History Trip to Philadelphia

Pranav Vaddepalli ('26)

Abhijith Chitrala ('26)

On April 11, 2024, students of Mr. Wolf and Mrs. Clarke’s American Civilization 1 history classes went on a field trip to Philadelphia where they embraced a wide variety of historical experiences such as museums, documentaries, exhibitions, etc. Students came to school at the normal time and then were dismissed from their first period classes around 10 minutes in. They were organized accordingly and placed in 3 different groups of buses. After traveling for around an hour and a half, they finally arrived at the Museum of the American Revolution. Here they broke into groups, each group being supervised by a chaperone. Together, students went into the Museum and watched an exciting documentary on the American Revolutionary War. After watching the documentary, they went into the museum where informative guides and an abundance of artifacts allowed students to immerse themselves in the rich history of America. After exploring the museum for a while, the students were allowed to check out the museum shop which had so many cool collectables available such as apparel, books, maps, items, props, etc. After covering the store, students walked to the nearby National Constitution Center to eat lunch.

After lunch, students explored the Constitution Center. The students first went upstairs to explore The Story of We the People, the National Constitution Center’s main exhibit. Through hands-on multimedia exhibits and a rotating collection of rare artifacts, The Story of We the People brings America’s constitutional history to life. The exhibit guided students through milestones in America’s history and revealed how the U.S. Constitution is as important as it was in 1787. Students were able to view fascinating artifacts, including a rare copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, and engage with interactive touch screens at the American National Tree Exhibit to learn about 100 citizens who have shaped America’s constitutional history. Afterwards, the students were taken down stairs to watch an inspiring theatrical performance, named Freedom Rising, which tells the story of the U.S. Constitution and the American quest for freedom. After the 10 minute presentation, the students were taken upstairs once again to Signers’ Hall, which allowed the students to walk alongside life size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers and relive the moment that launched a government by “We the People.” Signers’ Hall brings to life the final day of the Constitution Convention in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. There are numerous famous faces in the room, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and many more. After posing beside their favorite Founding Father, students headed downstairs for the last time to revisit the gift shop before heading back to Lawrence High School on the bus.