The state of Pennsylvania has one of the most fascinating and important histories of all the United States. One of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania was key to the formation of the new country in several ways. Historic sites today still tell this story, and as visitors staying in vacation rentals in Pennsylvania will soon discover, no matter where you go in the state, you are bound to be close to one or more of them.
Many of the key sites are located in Philadelphia, which is Pennsylvania's largest city to this day and is also the fifth most populated city in the nation. During colonial times, it was a thriving metropolis; later on, it served as an early capital of the United States of America. It was in Independence Hall in Philadelphia that both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written, the two events separated in time by little more than a decade. Tours of the exact room where these great documents were forged are available on most days of the week.
There is much to do and see in Pennsylvania besides the historic sites in its largest city, however. Further east in the state is a large complex known as the Gettysburg National Historic Battlefield. This site is dedicated to preserving and explaining the Battle of Gettysburg, which formed a turning point in the American Civil War. The battlefield is extensive and dotted with statues, monuments, and plaques commemorating all the great details of the three-day battle.