Exploring the rich history, art, and culture of Philadelphia on Inauguration Day through iconic landmarks and museums.
Stories by LEAP Ambassadors, Article republished with permission. Original story here.
The following by Michelle Cardenas
Though we weren’t able to watch the Inauguration in D.C., the LEAP ambassadors made the most out of January 20, 2025 in order to learn and expand our understanding of democracy. Through exploring the arts and historic artifacts, we are happy to say that the day was not unspent!
The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
On Inauguration Day, as the nation welcomed a new president, the LEAP Ambassadors continued their Democratic Tour with a visit to two of America’s most iconic landmarks: the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.



Our first stop was the Liberty Bell, a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience. Standing before this historic artifact, we couldn’t help but reflect on its significance—once rung to mark the signing of the Declaration of Independence and later embraced by the abolitionist movement as a symbol of liberty for all. Of course, no visit would be complete without a photo of the famous crack, a reminder that even imperfections can carry deep meaning.

After capturing the moment, we made our way across the street to Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers debated and signed the Declaration of Independence and later drafted the U.S. Constitution. While we didn’t go inside, standing in front of the hall offered a sense of connection to the past.


However, we had the opportunity to visit the nearby Senate and House chambers, where pivotal moments in American history unfolded. In the House chamber, we stood in the very place where the first peaceful transition of power took place—when George Washington stepped down from the presidency and John Adams was sworn in. Standing in that historic room on Inauguration Day made the experience even more meaningful, serving as a reminder of the enduring legacy of democratic leadership.



As we continued our tour, we left with a greater appreciation for themoments and monuments that have shaped our nation’s history, and a little extra gratitude for warmer climates.


Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMOA)
The following by Saara Maknojia
Art plays a significant role in incapsulating the historical evolution of cultures across the world. To learn more about art in different parts of the world during the different time periods, LEAP students paid a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.



Gravitating towards the third floor of the museum, we split into groups to take on the two exhibits. Michelle, Israel, and I began our time strolling through the European and Asian art exhibits. The European side of the exhibit began with painting and artifacts from the Medieval time period. Immediately Michelle found, what happened to be her favorite from the exhibit, a piece by Joos Van Cleve titled Descent from the Cross.

Passing through the European and Oriental artwork from Chinese, Japanese, and Korean artists, I approached a room filled with art best aligned with my heritage. The Southeast Asian collection contained a variety of “murti’s”, or idol sculptures often found in South Indian temples. From the columns with engravings of mythological characters depicted in Indian folklore stories, to the brass and golden murti’s, this surely became my favorite in the exhibit.

Making Our Way to the Next Floor at PMOA
The following by Cinthia Villarreal
After wrapping up the third floor, we headed to see my personal favorite section of the museum, the Impressionism and Post-Impressionism exhibits. With renowned artists such as Van Gogh, Cezanne, Claude Monet, and Mary Cassatt along the walls, we were thrilled to be exposed to more of the work during this artistic revolutionary era. As always, I gravitated toward Monet’s work. However, I was quite taken aback from one of his works from the later stages in his career, characterized by a dark colored shadows and bright colored background, giving the viewer just enough detail to get his idea across. Camille Pissarro’s Summer Landscape caught Israel’s attention.



As we explored the other exhibits, we surprisingly walked past not one, but two huge Diego Rivera art pieces. We were incredibly surprised by having a Mexican American artist present so far north.

The Modern and Contemporary art exhibit was our last stop in the museum. Chrissy, who found an interesting newfound appreciation for modern art last year, became visibly excited when we approached a couple of Andy Warhol signature pieces…

Though I find myself questioning this style of art extensively and is most definitely far from being my favorite, I can appreciate people’s feelings and appreciation towards the unique styles which they may gravitate towards and try to understand the intention of an artist when trying to provoke the viewer. We are always grateful to be exposed to a variety of ideas and fields that expand our knowledge and understanding not only of the arts, but of other people’s viewpoints that might differ from ours.





A Little Fun in the Snow
The following by Olivia Discon
You would think that after 5 days in extremely cold weather that us Texans would immediately retreat indoors when presented the opportunity. However, we decided to hit the hills just outside the museum and go sledding!


This group had fun letting physics decide their fate, with some going down fairly smoother than others…

Cinthia, who is our ice queen, swiftly and enthusiastically rode down the hill several times and with different techniques.

Saara and Israel, who had a bit of a competitive edge, decided to race down the hill. That was soon squashed by a handful of icy collisions.

As for Chrissy, well, it was complicated. For starters, she unintentionally began backwards, and in true Chrissy fashion, did a couple of spins down the hill. She tried her best to regain control, and to that extent she did. However, it was too late for the immense fits of laughter achieved by the peanut gallery (us). So much so, that we gained the attention of CBS Philadelphia!

During an “on-the-street” interview, correspondent Kerri Corrado, was inquiring about how citizens brave the cold weather and how it may impact them.
While you can watch it here, here’s a short recap.
Michelle suggested layering up to the viewers, while Saara indicated our short-lived, childlike wonder out in the elements.


Chrissy, who made her way back up the hill from her wipeout, was covered in ice, as noted by Corrado.

Israel made it clear that he absolutely hated the cold weather and was quote “over it”.

I, myself, was not qualified to give anyone in Philly tips to brave the snow, as I had mysteriously lost one of my gloves.

While this was not the interview we were expecting, we were grateful for the opportunity to share our travels with the Philadelphian people!
