The Signers

Signing The Declaration of Independence was “without a doubt an enormous, life-threatening risk, and if the colonies had not been triumphant-and honestly, it’s astounding that they were-these men would have surely been, as they used to say back in the day, fitted with a halter” (Signing Their Lives Away, page 9). 

The Book

Growing up in America, every kid learns about the Founding Fathers: Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Franklin. But, what about the many men who signed The Declaration of Independence? What was their background and how did they end up in Philadelphia in 1776?

Signing Their Lives Away: The Fame and Misfortune of the Men Who Signed The Declaration of Independence seeks to answer those questions. Authors, Denise Kiernan and Joseph D’Agnese provide a brief biography of all fifty-six signers and little known facts. The biographies are listed alphabetically by state, just like the signatures on The Declaration of Independence.

The signers included: Elbridge Gerry, the father of gerrymandering in American politics;  Francis Hopkinson, designer of the first American flag; Richard Stockton, the only signer with a rest-stop on the New Jersey Turnpike named after him; and George Taylor, who came to America as an indentured servant. 

The Place 

Philadelphia is full of history. The brick buildings and cobblestone streets hearken back to a time when America was just thirteen loosely affiliated colonies. A tourist destination for decades, Philadelphia is the spot to explore the birth of America. I have been to Philadelphia more times than I can count, but I still enjoy the visit.

The tour of Independence Hall allows you to step into the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed and imagine the arguments for and against a split from Great Britain. Just across the street is the Liberty Bell. Originally it hung in Independence Hall, but has been moved to a spot where all visitors can see it up close.

As a kid, one of my favorite sites in Philadelphia was Franklin Court on Market St. in between 4^th and 3^rd Streets. Above ground is a steel structure that resembles the outline of Benjamin Franklin’s house which  stood on this spot. Underground is the Benjamin Franklin Museum. I enjoyed this site because of a room that was filled with telephones. You can pick up the phones and listen to other historical people talk about Benjamin Franklin. A great hands-on experience for kids!

Note: According to the National Park Service website, the underground museum closed for 18 months (starting June 2011) for a complete renovation. Before you visit, check with the site to see if the museum is open again.