Philadelphia has stood as an important city in America since the inception of the country; it was even the first capitol of the United States. It is impossible to deny that the city is incredibly rich in history, as it was home to many of the founding fathers and provided the setting for the signing of several important documents, including the Declaration of Independence. Although the aforementioned aspects are the most well-known and traditionally historical facts about Philadelphia, another area that most people are unaware of exists. Ghosts and legends bring the past alive and carry Philadelphia’s history to the present.
The City Tavern
The City Tavern: offering food and the chills.
The City Tavern was built in 1773, and quickly became a favorite hangout for many of the founding fathers (Freedom’s corner). It was so popular that it served as the meeting place for the first Continental Congress and the first Independence Day celebration was held at the tavern on July 4, 1777. Unfortunately, the tavern was partially destroyed by a fire in 1834. Although the building was restored and the City Tavern continues to be a popular restaurant in Old City to this day, certain aspects of the tavern have not been the same since the fire: including the acquisition of a ghost. The tavern was holding a wedding the day of the fire. All the men remained on the main floor of the tavern while the entire bridal party utilized the second floor of the building, eventually becoming trapped. The groom was not able to rescue his bride, and she died in the fire along with the other women. To this day, guests and workers have reported seeing the spirit of the bride searching for her husband.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The tomb of the unknown soldier, especially ghostly at night.
Washington Square, one of the five public parks laid out by William Penn, was used as a burial yard for strangers from 1704-1794 (Delco ghosts). By 1778, it became the burial ground to thousands of soldiers who died in Philadelphia, and in 1954 a monument was erected to honor George Washington and an unknown soldier (US history, 1995). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the only monument that is dedicated to the unknown soldiers of the Revolutionary War. The soldiers, however, are not left to rest in peace. The square is said to be haunted by a woman named Leah who patrolled the grounds to ward off grave robbers (Delco ghosts).
Independence Hall
Independence Hall is a significant aspect of the National Historic Park (Haunted houses, 2006). It was here that the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Second Continental Congress met. The building has been restored to its original appearance as much as possible, right down to the furniture. Since the founding fathers spent so much time here making important decisions for the country, it is no surprise that some of them continue return centuries later. The apparitions of Ben Franklin and Benedict Arnold have both been seen in Independence Hall. Some say that Ben struggles to find his eternal resting place, so he haunts many of his favorite places in Philadelphia in an attempt to find it. The theory about Benedict Arnold, however, is that he is reliving his troubles at Independence Hall, having died a bitter and resentful man. He was, after all, banished from America for his infamous treason.
Conclusion
Regardless of whether or not the ghost stories are true, they are as much a part of Philadelphia’s history as the concrete facts. The ghosts each play a key role in the history of the places in which they are said to inhabit. The ghost stories themselves also change throughout history, adding an entirely new dimension to historical Philadelphia.
Photo Credit: Ana Miller
Writing: Kelly Till
Editing: Ana Miller
Works Cited
Freedom’s corner haunts and history. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2010 from: http://sites.google.com/ site/ hauntsandhistory/ freedom'scornerhaunts&history2.
Haunted houses. (2006). Retrieved March 29, 2010 from Independence hall: http://www.hauntedhouses.com/ states/ pa/ independence_hall.cfm.
US history. (1995). Retrieved March 29, 2010 from Independence hall association, Tomb of the unknown soldier: http://www.ushistory.org/ tour/ tour_tomb.htm.
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