andy Warhol Museum, where some of his most famous pieces including the Mao, Marilyn, and Elvis portraits, and the Campbell's Tomato Soup cans, are displayed. Incidentally, the late artist is buried at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Cemetery in the city's Bethel Park district.

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Carnegie Museum of Art -

Founded in 1895 by the Pittsburgh-based industrialist Andrew Carnegie, this was the first museum in the United States with a primary focus on contemporary art. Take time to contemplate its numerous collections set in beautiful galleries where pieces like this, 'Waterloo Bridge, London,' painted by Monet in 1903, can be admired.

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Duquesne Incline -

A must-do while in Pittsburgh is to ride the Duquesne Incline, a funicular that scales Mount Washington, a steep hill on the city's South Side neighborhood. As much a tourist attraction as a handy method of commute, the funicular dates back to 1877 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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State Capitol -

Pennsylvania's state capitol dates back to 1906 and is the grandest building in Harrisburg—President Theodore Roosevelt attended the building's dedication! Its huge dome, architecturally inspired by St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, is topped by the gilded brass statue of Commonwealth.

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State Capitol interior -

Pennsylvania's state capitol is often referred to as a "palace of art" because of its many sculptures, murals, and stained-glass windows decorating the interior. Visitors can see for themselves on a guided tour, which includes when not in use the grand chamber of the House of Representatives (pictured).

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Strasburg -

Locomotive enthusiasts can indulge their passion in Strasburg, a small town in Lancaster County renowned for its railway history. The most rewarding way of discovering the area is by catching the Strasburg Rail Road, which offers 45-minute scenic journeys aboard the country's oldest turn-of-the-century steam engines. Afterwards, remain on track by browsing the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.

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Amish country -

Strasburg lies deep in the heart of Dutch Pennsylvania and Amish country, and you'll no doubt come across Amish traveling in a traditional horse and buggy during your travels. Much of the 1985 movie 'Witness' was filmed in and around Strasburg. The crime drama stars Harrison Ford as a detective tasked with protecting a young Amish boy who becomes a target after he witnesses a murder in Philadelphia.

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Intercourse -

The delightfully-named community of Intercourse was also used as a filming location, and the destination is popular with tourists seeking Amish handicraft souvenirs and plenty of giggling selfies taken in front of the village's nameplate.

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Valley Forge National Historical Park -

Located near the city of King of Prussia and another revered Pennsylvania site sown with history, Valley Forge National Historical Park marks the encampment site of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-1778. Hugely symbolic as a place of suffering, sacrifice, and triumph during the American Revolutionary War, Valley Forge features historical buildings, recreated encampment structures, memorials, museums, and recreation facilities set in quiet meadows and leafy woodlands. Pictured is George Washington's winter headquarters. Here, the general coordinated the daily operations of the entire Continental Army as they endured a bloody siege mounted by the British.

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Valley Forge National Historical Park -

Among the park's most distinguished memorials is the National Memorial Arch built to celebrate the arrival of General George Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge. By the end of February 1778, starvation, disease, malnutrition, and exposure had killed more than 2,500 American soldiers.

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Punxsutawney -

Try pronouncing Punxsutawney after a few beers! And they do celebrate in style here every February when groundhog Punxsutawney Phil (pictured) makes an appearance to predict when spring will arrive. Thousands of attendees and international media outlets converge on the town at Gobbler's Knob for Groundhog Day, a tradition that dates back to at least 1886.

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Pine Creek Gorge -

Seeking communion with Mother Nature? Arrange a trip to Pine Creek Gorge. At almost 80 km (50 mi) long and over 304 m (1,000 ft) deep, this stunning natural wonder is known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. While you're in the vicinity, be sure to make a stop in the quaint town of Wellsboro where you'll see gas-lit streets and Victorian mansions that date back to the early 1800s.

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Worlds End State Park -

For more outdoor fun, venture into Worlds End State Park in Sullivan County. The park's land was once home to Native Americans (after the American Revolutionary War, Native Americans almost entirely left Pennsylvania). Today, the park offers year-round recreational opportunities, including environmental education, hiking, camping in tents and cabins, whitewater rafting, swimming, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, and fishing.

Sources: (American Battlefield Trust) (National Audubon Society) (Carnegie Museum of Art) (National Park Service)

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Pick your way through Pennsylvania

Unlocking the "Keystone State"

24/01/22 | StarsInsider

TRAVEL Usa

Known as the "Keystone State" for its important role in building the foundations of the United States of America—it is here that the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and the Gettysburg Address were drafted and ratified—and for its central location among the original Thirteen Colonies forming the United States, Pennsylvania is sown with American history. It's a destination also celebrated for its cultural and artistic legacy. Planning a trip?

Click through and pick your way through Pennsylvania.