Tag: Independence Hall

A visit to Independence Hall is free of charge, but to get in it’s necessary to book a ticket on-line (with limited times available if booking close to the day) and pay a small booking fee or just turn up at the visitor centre at 08.30. I had arrived into Philadelphia early, so thought I’d go along at 08.10 to just wait in the queue. I was surprised it was this long at that stage, but by the time it was 08.30 there must have been 150 people in the queue. I liked that one of the rangers came down the queue offering maps and asking if we had any questions.

Apparently tickets for the day are sometimes gone by 10 in the morning, although it’s usually sold out by around 11, and even then the tickets would only be available for the later tours. I just missed out on the 09.00 tour, but got a ticket for the 09.20 tour.

The moral of the story really is to either get up really early or be organised and book on-line and pay the $1 free. For anyone who does want to wait in the queue, there is free wi-fi available which helped pass the time nicely.

My posting the photo from Independence Hall made me remember another little incident from my visit (which I will get round to writing up properly). At the end of the second tour a rather loud Spaniard applauded the tour guide with a huge degree of enthusiasm. It didn’t feel like an applause moment, especially since the tour guide before hadn’t received one.

I was standing next to this enthusiastic man and he prodded me. Being British, this greatly offended me so I stared at him, which again is my British way of showing my intense anger at him. Not that he got that hint, he said “come on, applaud”. Now, not only I was not applauding, nor was anyone else, so I wasn’t being out of place here. Applause moments should naturally be apparent in life.

Verging on being livid at this uncouth behaviour in the home of American democracy I ignored him. This strategy failed so he asked me “why aren’t you applauding?”. I replied, quite grumpily, “I’m British, we don’t like creating a drama”. Now, saying this in Independence House was a bit ridiculous, as the British have created dramas all around the world for centuries and no more so than when the country ran the colonies.

Anyway, my response got a round of applause from three people nearby, although I wasn’t trying to be humorous, I was trying to articulate my nation’s values. The Spanish man walked off and complained at some confused group of Americans that they should have applauded. I was then slightly irritated that I had a round of applause, as that was the outcome that I had been trying to avoid at the beginning. Oh, when I said confused group of Americans, I mean they were confused by him, they seemed perfectly sensible and clever people otherwise.

I don’t know why I started on this story, I think it’s because I’m still irritated at being told to applaud.

I didn’t really want this photo taken as I was quite happy with just taking pictures of Independence Hall (more on which in another post since it’s one of the most important historic locations in the United States and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Anyway, a lady said I’d like a reminder of my visit, which wasn’t particularly true as I don’t need to be in the photo to remember it.

However, she was quite forthright, so I let her have my camera. Since there were three police officers standing near to her, I guessed that she wouldn’t steal it. She also didn’t look very agile, so it would have been a clumsy street robbery if I’m being honest. Not really wanting to be in the photo I walked as far away as possible, which seemed to slightly frustrate her and she said “you’re hardly in it”. That was obviously my plan, but I replied “oh dear” to make her feel better and I shuffled three inches forwards.

So, here’s a photo of me. And Independence Hall.