Pennsylvania

We were lucky to step on the grounds of Pennsylvania twice, coming from Ohio and headed towards New York, and returning from Connecticut towards Indiana.

We heard good things of Pittsburgh, therefore the instructions given to our navigation system ( RV Life) was to take us safe to the city that was known back in the day as the “steel city” since one of the main activities was the production of steel for the industrial era and as a hub for transportation of the material due to the confluence of three rivers (  Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers ). Main activities nowadays are medicine, robotics, research and a significant number of tourist visiting the city every year.

How about a ride in one of the main attractions of the city!! Introducing the Duquesne Incline, a funicular that used to be the way to transport minerals back in the day and now used only to move tourists up and down Mount Washington. This funicular has been in operation since 1877.

On the way back ( westbound) from New England we decided that Philadelphia had to be visited as this is a very important city in the history of the United States. Philadelphia was a vital city in colonial America due to its role as a major commercial and cultural hub, its importance as the “birthplace of American Independence,” and its position as the first capital of the United States. Its strategic location on the Delaware River made it a key port for international trade, while its central role in the Revolution made it the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed and where the early U.S. government was established. This was actually the first time we took a double decker bus in the US!!

Arriving into Philadelphia in the evening was a bit stressful

Unconfirmed reports say that Betsy Ross was the woman who sewed the first US flag, and this was her home

Benjamin Franklin monument

China towns are very popular in big cities across the United States and in Philadelphia there’s also one!

This is the Eastern State Penitentiary, at the time the most expensive prison in the US. Immates were eventually sent to the very famous Alcatraz in California. Famous immates who stayed there are Al Capone and the bank robber Willie Sutton!

Remember Rocky the boxer? Philly (short for Philadelphia) was home for him. He’d extensively train climbing up and down on the stairs of the Philadelphia Museum of Arts.

Time for a good lunch at the campground

Heading west we found ( by accident) a very important site in the history of the American Civil War….. the Gettysburg Battlefields! From July 1 to July 3 1863, the Union Army defeated the Confederate Army; there were 51000 casualties during these three bloody days.

Now, the following true story is intriguing indeed…….

In the midst of the 3 day war, a girl named Jennie Wade, just 20 years of age, was inside her sister’s home preparing food. Very unfortunately, a stray bullet passed through two doors and hit her in the back, killing her instantly. 

The house became a museum in her memory; the only civilian casualty in the battle

Note the bullet holes in the door; actually you can still see them across town in walls, windows, roofs, etc.

It’s being said that a significant number of women who have not been engaged, come and stick the annular finger through the orifice and, legend says that soon after that, they receive a proposal!!

Sadly we couldn’t get any closer to the house that was owned by President Eisenhower; as I said before I am very grateful for what he did with the Interstate highways…. great vision!!.

A maple tree for the state of Pennsylvania was planted at the campground in Pittsburgh this time assisted by Jim who wanted to be a part of the tradition!!

The map is definitely getting full!! Thanks for reading!