250 years in the birthplace of America

It’s the 250th anniversary of the founding of America, and there’s no better place to celebrate than America’s birthplace, Philadelphia. This week, Shara Dae Howard is taking over for an all Shara in the City special edition, exploring some of the city’s hidden historical treasures. We start at Elfreth’s Alley, one of the country’s oldest continuously inhabited residential streets, with a peek at modern life inside the 16th and 17th century homes. Then, we visit the site of one of America’s first taverns in Philadelphia, where the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps got their start. The Tun tavern was torn down centuries ago, but sailors and Marines still come to Philadelphia looking for it - so two veterans have decided to rebuild it. We end our journey at the American Philosophical Society library, home to some of the rarest historical documents and artifacts in American history, as well as Benjamin Franklin's personal library.