Independence Hall   

Sixth and Chestnut streets
Philadelphia, PA 19106
215-965-2305
www.independencevisitorcenter.com/

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Located on Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth streets, Independence Hall is situated in a part of the city where history is palpable -- thanks to the plethora of historic buildings, the endless stream of tourists "oohh-ing" and "ahh-ing," and the costumed characters cajoling school children to succumb to the lure of history. (Look closely and you might even run into Ben Franklin himself having lunch on one of the nearby benches.) Built between 1732 and 1753, Independence Hall is the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was born. It's open daily, with longer hours during the summer, and there are informative tours every 15 minutes. Awash in colonial charm, the building retains its dignity despite throngs of visitors, and despite the simplicity of its design, it can be as awesome (in the purest sense of the word) as the world's most ornate sights. There's no denying the eerie, invigorating sense of single-mindedness and forward thinking that still pulses through the place.