Nov 28, 2007
The Constitution Center is an important addition to the sights of Philadelphia, pointing up the rewards of a trip to that historic city
The comic W.C. Fields directed that his tombstone read: "Better here than in Philadelphia." A hoary joke tells of contestants winning one week in Philadelphia as the first prize and two weeks in Philadelphia as a second prize.
It isn't true. Apart from possessing extraordinary museums of art and science, top-quality restaurants, and superb shopping, Philadelphia's chief attractions -- those associated with the Declaration of Independence, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell -- have now been embellished with a giant new (four years old) historic museum (also on the Independence Mall) called the Constitution Center, displaying the history and content of America's Constitution through the most modern new methods of presentation, including a seventeen-minute film that you watch immediately on beginning your tour. And since numerous provisions of the Constitution remain in dispute today, there is no better way to prepare yourself for contemporary controversies and issues.
Philadelphia's new Constitution Center is drawing raves from people who recently visited it, including my daughter Pauline, who taped an interview with one of its officials for a recent edition of one of our travel broadcasts. When added to such other compelling sights as Benjamin Franklin's home and museum (not to mention the Franklin Institute elsewhere in town), it alone justifies a trip, according to those many recent visitors.
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It isn't true. Apart from possessing extraordinary museums of art and science, top-quality restaurants, and superb shopping, Philadelphia's chief attractions -- those associated with the Declaration of Independence, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell -- have now been embellished with a giant new (four years old) historic museum (also on the Independence Mall) called the Constitution Center, displaying the history and content of America's Constitution through the most modern new methods of presentation, including a seventeen-minute film that you watch immediately on beginning your tour. And since numerous provisions of the Constitution remain in dispute today, there is no better way to prepare yourself for contemporary controversies and issues.
Philadelphia's new Constitution Center is drawing raves from people who recently visited it, including my daughter Pauline, who taped an interview with one of its officials for a recent edition of one of our travel broadcasts. When added to such other compelling sights as Benjamin Franklin's home and museum (not to mention the Franklin Institute elsewhere in town), it alone justifies a trip, according to those many recent visitors.
Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: philly
Jul 13, 2007
A major King Tut exhibit provides a powerful reason for visiting Philadelphia prior to September 30
Apart from the standard attractions of Philadelphia -- Independence Hall, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, top restaurants, and more -- the temporary King Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute is the event of the decade. It's the first to have left Egypt in many years; it will remain in Philadelphia only until September 30 before moving to London; and it apparently includes every major item other than the actual funeral mask of the young king and his mummy. More than a million visitors have already been to see it. You will of course need reservations, which can be made by phoning tel. 877/TUT-TKTS or by accessing www.kingtut.org. Tickets are dated and timed for between 8:30am and 9pm. They cost from $17 to $32 and also enable you to see objects from the tombs of other pharaohs who ruled during Egypt's Golden Age. Here's a remarkable travel opportunity. Write and read comments about this post.
Labels: philly
Fifty years ago, 
Arthur Frommer is generally acknowledged to be the nation's foremost travel authority. He is the founder of the
