This year, five Cutlass reporters went to Philadelphia for the JEA/NSPA National Journalism Convention.
Before the convention started we had the opportunity to see various historical sites, central to American and Philadelphian history. It was a great opportunity for us to have fun and learn new things.
The first place we visited was the National Constitution Center. The tour featured a short presentation about the history of the United States. After the film ended, there were different rooms to look at that had quiz booths or quiz-like informational activities with fun stories or trivia behind the questions. Like in other historical museums, there were many quotes and stories all over the place.
A room dedicated to The First Amendment had a wall dotted with integral court cases which challenged and strengthened this constitutional right to free speech. Other notable places included a room with statues of all the delegates of the Constitutional Convention and a room with a copy of the Bill of Rights.
Next, we went to the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell’s museum told the story of how the bell received its iconic crack and what kind of significance the bell held for Philadelphia. This bell was especially looked up to by abolitionists who wanted to end slavery.
Lastly, we took a tour of the Freemason Temple and learned more about the history of Freemasons.
Freemasonry is an organization that promotes a bonding experience for men in a kind of worldwide brotherhood. In the temple, there were old artifacts connected to masonry and multiple floors that had different-colored rooms with unique architectural styles.
The Freemason temple began its construction in 1868 and ended in completion in 1873. The temple was designed by the architect James H. Windrim, who was connected to other Philadelphia institutions.
By the end of the trip, these events helped shape the field trip into both a memorable and exciting experience. While the journalism sessions and colleges were the primary reason to go on the trip, the historical aspects of the city helped make the trip more enjoyable.
