Philadelphia's First Bank Of The United States Reopens This Summer As A Museum: What To Know

A historic Philly landmark is set to reopen as a brand-new attraction this summer — just days before the country’s milestone 250th anniversary.

— Photo courtesy The First Bank of the United States

The revitalized and revamped First Bank of the United States — closed to the public since the Bicentennial in 1976 — reopens to the public on July 1, 2026, as a modern museum that tells the story of banking in America.

The bank — once the cornerstone of Alexander Hamilton’s visionary plan to create a central banking system to support our new nation — has undergone a multi-million dollar renovation to restore the building’s architectural glory.

The interior space has also been retooled to welcome visitors eager to learn more about the bank’s mission to financially unite the original 13 colonies and establish a system of banking in America.

Since the public hasn’t had access to the First Bank building in 50 years, visitors can expect to see the interior and exterior gussied up and looking finer than ever, with the marble façade having undergone a makeover and the interior structure and sculptures restored.

Visitors to the refurbished space enter through a modern addition built in the rear of the iconic, temple-like building. This addition updated the space with a heating and cooling system, bathrooms, stairs and an elevator.

The sweeping interior rotunda, featuring 240 glass panels around a central skylight, serves as an exhibition space with room for meetings, educational programs and special events.

— Photo courtesy The First Bank of the United States

Expect immersive, modern exhibits, though specific details are still under wraps.

Mired in debt after emerging triumphant from the Revolutionary War, the country looked to Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to come up with ways to pay up while continuing to grow economically. A lawyer by trade, Hamilton looked to the U.S. Constitution for ideas.

Hamilton believed that the document’s Necessary and Proper Clause gave the country the implied power to establish a national bank, but several Founding Fathers disagreed. Ever the orator, Hamilton delivered a 15,000-word rebuttal, successfully selling the idea to President George Washington and Congress.

Originally housed in nearby Carpenters’ Hall, the First Bank of the United States opened in 1791, later moving to its permanent home at 120 South 3rd Street in 1797. Architect Samuel Blodgett Jr. designed the building after Greek temples to signify America’s power and strength, with banks nationwide following suit for the next 150 years.

Congress originally granted the First Bank a 20-year charter. When it expired, prominent Philadelphia financier Stephen Girard jumped at the chance to purchase the building, adding the rotunda and opening his own private bank there in 1812.

The building served Philadelphians as a bank through 1930, changing hands a few times before the National Park Service (NPS) acquired it in 1955, adding it to Independence National Historic Park (INHP). NPS used the space first as a visitor center and more recently as office space. Restoration and planning to convert the space to a museum began more than six years ago.

Built from Pennsylvania blue marble acquired in nearby Montgomery County, the stone façade — featuring six towering Corinthian-style columns — needed some TLC after standing strong through centuries of weathering.

— Photo courtesy The First Bank of the United States

The entire exterior underwent repointing, with workers repairing or replacing any damaged features, including the eagle sculpture (carved out of mahogany) standing watch above the columns and the marble allegory above the doors.

After preserving the structure of the building, builders then had to ensure that the walls would be protected when installing interactive exhibits.

The cost for the rehabilitation — including planning, preservation, construction and installation of exhibits — totaled more than $33 million.

Scheduled to officially open on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, NPS has not yet released information about how visitors can access the First Bank. Stay tuned for more, and learn more about the First Bank on: https://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm

