A few weeks ago we visited Philadelphia and some of the surrounding areas. We had plenty of opportunities to fill our appetite for books and history.
The Schwenckfelder Library in Pennsburg, PA is not housed in an old building, but it is full of history, with Pennsylvania Dutch and German artifacts. The library focuses on genealogy, and has shelves of old books, most of which are written in German. We were in a book lover's paradise.
Doylestown is a quaint town, and home to the Mercer Museum. We were in awe of the concrete castle loaded with old artifacts from floor to ceiling, literally. At times we felt like were were on the set of Jane Eyre, or some other period drama as we roamed the hallways and staircases. The Mercer Museum has a bit of everything, from old bottles to gallows. Henry Mercer amassed his collection so that future generations could appreciate and discover the past. The museum is truly one-of-a-kind, as is his house, Fonthill. Fonthill is another concrete castle laden with artifacts, mostly antique tiles and his own Mercer tiles.
We also visited Philadelphia and its historical sites - Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Christ's Church, and Elfreth's Alley (the oldest residential street in the U.S.). Philadelphia is a modern city with gems of history tucked among its streets. For a bird's eye view of the city, take a ride to the top of City Hall. The perspective is truly breathtaking... especially for those of us who are afraid of heights!
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