Bill Potter’s Favorite Tour

am frequently asked to name my favorite history tour. That is a tough task since I enjoy all of them and cannot really rank them. However, one outstanding tour always comes to mind near the top of the list, if not the top for domestic tours—Philadelphia! That may seem surprising since we only offer it every three or four years, but what a spectacular and diverse visit and teaching opportunity! It is a bucket list treat for every American. Although the city is the 6th most populous city in the U.S. and boasts 18 colleges and universities, it is number one for the colonial period of American history.

The City of Brotherly Love, founded by William Penn and the English Quakers, created the only colony where religious freedom actually existed from the earliest days. Both the American Presbyterians and Baptists found the colony and its Philadelphia environs the most fertile soil to establish those churches. It became the singular place in the British colonies which gave birth to the United States in 1776 and became the location of the creation of the Constitution in 1789! The city hosted the United States Government under the Articles of Confederation and Constitution, and became the chief target of British military efforts for several years. The docents in Constitution Hall are well versed in the important details of Independence and Congressional debate during the War. The Liberty Bell stands just yards away and, along with the great Museum of the Revolutionary War nearby, if properly interpreted, are stunning and vital historic sites. (Hint: we provide biblical, providential content for all these locations . . .)

The places just related to Benjamin Franklin are worth a visit to Philadelphia. The man, steeped in controversy throughout his life, nonetheless holds a justly deserved reputation as a wise and ingenious Founder of our Country, friend and promoter of the evangelist George Whitfield, inventor, diplomat, and humorist. Downtown, besides the Franklin sites, we tour the historic churches and cemeteries containing signers of the Declaration of Independence and other historical persons of note.

We visit the Brandywine battlefield, which, although an American defeat, was well fought by General Washington. It was the ground where General Lafayette first showed the courage and ability that endeared him to Washington and, eventually, all Americans. The tree next to Lafayette’s HQ was there at the time of the battle—a still living reminder of both the passage of time and the longevity of a living thing that witnessed the founders of our nation in their martial ardor.

Nearby, along the iconic Brandywine River at Chadd’s Ford, lies the Brandywine River Museum of Art which showcases the historic art of three generations of the Wyeth family, N.C., Andrew, and Jamie. It also contains illustrations by Howard Pyle and Maxfield Parrish, all brilliant artists of Americana, especially scenes of the War for Independence, children’s books illustrations, and famous popular themes like pirates and American landscapes.

We travel to Princeton New Jersey and visit the cemetery there where one of the greatest collections of godly men await the resurrection. Buried there are Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Davies, John Witherspoon, and many other great men of God associated with Princeton College and Seminary of past centuries. Also, Grover Cleveland is there, one of the very best men to ever serve in the office of President of the United States. We tell stories at their graves and are once again reminded of the blessings of God upon our nation. From the Great Awakening to the 20th Century, this cemetery reveals providential history more than any other in the nation. Efforts are underway to remove the statue of Witherspoon from the campus of Princeton University, it may be our last opportunity to stand in the shadow of the most important signer of the Declaration of Independence and the only pastor to do so.

One of the best-preserved and interpreted historic sites you will ever visit is found at Valley Forge, where American independence could easily have perished in the icy winter of 1776-7. The reconstructed huts of the soldiers and the stories of the officers who providentially held the army together throughout extreme suffering and insufficient supplies and disease, not to mention the Pennsylvania winter, helps visualize the price that was paid for the creation of our Republic. The astounding perseverance of General Washington once more illustrates the hand of God upon him.

We conclude our tour at the City Tavern, where the Founding Fathers gathered to discuss the day’s proceedings at the Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention. We walk the creaky floors and sample the cuisines that have the same long history as the historic homes and businesses of the city. Altogether, the Philadelphia area offers the most must-see historic sites in the United States, relating to the Providential creation of the American Republic. Come with us this April 15-19 and see if this becomes YOUR favorite tour!