What Would The Founding Fathers Do in NYC On July 4th?
July 4th is fast approaching. A time when we all celebrate independence, and maybe re-watch a certain cheesy sci-film too. Thanks to the Founding Fathers, we have so much to be grateful for. It’s just a shame they couldn’t see what a great country America has become. But what if they could? What if we could somehow travel back to the 18th century, and bring some of the Founding Fathers to 2019? Who’d have the biggest Instagram following? Which would start their own reality show? And how would they be spending July 4th? Well, through the magic of time travel, we can tell you now. Here is a totally real list that we definitely didn’t make up. What would the Founding Fathers do in NYC this July 4th?
George Washington
How could we not start with the top dog himself? Hero of the War for Independence and our very first President, George Washington needs no introduction. Well known for his wooden teeth and hatred of cherry trees, he also famously crossed the Delaware River in order to land a humiliating blow against the nefarious British. And the first thing he said to us when we brought him to 2019 was “I want to see the city by sea”. Really. He really said that. That’s why we recommended he take a Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise! George marvelled at the iconic modern skyline and learnt a lot about his future (and our past) from one of the award-winning guides that accompanied us on our cruise. He loved it.
Thomas Jefferson
TJ was POTUS number 3, but what a lot of people don’t know about him is that he was something of a palaeontologist. He amassed a huge collection of fossils and was particularly obsessed with woolly mammoths. So after we brought him to 2019, we had a good chat, and the first thing he wanted to do was go to the American Museum of Natural History. He loved the 94-foot long blue whale and was in awe of the Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.
Benjamin Franklin
Ben Franklin loved science, and is often considered the man who discovered electricity. Sadly, kite-flying isn’t as popular as it used to be, so he insisted on going to the New York Hall of Science. Ol’ Ben-Dog got his hands all over the 450+ interactive exhibits on offer, and even managed to confirm some of his 18th century hypotheses. When he goes back, he may even be able to change the course of human history. Because this is definitely real. We've mastered time travel pretty well, wouldn't you say?
Alexander Hamilton
Founder of the New York Post, and current Broadway star, Alexander Hamilton was humbled to see how far his renown had continued to rise over 200 years later. In disguise, we managed to sneak him onto the Hamilton Happy Hour Tour, a two-hour walking tour through New York’s oldest neighbourhood. Hamilton enjoyed how much his life and accomplishments still mean to people. And so will you.
John Hancock
Most famous for sporting the first, and largest, signature on the Declaration of Independence, John Hancock was also a hugely successful merchant with a thriving trade business. Secretly, though, he simply loved fireworks. That’s why he’s so looking forward to seeing Macys Fourth of July fireworks over the Brooklyn Bridge. He wouldn’t shut up about the 75,000 fireworks due to be set off, and he’s also hungry to flex his trading muscles with an 11% discount at Macy’s Herald Square.
James Madison
America’s tiniest president, James Madison stood at just 5’4”. So you can understand his delight when we took him on a Madison Square Garden All Access Tour. Though he didn’t know much about modern sports, he was understandably delighted that one of the most famous sporting arenas on the planet was named after him. He especially loved the VR experience showcasing some of The Garden’s biggest ever events.
John Adams
One of Americas greatest ever patriots, John Adams is also responsible for the country’s oldest band – the United States Marine Band. Who knew he was such a music lover? Well, we did. He told us in person when we brought him to 2019. That’s when we knew that we had to take him on a Harlem Gospel Tour. On the three hour tour, John learned a lot about the cultural roots of Gospel music, and got to see many of Harlem’s most famous landmarks like the Apollo Theater, Abyssinian Baptist Church and Striver’s Row.
So if you were wondering what the Founding Fathers would do in NYC this July 4th, now you know!
Want more inspiration on things to do this Independence Day weekend? Check out our blog on things to do in NY this summer.