Philadelphia

Hello, little friend. Can you hear me? I have old streets made of bumpy stones and tall buildings made of red bricks. A special bell lives here, and it has a big crack in it, but it still has a story to tell. My name means 'City of Brotherly Love.' That is a fancy way of saying a city of friendship. I am Philadelphia.

A long, long time ago, a kind man named William Penn had a big dream. In the year 1682, he wanted to build a special place where everyone could be friends and be kind to one another. He built me, stone by stone. Many years later, something very exciting happened here. On a sunny July 4th in 1776, a group of brave people met inside my building called Independence Hall. They wrote a very important paper. This paper said, 'Hooray. America is a new country.' My famous Liberty Bell rang loud and clear to tell everyone the happy news. Ding-dong-ding. It was a very happy day.

Today, you can come visit me. You can see my special cracked bell, the Liberty Bell, and walk inside Independence Hall where the big paper was signed. You can play in my green parks and eat yummy, warm, soft pretzels. I am still the City of Brotherly Love. I am here to remind everyone to be kind, to share, and to be good friends. I hope you come say hello to me someday.