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Much of this year has been focused on 1776, obviously.
All year, we have been reminded of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with semiquincentennial celebrations throughout Philadelphia and the nation.
Next week though, the Philadelphia Historic District wants everyone to shift back two years to 1774, when the First Continental Congress met in Carpenters’ Hall to draw out what would eventually become a nation celebrating its 250th birthday.
“It really was the foundation, right? The opening act of our journey towards independence,” said Michael Norris, executive director of Carpenters’ Hall.
The First Continental Congress is the next Philly-born moment in the Historic District’s “52 Weeks of Firsts,” which will kick off with a “Firstival” in Carpenter’s Hall this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
From Sept. 5 to Oct. 26, 1774, delegates from 12 of the 13 American colonies — Georgia was absent — travelled to Philadelphia to discuss the potential of a future nation. George Washington, John Adams, Patrick Henry and others came aggrieved by Great Britain’s response to the Boston Tea Party. The meeting produced the Declaration of Resolves, and set the stage for the Second Continental Congress that began at nearby Independence Hall a year later, which produced the Declaration of Independence.
Norris said the Congress had its arguments, sometimes heated. The discussions were private and information wasn’t released until after it was over. Debates were not confined to Carpenters’ Hall and moved to the nearby City Tavern, which Norris said was the informal meeting spot that helped delegates break the ice and form the allyship needed to help overcome the British.
“It was the first time that many of these folks had met each other,” Norris said. “Just being together, building friendships, getting to know one another and building trust. That was actually sort of a huge intangible piece, but really important.”
Carpenters’ Hall and Philadelphia — and City Tavern — continued to play a role in the American Revolution and the nation’s founding after the First Continental Congress. The hall had its own set of 250th anniversary celebrations two years ago. Norris said seeing the large number of visitors to Philadelphia this year really highlighted its prominence in American history — an identity shaped just as much by the events of 1774 as those of 1776.
“This summer to me reinforced the centrality of Philadelphia to the nation’s origin story, which has obviously always been very evident,” he said.
Norris said that the Firstival will include family-friendly activities like a coloring station led by Gwen Seemel, the artist selected by Mural Arts Philadelphia to paint the week’s numeral 1 statue. There will also be a Lego station where people can build their own Carpenters’ Hall replica, a storyteller from Historic Philly’s Once Upon a Nation and access to the hall’s regular exhibits.
No. 1 statue for the First Constitutional Congress, painted by artist Gwen Seemel. (Colibrí Workshop/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District) 
No. 1 statue for the First Constitutional Congress, painted by artist Gwen Seemel. (Colibrí Workshop/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District) 
No. 1 statue for the First Constitutional Congress, painted by artist Gwen Seemel. (Colibrí Workshop/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District) 
No. 1 statue for the First Constitutional Congress, painted by artist Gwen Seemel. (Colibrí Workshop/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)
Here’s the full list of this year’s Firstivals – including the upcoming dates and locations.
Completed
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America (1690)
Week 27: Bank of the United States (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team (1831)
Week 29: Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
Week 30: American art school (1805)
Week 31: Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Week 31: Zoo in America (1874)
Week 32: U.S. Mint (1793)
Week 33: Selfie (1839)
Week 34: Slinky (1943)
Week 35: Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Upcoming
• Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters’ Hall, 320 Chestnut St.
• Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall
• Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
