The Forgotten Oath — Uncover the Founders' Secret Pact

Your quest for the Forgotten Oath begins at Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979 and a National Historic Landmark. This Georgian-style building, constructed between 1732 and 1756, was where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776. With its 42.7-meter-high tower, it housed the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the US Constitution was drafted. Here, you start assembling fragments of the pact, exploring secrets that this assembly hall, capable of seating 300 people, has kept for centuries.

A short walk away, the Liberty Bell Center reveals a crucial stage of your investigation. The bell, cast in 1752 in England by the Whitechapel foundry and weighing 2,081 pounds (944 kg), is a symbol of American liberty. Its major crack, which appeared in 1835 during a ringing for George Washington's birthday, tells a story of resilience. The engraved inscription, 'Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof' (Leviticus 25:10), was an emblem of the abolitionist movement in the 19th century. Puzzles around the Liberty Bell bring you closer to the profound meaning of the oath.

Continue your exploration to Carpenters' Hall, a Georgian-style building constructed in 1770 by the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia, the oldest trade union building in the United States. This site hosted the First Continental Congress in September 1774, a crucial meeting before independence. With its red brick facade and cut-stone details, Carpenters' Hall, still owned and managed by the company founded in 1724, retains the echo of the debates that forged the nation. Here, you will discover architectural clues that shed light on the intentions of the Founding Fathers.

The route then leads you to Franklin Court, the site of Benjamin Franklin's residence (1706-1790), destroyed in 1812. Architect Robert Venturi created an archaeological reconstruction in stainless steel in 1976, marking the footprint of the original building. Franklin established the Academy of Pennsylvania here in 1751 and the Library Company in 1731, key institutions for education and the dissemination of ideas. The underground museum, with its original artifacts and excavated remains, offers insight into the life of this central figure and documents related to the oath.

Your investigation culminates with the understanding that the Forgotten Oath is not just a document, but a spirit—that of Philadelphia, 'The City of Brotherly Love.' Visiting Christ Church Burial Ground, founded in 1719, you will pass Benjamin Franklin's grave, accessible via a wrought-iron gate. Over 1,400 people are buried here, including signers of the Declaration of Independence such as Francis Hopkinson and Joseph France. The tradition of throwing coins on Franklin's grave for luck symbolizes the city's enduring connection to its founders. This thematic circuit offers a total immersion into the history of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, revealing the ideals and tensions of the era that shaped the United States.