In honor of Independence Day, I went to Independence Hall! No…I didn’t fly to Philadelphia for the weekend I went to Buena Park, California to visit an exact replica of the Independence Hall in Philadelphia where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution was debated and hammered out.

I went there once as a child. It’s part of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. Back in the day, across the street from the Amusement Park was a “free park”. There was a burro ride, a lake with Adventure Island where us kids would play hide and seek for hours, and paddle boats. In the midst of all this child hood fun was Independence Hall but like most seven year olds I wasn’t interesting in “boring history”.

Well, like everything, things change. The burro ride, paddle-boats and adventure island is gone and now a parking lot is where they once were. On the other side of Independence Hall is Knott’s Soak City. But, Independence Hall is still there and still free.

In fact, you can park in the Knott’s Market Place free for three hours which allows ample time to visit Independence Hall.

Originally dedicated by Walter Knott on July 4, 1966, the Independence Hall replica was built as a permanent, free-admission reminder of two famous events: the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the U.S. Constitution. Walter Knott constructed the building for the millions of West Coast families unable to travel to Philadelphia to tour the original. The likeness is so exact that you can see fingerprints in the brick, just as in the original.

Independence Hall was so well recreated that the original Hall in Philadelphia asked for the Knott's blueprints during its recent renovation, and the replica also was used in the 2004 film National Treasure. Displays have included a replica of the Liberty Bell and a replica of the original "Star Spangled Banner," the flag which flew over Fort McHenry through a British attack during the War of 1812. An audio presentation, with speakers located at appropriate tables, recalls the debate which led to the United States Declaration of Independence.

The grounds around Independence Hall are very relaxing. I was there on July 3 and was one of only 3 people in Independence Hall while throngs and bus loads of people walked by to Soak City and the Amusement Park. A sad commentary on the importance of our history.

After visiting Independence Hall you can visit Knott’s Chicken Dinner famous for it’s down home American cooking of fried chicken, apple pie and all the trimmings. However, I opeted for Po’ Folks just down Beach Blvd next to the old Movieland Wax Museum where you can get typical southern food—fried chicken, fried okra, mashed potatoes, Hush puppies and Mississippi Mud Pie. What better way to celebrate Indepence Day with some down home American Cookin’

Knott's Independence Hall is open daily year-round from 10:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. In addition, on the fourth of July they do have people in patriot costume along with singing and fireworks. In February they have a Civil War encapment. So if you can’t make it to Philadelphia and you are in the Los Angeles Area, you can visit and exact replica of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell!