View allAll Photos Tagged benjaminfranklin
There are three cemeteries, or "burial grounds" on the Boston Freedom Trail. This is the Granary Burial Ground, established in 1660 on the site of a grain storage building. Some of those buried here are considered among America's "Founding Fathers" or American patriots. Some of the more famous include: Paul Revere, John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Benjamin Franklin's parents also are buried here.
Freedom Trail Stop #4
he looks at everything with wonder, amazement and delight.
i heart that.
UPDATE: On June 20th, 2010 my precious Ben lost his battle. He had kidney problems that weren't noticeable until it was too late. He passed peacefully in my arms, I felt his last breath and heartbeat... and it crushed me.
He will be so, so, greatly missed. he was just 7 months old.
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I got a kick out of this article written to dispute the idea that Benjamin Franklin had wanted a turkey as the national bird....
"The Franklin Institute, addressing what I’m sure is their favorite question about one of the most complex and interesting men to ever live in this country, excerpts a letter from Franklin to his daughter, in which he does in fact question the choice of the eagle, commenting that the selected design looks more like a turkey. Franklin then expounds on the respectability and morality of each bird, which really seems like such a Ben Franklin thing to do:
“For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.
With all this injustice, he is never in good case but like those among men who live by sharping & robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the district. He is therefore by no means a proper emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our country…
“I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America… He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.”
Full article: www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/american-myths-benjam...
Thank you for your visits, comments and continual inspiration!!
Independence Day Celebration and Festival on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
~ Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue; it is hard for an empty bag to stand upright ~ Benjamin Franklin
~La pobreza priva al hombre de espiritu y virtud; es dificil que una bolsa vacia pueda mantenerse vertical ~ Benjamin Franklin
Venice, Italy
West Virginia State Penitentiary
November 3rd, 2014
Moundsville, WV
The Former West Virginia State Penitentiary, a National Historic Places Registered facility, operated by the Moundsville Economic Development Council in Moundsville, West Virginia.
I found this little gem inside the Mail Room of the historic West Virginia Penitentiary. Didn't know the history behind it until I looked it up and this type of fireplace has an interesting history tied to one of the USA's founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin.
SOURCE: antiquestoves.net/dir/ben-franklin-s-pennsylvania-fireplace
Among the educated and enlightened men of 18th-century America, none was more influential or gifted than Benjamin Franklin. He had few peers who could match his intellect and versatility as author, scientist, inventor, printer, philosopher, and popular moralizer. Being essentially a provincial American, Franklin's mind turned on practical matters, including the problem of how to heat a room evenly and inexpensively. From these musings came his remarkable Franklin Stoves, the first of which were manufactured in 1744 by Franklin's friend Robert Grace.
They were originally called "Pennsylvania Fire-Places," and Franklin himself wrote the first advertisement to publicize the stove, in which he claimed, "If you sit near the Fire, you have not that cold Draught of uncomfortable Air nipping your Back and Heels, as when before common Fires...being scorcht before, and, as it were, froze behind."
Franklin's stove was essentially a free-standing iron fireplace. It contained an air box below the hearth into which fresh, cold air was drawn by the heat of the fire over the box. Behind the fire stood an air column - actually an extension of the air box - the whole unit being L-shaped. At the top of the air column, the fresh air, now warmed by the fire, was allowed to escape back into the room; but the smoke was forced over, around, down, then up and out through the chimney. In short, the fire heated a separate volume of air from that which was mixed with smoke from the fire - an ingenious recycling system that constantly forced warm air down from above and back into the room where it was needed. According to Franklin, this method was healthier than warm air produced by common fireplaces "by which many catch cold, whence proceed Coughs, Catarrhs, Toothache, Fevers, Pleurisies, and many other Diseases."
Franklin also claimed his product was more efficient than other stoves and fireplaces because it burned less wood, a great advantage indeed for those who lived where wood was in short supply. Since Franklin lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, not far from one of the world's great coal regions, one can only be amused by his statement in 1744 that, by the use of his Pennsylvania Fire-Place, " . . . our Wood may grow as fast as we consume it, and our Posterity may warm themselves at a moderate Rate, without being oblig'd to fetch their Fuel over the Atlantick..."
