By Joe Curreri

There is this city, steeped in history, lush with culture, awash in tradition. There is this city where resolute men defied tyranny and declared themselves to be independent and free—and founded a new nation.

Philadelphia’s historic district rings true with some of the region’s most popular attractions.

City Hall, Philadelphia’s symbol and masterpiece, sits in the Central Square of William Penn’s original plan for a “green countrie towne.” It’s also the tallest building without steel-support construction in the world. The most dominant—amazing and unique—part of City Hall is the ornate tower soaring 548 feet, 11 and 1/4 inches above the ground; it’s where the founder of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania, William Penn, rises above all to view the fruits of his labor these 400-plus years later.

Now a national historic landmark, the building is considered the best—and biggest—example of French Second Empire architecture in America. With 700 rooms, it is the largest municipal building in the United States.

“There are many interesting facts about City Hall that will attract visitors,” explained Greta Greenberger, who works for the Foundation for Architecture leading City Hall tours. “The building took 30 years to construct and officially opened on January 1, 1901, with the first—and last—recorded fireworks over the building. The bronze William Penn sculpture on the top of the clock tower was designed by Alexander Milner Calder (1846-1923) and is the tallest statue on any building in the world at 37 feet high and weighing 53,348 pounds (27 tons).”

The grand edifice of City Hall became the jewel of the city, the symbol of law, order and respect. Imagine what it was like in the early 1900s, when it was still surrounded by three- and four-story brick buildings—a Gulliver striding among Lilliputians. People flocked to the breezy observation gallery for stunning views of the city in all directions.

City Hall’s sculptural ornamentation is said to be the richest of any U.S. building. Two hundred and fifty sculptured works adorn the building inside and out, all designed by Calder. A one-hour tour will treat visitors to over a century of architecture, furniture, paintings and sculptures, including the mayor’s reception room, city council chambers, Conversation Hall and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

During World War II, platforms were built for dancing right next to City Hall, where servicemen and women danced in open air to the blare of live bands. And William Penn cheered them on. Today, this most prominent master work and most photographed symbol is open to all from Monday through Friday. Free tours of the building are conducted daily and tower tours every 15 minutes. On a clear day, the view encompasses three states: Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. You’ll see the beautiful Benjamin Franklin Parkway meeting the Art Museum, Penn’s Landing, Fairmount Park, various suspension bridges and the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers.

City Hall obviously isn’t the only historical attraction the city boasts. At Independence National Historic Park, you’ll find lush grounds connecting Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, as well as other Colonial buildings that played an instrumental role in the founding of our great nation. Uniformed park rangers and costumed guides can provide the full story on anything that interests you.

Independence Hall is ideally situated in a part of the old city where there is a plethora of historic buildings, an endless stream of tourists, and costumed characters. Built between 1732 and 1753, this is the building where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was born. It’s open daily between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (extended hours in the summer), and there are informative tours every 15 minutes. Its colonial charm and the simplicity of its design are as awesome as the world’s most ornate sights.

Visiting the Liberty Bell in its glass-enclosed shrine, you can feel the pull of patriotism as you listen to park rangers relate the bell’s intriguing story. Weighing more than 2,000 pounds, the bell was originally cast in 1752 and recast in 1753. It cracked the first time it was rung. The last time its peal was heard was on Washington’s birthday in 1846, but there’s no doubt that it would still resonates with the sweet tone of freedom if rung today.

When you’re ready to leave the park, check out the Independence Seaport Museum, which offers an interactive exploration of Philadelphia’s heritage as a port city. It’s not a far walk to the Betsy Ross House, a wonderful example of surviving Colonial architecture that paints a nice picture of everyday life during the period. From here, the United States Mint is just three blocks west. The largest mint in the world, it produces some 35 million coins daily, and you can watch the proceedings from on high.

Thanks to everyone’s concern—from preservationists to the public—it looks as though these instrumental attractions will continue to add to the rich heritage and history of the City of Brotherly Love for years to come.