On the day that millions of American elected their president celebrating their long history of democracy and the “hope” for change, I used this special day to visit the cheese steak city of Philadelphia to see the root of United States, the birthplace of this country at the famous Independence Hall. After big confusing on direction at 30th street train station, I was eventually at 5th street subway station with surprisingly no idea!

At first the complex of Independence Hall Park, in my opinion, looked like a community boutique mall with many lovely parks and row of well designed buildings. The large lawn area was very well design which open vista toward the famed Independence Hall and many high-rise building nearby. After got free ticket to visit inside from the visitor center, I went to see the famous liberty bell in the next hall, apart from uninteresting exhibition and clearly visible bored ranger who always said “any INTERESTING question on the bell?” the bell was quite lovely especially its crack, and the view of Independence Hall behind the bell was just lovely for souvenir photos. Then I went inside the Independence Hall to see the room where the Declaration of Independence happened. Well I was quite surprised when the guide said all of furniture was just replica and no one know exactly what the room was liked in that time!!

I finished my tour with doubt on Independence Hall, but considering that this site is inscribed solely by criteria VI, I had to agreed that the significance of Independence Hall was not the building but the history of the place and its impact on the world history as the first independence of European colony inspiring many people in both sides of Atlantic and maybe the whole world under Pax Americana, that why Independence Hall is perfect to be on 100 dollar banknote which is possibly the most wanted banknote in the world.