"Lighthouses are more helpful than churches."
~ Benjamin Franklin ~
"Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart."
~ Kahlil Gibran ~
the money $hot
"As the world stock markets fluctuate, two-thirds of international trade is transacted in U.S dollars, this accounts for 0.3% of dollar usage in the global economy which in return is valued at about $30 trillion." ~Tomitheos
fun fact: it costs about 4 cents to make each bill $
Copyright © 2012 Tomitheos Photography - All Rights Reserved
Claim: Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey — not the bald eagle — to be on the Great Seal of the United States.
I bought a pint glass with a saying supposedly by Benjamin Franklin at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia. It was also for sale at City Hall. Wise man, that Ben!
The coaster you see under the glass I bought across the street, at the US Mint. It is made of porous stone, which does not stick to a wet glass. Unfortunately, they chose a non-porous blue paint to put the "Treasury - US Mint" logo on it, so the glass does stick to it..😣
I would have loved to pour into it one of Yards Brewery’s ales, since I took a tour of the brewery last summer, but I cannot get their beers here. The White Hawk IPA from Mendocino Brewing Company in California that I did pour in was very tasty, though, as always. Support Your Local IPA!...🍺
Edit: Mendecino Brewing Company ceased operations in 2018...😞
In Paris, you can see a statue of Benjamin Franklin near the Trocadero roundabout, in the little Yorktown square.
Près du Rond-point du Trocadéro, trône une statue de Benjamin Franklin, au beau milieu du petit square de Yorktown longeant la rue baptisée aussi au nom de ce fameux président.
I originally was going to title this image "Mark Twain Smokes a Fatty with Benjamin Franklin on the Statue of Liberty" but then I decided it might be a bit wordy. I've gone with a shorter title instead. I actually have shot this before but I guess I didn't think it was worthy of editing and uploading because I believe this is the first finished shot I have of this scene. I'm really happy with how it turned out. Enjoy and have a great weekend everyone.
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BENJAMIN FRANKLIN and WILLIAM PENN are the two Philadelphians.
The photo was taken from the BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BRIDGE. The bridge railing is in the foreground.
WARNING ⚠️ The detailed information found below is presented to enhance an understanding of the photo. It may not be of interest to all.
A 37-foot bronze STATUE OF WILLIAM PENN is in the left center of the photo on top of a tall white building (PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL)
WILLIAM PENN (1644-1718) established the colony of Pennsylvania (named after his father, Sir William Penn) and built it on his Quaker ideals, charting out a plan for a city of brotherly love called Philadelphia. Penn had open and peaceful negotiations with the Lenape tribes native to the area; the French philosopher Voltaire cited the colony of Pennsylvania as a shining example of religious tolerance in government.
Behind and above the statue of William Penn are two office buildings, to the right the 945-foot One Liberty Place, to the left the 848-foot Two Liberty Place. Prior to the construction of One Liberty Place in 1987, there was a gentlemen's agreement not to build any structure in Center City higher than the statue of Penn. One Liberty Place was the tallest building in Philadelphia until 2018 when it was topped by the 1,121-foot Comcast Technology Center (not in photo). A 5.2 inch Penn pewter statuette was placed on the topmost beam.
The PHILADELPHIA CITY HALL at 548-foot, was designed to be the world's tallest building. The Washington Monument and the Eiffel Tower surpassed it during construction. Upon completion in 1894, it became the world's tallest habitable building. It was also the first secular building to have this distinction, as all previous world's tallest buildings were religious structures, including European cathedrals. It was the tallest habitable building in the world until 1908 when surpassed by the Singer Building in New York City. With almost 700 rooms, it is the largest municipal building in the United States and one of the largest in the world. Built of brick, white marble, and limestone, it is the world's largest freestanding masonry building.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706 -1790): Statesman and politician; scientist and inventor; writer and satirist. Franklin's had achievements in all these fields. He is amongst the most preeminent and accomplished of the Founding Fathers. He earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity, and as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies. As the first United States ambassador to France, he exemplified the emerging American nation.
The BENJIMAN FRANKLIN BRIDGE, originally named the Delaware River Bridge and known locally as the Ben Franklin Bridge, is a suspension bridge across the Delaware River connecting Philadelphia to Camden, New Jersey. The bridge was dedicated as part of the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exposition, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. From 1926 to 1929, it had the longest single span of any suspension bridge in the world.
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The American Adventure
Epcot - Walt Disney World
Orlando, FL
"The golden age never was the present age, but with human liberty we can fulfill the promise and meaning of America... 'Tis easy to see, hard to foresee, but I foresee the American Adventure to continue a long, long time!"
Thanks for your views, favs, and comments! Constructive criticism is always more than welcome!
Lens used: Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 VC
Email: Mark@MarkWillardPhotography.com
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The Bond, located in front of the Masonic Temple at 1 Broad Street, was sculpted by James West and gifted by Shekinah Fernwood Lodge, No. 246 on June 3, 2017. Brother George Washington, Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, first President of the United States, and member of Alexandria Lodge (Fairfax County, Virginia), shows his Masonic Apron to Brother Benjamin Franklin, diplomat who negotiated French involvement in our independence, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Master of the Loge Les Neue Souers, in Paris. It was a gift from Brother General Lafayette, member of the Loge Contrat Social of Paris, who represented the French government and their commitment to American independence. The apron is on display in The Masonic Library and Museum of Pennsylvania.
Detail of J Seward Johnson (1930-2020)’s Benjamin Franklin, sitting on a bench and holding the Declaration of Independence.
Philadelphia. Although the largest and oldest city of Pennsylvania, it is not the capital- that is Harrisburg (pop. 500,000.) which became the capital in 1812. Philly, as it is known, has 1.5 million people but the metropolitan area has 5.5 million. The city is the fifth largest in the USA. Nearly half of the 1.5m inner city population are African Americans. The city straddles the Delaware River (named after the local Indian tribe) and the Schuylkill River. It started out as part of William Penn’s Commonwealth (i.e. Pennsylvania is not a state, like Massachusetts) but prior to this Dutch (hence Schuylkill) and Swedish traders had settlements here. The Quaker Penn founded his Commonwealth in 1682 to provide religious toleration for all, including Catholic Calverts, Dutch Mennonites (now called Amish) and many German settlers. The city grew as a trading centre and by the time of the troubles that led to the War of Independence in the 1770s it was the largest city of the colonies with around 30,000 inhabitants. (At that time Boston had around 18,000 inhabitants, and New York, 22,000 residents) Because of its geographic location mid way between Massachusetts and the Carolinas it became the focal point for the War against England. The first and second Continental Congresses to discuss grievances against the English were held in Liberty Hall in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia became the national capital in 1790 until that was moved to Washington DC in 1799. It was the leading financial, trading and cultural centre of 18th century America.
Benjamin Franklin was a leading citizen of Philly. He became a Founding Father, and was a noted scientist (electricity), inventor (the lightening arrestor) and philosopher. He edited the local newspaper that helped to incite fury against the British. During the War of Independence he was the Ambassador to France securing financial and other assistance for the rebelling colonies. In his day he was esteemed second to Washington in the New Nation. He was the first US Post Master and is depicted on the $100 note.
During the War of Independence the British twice attacked Philadelphia. The Continental Congress which was meeting there fled to Baltimore and General George Washington defeated the English at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. The British attacked again in 1777 and then the Continental Congress fled to Lancaster; Washington was beaten at the Battle of Brandywine (near Wilmington) and the citizens of Philadelphia fled. The French helped the Americans drive the English out 10 months later! Some of the old cobblestone streets that would have witnessed this drama still exist in Philadelphia. The Historic City area was declared a National Monument in 1972.
