The Philadelphia Mint was the nation’s first mint and one of two that currently produces all of the coinage for the country’s currency. We went on a self-guided tour where we could overlook the process of production. We saw buckets and buckets of shiny penny blanks making their way to the hammering station. It was pretty cool. We spent at least as much time in the gift shop as we did on the tour. Even Mason picked out a souvenir (his very first of the trip). It was a plastic container that holds $10 worth of quarters.
We stopped by the B. Free Franklin Post Office – the first post office in the nation, established in 1775 by act of the Continental Congress, and the only post office that does not fly the US flag (because there was no US flag when it opened). They still hand stamp each letter with “B. Free Franklin” as Benjamin Franklin so famously did as postmaster. We found a job listing there that would be perfect for Mason – Pony Express Carrier.
Greg & Mason really wanted to go the Eastern State Penitentiary. It was a landmark prison that operated from 1829-1971. Today it is in the process of being restored and it is a moldering ruin, and the location of one of the most famous Halloween haunted houses in the country “Terror Behind the Walls.” We were thinking about taking the kids to that instead of the regular tour, but the ticket girl told us that they don’t even recommend it for a lot of teenagers because it is so frightening. I logged onto the website and just the intro trailer freaked Kambria & I out. Greg and the older kids went on the regular tour – kids under 7 aren’t even allowed on that.
Dane and Drake said that the whole place was really spooky. Not sorry that I had to sit that one out. Just walking through the museum was enough for me. Although I would have like to have seen Al Capone’s fancy cell – I guess he must have bribed the guards for special treatment. This is not a character from the haunted house, but rather the costume that Dane picked out tonight.
I'm still following your posts everyday. I wondered if something had happened when a few days went by with no word. It's been fun following you along the East coast, having been to a lot of the places. DC and Virginia will be really fun. Looking forward to seeing what you are up to there.
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