Travel Oracles 50 States: Pennsylvania
As part of my summer series - Travel Oracles 50 States - I am revisiting each os the fifty American states as an overview on travel culture and history. Today: Pennsylvania
Joined: Pennsylvania ratified the U.S. Constitution on December 12, 1787; it was the second of the original 13 states to join the Union. Philadelphia was the headquarters, if not the official capitol, of the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. This historical city hosted the First Continental Congress, which was held in Carpenter's Hall, before the war, and the Second Continental Congress, which signed the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War, Pennsylvania provided more men to the Union Army, over 360,000, than any state except New York. "Pennsylvania mustered 215 infantry regiments, as well as dozens of emergency militia regiments that were raised to repel threatened invasions in 1862 and 1863 by the Confederate States Army.
Original Indigenous Peoples: Prior to the first waves of colonization, the major Pennsylvania tribes were the Lenape, Susquehannock, Shawnee, and Iroquois. Those original people of what would become the city of Philadelphia were the Lenape.
First Settlers: Swedes were the first European settlers in Pennsylvania. Traveling up the Delaware from a settlement at the present site of Wilmington, Del., Gov. Johan Printz of the colony of New Sweden established his capital on Tinicum Island (New Gothenborg) in 1643.
History moment: Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn as a haven for his fellow Quakers. Pennsylvania’s capital, Philadelphia, was the site of the first and second Continental Congresses in 1774 and 1775, the latter of which produced the Declaration of Independence, sparking the American Revolution. After the war, Pennsylvania became the second state, after Delaware, to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In the American Civil War (1861-1865), Pennsylvania was the site of the Battle of Gettysburg in which Union General George Meade defeated Confederate General Robert E. Lee, bringing an end to the Confederacy’s Northern invasion, as well as Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address. Tourists are drawn to Pennsylvania by its monuments to America’s revolutionary history, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Famous Pennsylvanians include patriot and inventor Benjamin Franklin, frontiersman Daniel Boone, painter Mary Cassatt and inventor Robert Fulton.
Known for: Philadelphia: the “City of Brotherly Love” as it's known is where the Continental Congress held its first meeting and where the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and the Gettysburg Address were written. Philadelphia was home to Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Paine, members of the Founding Fathers and many of America’s early thinkers, the Liberty Bell - an American independence symbol, Chocolate Capital Of USA (Hershey), Philly cheesesteak (sandwich), Pennsylvania Dutch, Amish communities, home state of former President James Buchanan
Places: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Lancaster, Pennsylvania Dutch County, Gettysburg
Movie setting: Rocky, Gettysburg, Witness, Flashdance, Goundhog Day, The Sixth Sense, Philadelphia, National Treasure, Silver Linings Playbook, and hit shows like ‘It’s always sunny in Philadelphia”
Musicians from: Nina Simone, Joan Jett, Halls & Oates, Mac Miller, Will Smith, Jim Croce, Boyz II Men, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Taylor Swift (yes, she was raised here before Nashville), and so many more
Surprising facts: Named by Governor William Penn after his arrival in the New World in 1682, Philadelphia combined the Greek words for love (phileo) and brother (adelphos), engendering its nickname of “the city of brotherly love.” In 1903, the Boston Americans and Pittsburgh Pirates competed against each other in the first official World Series of Major League Baseball at Exposition Park in Pittsburgh and the first baseball stadium was built in Pittsburgh in 1909. The Chocolate Capital of the US is Hershey, Pa.
From the dramatic hills of Pittsburgh across rolling farmland and majestic forest to the narrow streets of colonial Philadelphia, Pennsylvania provides a wide range of experiences. The state reflects a rich history—from halcyon days as the seat of the American Revolution and a fledgling nation's first capital through its role as a leader in the country's transformation into an industrial powerhouse—and its role today as a leader in the health-care and pharmaceutical industries, a center for the arts, and a burgeoning tourist destination. Pennsylvania has fascinating contrasts. A mostly rural state, it is home to two large cities: Philadelphia, the nation's fifth largest and the regional center for the eastern portion of the state; and Pittsburgh, the focus for the western portion. Let’s travel to Pennsylvania
My Experience: Given I lived in NYC for ages, I would frequently stop into Philadelphia for business and to see friends. I have also been on a number of history tours (one of my fave subjects) and love walking around the oldest parts of the city. Top things to do in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia: The first World Heritage City in the United States celebrates its past at sites such as Independence Hall and revels in its present as a funky, modern metropolis on a cultural upswing. Founded by William Penn and nurtured by Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia today buzzes with lively neighborhoods, excellent restaurants, and fun nightlife. Die-hard sports fans, avid art lovers, and history buffs all have plenty to explore. Whether you enjoy fine dining or a bike ride through Fairmount Park, one thing is certain: there is much to love in the City of Brotherly Love.
Nature: Many of the national parks in Pennsylvania are designated historical sites that offer walking trails and other outdoor activities as a unique way to experience the natural beauty in the state. Pennsylvania has 121 state parks, 19 national parks, and seven National Heritage Areas.
Ranking in US: Per the annual US News report, Pennsylvania is currently ranked #40 out of 50 in 2021 and #41 in 2019.