Philadelphia: Franklin Institute and Independence Hall
| Sarah heard about a program with Johns Hopkins the provides some interesting extra-circular activities for kids Robert's age. The first one of these events we've attended was a trip to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia for a group tour of the Pompeii exhibit and some additional activities and information. |
| The first experiment was to do some research on volcanoes to try to determine safe and less safe sites to build Volcanoville resort. The kids had to test a solution of rock from the prospective locations to see if there was phosphorous in the rock. And thanks to Uncle Steve and ASU, Robert had a handy periodic table to help answer one of the questions which came up. The second experiment was to estimate how quickly the lava, lahar and other debris might move down the volcano (depending on slope and geology of the different volcanoes) to see if there would be time to evacuate if needed. |
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| The second workshop was about the cast of people found under the ash and pumice in Pompeii. They talked a little bit about how the gradual decomposition left natural molds of the people who were caught and then they made a mold of a roman soldier in clay and filled the mold with plaster as a souvenir to take home. And the adults were allowed to make one as well. |
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| After the program was over, we still had a couple hours before the museum closed. So we headed back to some of the really fun hands- on exhibits, like the Feats of Strength. Robert was in the spinning chair learning that it is a lot harder to pull the weights in when it's spinning and also that you spin faster with the weights in rather than out. |
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| When the museum closed, we enjoyed the great weather at Logan Square (though it's really a circle). The fountain says no swimming but does not say anything about no climbing... |
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When we got back to our hotel room, we could see the Franklin Institute out our window (right across the square - or circle). The next day, we carefully removed the Roman soldier casts before we headed out to Independence Hall and the liberty bell. |
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| Todd, in the lower left of the photo, was a very informative guide to the hall. In the judiciary side where he was addressing us, he explained the derivation of standing trial (the accused had no seat) and the witness stand (again, no seat). |
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In the legislative side, Todd pointed out the raised chair in the middle was Washington's when he was overseeing the work on the Constitution that took place after the war for independence. The long room and the Philadelphia room (both on the second floor) finished our tour. |
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| We couldn't leave the area with out a stop to see the liberty bell. |
| And we had to get a silly photo in on the stairs of Independence Hall as our parting photo. By the time we got back to DC, the snow was starting and that turned Monday into a snow day. Making for a great long weekend -- but you have to look again at the Logan Square climbing photo and realize it was snowing hard enough to cancel school and close the government about 24 hours later. |
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Vacation notes:
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