Less than two weeks ago, the heat index hit 122, so today with the air in the mid-80s it seemed a lovely afternoon for a walk. Meandering our way from Rittenhouse Square towards the Kimmel Center for the Arts, we were among the countless others taking advantage of the cool breeze and partly cloudy skies. Making our way along Pine Street, we couldn't help but notice all the brownstone apartments serving as quiet glimpses into Philadelphia's colonial history. It can be difficult to move through a district this historic without becoming romantic about its past. In a city that pride's itself as being the "first" at, well, everything the endless markers of historic achievement tend to blend into the scenery, but today one jumped out. The Civil War Museum and Library sits conservatively on Pine Street, so much so that if not for the metal sign by the street we would have missed it. Spotting the sign forced us to look around in an effort to figure out its location. In doing so, we were forced to consider our own location. On this picturesque August afternoon, we were free to wander our way through the city in search of iced coffee all because of the efforts of those who had stood here before us. We were quite literally in the middle of the Civil War Discovery Trail, adding an interesting twist to a surprisingly thought provoking walk.