Independence Hall. The ‘Founding Fathers’ were wealthy businessmen and politicians from all the colonies. It was an unheard of thing and revolutionary for the colonies to come together to discuss any issue. However, these business men and politicians were furious about the Boston Tea Party (the tax on tea) and other trading issues. Their first meeting, named ‘First Continental Congress’ was in 1774 and they agreed upon a set of resolves and petitioned George III, expressing loyalty but wanting their grievances remedied. Those present included Washington, John Dickinson (we visit his plantation later), Ben Franklin, Sam Adams, etc. At the Second Continental Congress in 1775 they established a Continental Army, and after a yearlong deliberation, agreed upon and signed the Declaration of Independence. The declaration was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson. It was signed in Philadelphia on 4th July 1776. The Founding Fathers met here again in 1787 to draft the formal Constitution which was later ratified by the colonies. After independence the meeting was known as the Confederation Congress. After the peace treaty with England in 1783 it became known as the Articles of Confederation. Almost all meetings were held in Philadelphia. Once the failures of the style of weak national government known as the Articles of Confederation were realised the politicians met again to formulate a Constitution with much stronger national powers. The first Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia in 1787. The Constitution was primarily written by James Madison (a later President from 1809-17.) It took several years before the required 9 colonies of the original 13 had ratified it. The United States with a Congress came into operation in 1789. Washington was the first President. The old Pennsylvania colonial Assembly Hall which became the Continental Congress is now known as Liberty Hall. It is a great example of American Georgia style architecture.
Betsy Ross House. This is the most visited building in Philadelphia and it claims to be the home for Betsy Ross who is claimed to have sewn the first American flag- the stars and stripes. The Georgian style house was built around 1740 and Betsy Ross and her husband lived there during the War of Independence era. She is credited with presenting the flag to Washington but there is no evidence for this. She was a Quaker and she and her first husband established an upholstery business. During the War she sewed blankets and made tents for the Continental Army. A grandson of Betsy Ross promoted the idea that she designed the flag in 1876 for the centenary of the Declaration of Independence. She was one of several flag makers in Philadelphia. The Flag Act was passed by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia in 1876. No designer is given credit for the flag. But Betsy Ross is still held up as a model for young American girls.
Valley Forge and the War of Independence and Red Coats.
Valley Forge, just minutes away from the largest shopping centre in the US- the King of Prussia Centre, was not a battlefield of the War of Independence but the place where General George Washington established a camp for the soldiers of the Continental Army during the winter of 1777-78. Washington and his troops had finished a nearby battle against the British and needed a secure place to camp for the winter, and they chose a spot 25 miles from Philadelphia. The valley was easily defended and 1,000 log huts were built. A total of 12,000 poorly clothed, equipped and fed troops stayed here for six months. But food was often short and consisted of not much more than a flour and water loaf -what we would call damper. Most of the horses starved to death. Dampness and diseases like dysentery and typhoid killed 2,500 troops. Uniforms began to fall apart with use and there was nothing with which to replace them despite the snow and rain. But Washington persisted and Baron Von Steuben arrived from Prussia (hence the name ‘King of Prussia Shopping Mall’) to drill and train the remaining troops. The French government paid Von Steuben’s fare to Valley Forge to train the American troops. He wrote the Revolutionary war Drill Manual, used by US troops until the War of 1812. Camp followers helped nurse the sick and dying and gradually morale was lifted as the summer weather approached. Washington and Von Steuben marched towards New York City in June 1778 to fight the advancing British. This time their troops were trained and in good spirits and by then they had an alliance with the French. Washington and Von Steuben had transformed a group of raggedy farmers into a disciplined fighting army ready for a five year war against the supposedly superior British Red Coats.
Valley Forge National Historical Park covers 3,500 acres of encampment sites, reconstructed dwellings, fortifications and a chapel. The key attraction is the charming restored two storey house used by Washington as his headquarters during the nearly 7 months that the camp at Valley Forge operated. The Welcome Centre includes a museum with artefacts from the camp and various displays. There is a chapel and a National Memorial Arch in the park. The words of General Washington express some of the sentiments many American people have for this site.
Passageway that led to the home of Benjamin Franklin from his printing shop.Philadelphia Pa.-35mm Olympus Stylus Epic,Ilford XP2 400.
One of the entertaining sculptures on display on the benches at the La Arcada in Santa Barbara, California.
Perhaps Ben is reading her the articles of the U.S. Constitution?
Or a broadsheet from Ben Franklin's printing press reviewing the best grog houses in town?
Looking south from above with Camden on the left, Philly on the right, and winter sunset disappearing behind an Eagles home game (green smudge)
We're Here! : It's all about the Benjimans...
Opulence & Other Fancy Things, You have to be wealthy
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