Congratulations to Amanda Siciliano (left) and Kristin Antone (right) for being the first students to tweet a selfie from the October 27th #FindMeFriday location!
A little about this week’s location:
Boston is rich in history, but the Old State House is one of the most significant landmarks. Located at the intersection of Washington and State Streets, between Downtown Crossing and Government Center, the Old State House, built in 1713, is the oldest surviving public building in Boston and one of the oldest public buildings in the United States.
On July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the balcony of the Old State House. The lion and unicorn that sit atop of the Old State House are symbols of the British monarchy and after the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed, they were taken down and burned as a sign of protest. They were later restored and returned to serve as a reminder of Boston and the United State’s history and long-fought war for freedom.
Two hundred years later, in July 1976, Queen Elizabeth II visited Boston to celebrate the United States’ bicentennial and said:
“If Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, and other patriots could have known that one day a British monarch would stand on the balcony of the Old State House, from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston, and be greeted in such kind and generous words …… well, I think they would have been extremely surprised! But perhaps they would also have been pleased to know that eventually we came together again as free peoples and friends to defend together the very ideals for which the American Revolution was fought.”
Once enemies, now friends. An example of the ability of people to put aside differences to come together for a common good.
If you are grateful for your Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, take some time to visit where it all began. The Old State House is less than 2.5 miles from campus.
For more information about the Old State House and museum, visit: http://www.bostonhistory.org
Go see your City, my friends!