On The Scene * OUT+ABOUT HAMILTON’S PHILADELPHIA FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED STATES Philadelphia, PA IS HOT! a huge Hamilton fan, set played a huge role in the fight for independence. ‘Hamilton: An American Musical’ is coming to Florida in 2018, and tickets will be so hot you may have a better out to let people know Hamilton’s story.” At Valley Forge, Washington chance of learning about this controversial Founding that Hamilton’s greatest Catherine is also giving noticed Hamilton’s brilliance Father on a walking tour of Philadelphia. achievements—and his 20 percent of the app’s net and leadership. The young biggest scandal—happened in proceeds to the Friends aide, only 22 at the time, STORY: MARY ANN DESANTIS her city and not in New York. of Independence Park, a worked alongside the Catherine developed an app nonprofit organization that general in a stone house that called Alexander Hamilton aims to restore the large served as the commander’s Walking Tours, which follows Greek Revival-style building headquarters. Today, visitors ost people know An American Musical” Hamilton’s footsteps when that housed the First Bank can tour the original Potts Alexander Hamilton received 11 Tony Awards he lived in Philadelphia in of the United States, which House, named for the family Mas a Founding and has played to sold-out the 1790s as the first U.S. Hamilton founded. that rented it to Washington. Father whose face is pictured crowds ever since. When the Treasury secretary. Valley Forge is also where on a $10 bill, and his touring productions arrive in “I listened to the musical THE AMERICAN the infamous rivalry between * contributions to the birth Orlando and Tampa for the soundtrack, and I got ob- REVOLUTION Hamilton and Burr began. I thought it of our nation and to the 2018-19 season, ticket sales sessed. I couldn’t sleep at Both men were handsome U.S. Treasury system were will be scalding. night as the songs echoed Hamilton’s unbelievable officers, but Washington was time to immense. His complicated Even if you do score through my head,” says Cath- success began as a soldier disliked Burr immensely set the record life, however, was filled with tickets, you may want to erine, a young mother who in the Continental Army because of Burr’s womanizing straight that so much drama that musical learn more about Hamilton strolled her toddler around at Valley Forge, site of and secretiveness. The seeds creator Lin-Manuel Miranda before seeing the fast-paced Philadelphia’s historical sites Gen. George Washington’s of jealousy were sown, and Philadelphia was able to build a Broadway musical that traces his rise while creating the app. encampment. Now a the hatred between Burr and played a show around him. from poor orphan to George “New York has a ‘Sex in the U.S. National Park about Hamilton grew immensely in huge role in When Lin-Manuel read Washington’s right-hand man City’ walking tour app, and 45 minutes north of the following years, which Hamilton’s biography, he and, ultimately, to his death that show has been over for Philadelphia, Valley Forge the musical’s song “My Shot” Hamilton’s envisioned the story as a in a duel with Aaron Burr. 10 years,” she says. “I thought was the turning point for so aptly explains. story. hip-hop soundtrack. After Catherine Price, a it was time to set the record the American patriots who Any visit to Philadelphia HAMILTON, SIGNER’S HALL AT THE —CATHERINE PRICE, HAMILTON NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER opening in 2015, “Hamilton: Philadelphia author and straight that Philadelphia were on the brink of losing must include the Museum WALKING TOURS CREATOR Hamiliton photo: Mary Ann DeSantis; First Bank photo courtesy of Visit Philadelphia®/ C.Smyth On The Scene * OUT+ABOUT divided and often at war with get free, timed tickets to each other.” tour the site from the nearby Those conflicts among the Independence Visitor Center. new nation’s leaders and The Assembly Room inside citizens were not ignored in Independence Hall is not the the museum’s 16 galleries. room the “Hamilton” musical Visitors may even wonder troupe made famous, but it how the country survived the is the room where history in- 18th-century political strife, deed happened. In this austere but they leave with a renewed chamber, George Washington sense of optimism that Amer- was appointed command- icans can rise above turmoil, er-in-chief of the Continental just as the patriots did. Army in 1775. It is also the ED STROUD TELLS A After a full morning of ex- room where both the Declara- STORY AT ONE OF THE “ONCE UPON A NATION” ploring Philadelphia’s newest tion of Independence in 1776 STORYTELLING BENCHES museum, stop at The Little and the U.S. Constitution in Lion, which serves comfort 1787 were signed. Trip tip food for breakfast, lunch, and Congress Hall, adjacent to Take time to stop at dinner. Alexander Hamilton’s Independence Hall, is the one of the “Once Upon nickname was “little lion,” oldest building to be used a Nation” storytelling MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION and the cafe is in a former as a meeting place for the benches scattered bank building so it’s an inspi- U.S. Congress, which met around Philadelphia’s LIBERTY BELL MERCHANTS EXCHANGE rational place to resume the in Philadelphia from 1790- Old City and Valley of the American Revolution, Hamilton walking tour. 1800 while Washington, Forge. From Memorial which opened in April. The D.C., was being constructed. Day to Labor Day, city was the headquarters THE ROOM WHERE IT Two of Hamilton’s greatest professional storytellers for the Revolution, and the HAPPENED achievements—the regale visitors with museum serves as a portal establishment of the First interesting and often to Philadelphia’s other great If it has been years since Bank of the United States and little-known facts historical sites. you visited the iconic Liberty the Federal Mint—took place about the nation’s early 18,000 The museum tells the Bell, Independence Hall, and in Congress Hall. leaders, including many people a complete story of the the National Constitution Before leaving revolutionary women. day visit American Revolution. The Center, it’s definitely time Philadelphia, be sure The strategically located the Liberty exhibits—many of them to return. The 2,080-pound to sign your name on benches—13 for the 13 Bell Center hands-on—feature artifacts, Liberty Bell was moved a digital version of the colonies—are great rest during the weapons, letters, art, and from Independence Hall U.S. Constitution in the stops in a city known for summer— lifelike re-creations of historic after the 1976 Bicentennial Signer’s Hall at the National its walkability…and all National scenes. The most powerful Celebration, and since 2003 Constitution Center. Life- the stories are free. VALLEY FORGE MONUMENT presentation is the final it has had its own glass- size bronze statues of 42 Park Service. 12-minute theater experience enclosed exhibit hall. While Constitutional Convention that reveals the crown jewel the bell is visible through delegates, including of the museum: the actual the lighted windows after Alexander Hamilton, will 23-foot-long tent used by Gen. dark, getting an up-close be watching over your Washington throughout the and personal look at the shoulder as you discover Revolutionary War. nation’s most-sacred relic why the U.S. Constitution is Mary Ann “The museum has many is breathtaking. as important today as it was DeSantis Mary Ann other characters just as Known as the birthplace when they were building the DeSantis has written interesting as Hamilton,” says of America, Independence framework for a new and features for Style Dr. Philip C. Mead, curatorial Hall is the centerpiece of powerful nation. publications since 2006. She was recognized with first-place Florida director and chief historian. the Independence National For information about all Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards for Travel Writing in 2016 “The Founding Fathers were Historic Park. Visitors can the sites, see visitphilly.com. and in 2012. LIberty Bell, Valley Forge Monument, Merchants Exchange, andAmerican Museum of the Revolution American Revolution exterior interior photo courtesy photos: Mary of Visit Ann DeSantis; Philadelphia®/ Museum J.Fusco of the .