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Awaiting Your Return From Shore |
The city was
founded in 1682 by William Penn and settled by Quakers. Its rapid
development made it the second largest city in the British Empire just
before the American Revolution; its economic power however, encouraged
strong Revolutionary feelings. The home to both the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution, Philadelphia also held great attraction
for politicians and other notables such as Benjamin Franklin.
The "City of Brotherly Love" boasts ethnic diversity, with substantial
communities of Italians, Irish, Eastern Europeans and Asians. All were
attracted by the city’s reputation for tolerance and liberalism.
Philadelphia may be one of the oldest cities in the United States, but its
population is younger than the national average, with 40% between the ages
of 25 and 54. The fifth largest city in the U.S., Philadelphia’s 129 square
miles are home to more than 1.6 million people, or nearly six million
including the metropolitan population. The city’s strength today is its
great energy, supported by history, strong cultural institutions and an
impressive new downtown convention center.
No visitor should leave here without discovering "America’s most historic
square mile," which covers a mere four blocks just west of the Delaware
River but harbors such important monuments as the famed Liberty Bell;
Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was prepared and
signed; Congress Hall, first seat of the new United States Congress;
Carpenter’s Hall, where the delegates of the first Continental Congress met
and aired their grievances against the English king; and the Old City Hall,
home to the U.S. Supreme Court from 1791 until 1800. In the beautifully
restored Old City stands the Betsy Ross House, a monument to the woman
credited with making the first American flag. The pretty, cobbled way of
Elfreth’s Alley has been in continuous residential use since 1727, earning
recognition as the oldest street in the United States.
Along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway are some of the most outstanding
museums, such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum. Fine
dining is available in dozens of distinctive restaurants and some of the
most elegant shopping can be found within a few blocks of Center City, as
Philadelphians prefer to call their downtown area. |
Awaiting Your Return
From Shore |
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Complimentary
Spirits Await |
Return to Your
Suite and Sail Away to The Next Adventure |
Entertainment
and Dancing Await You |
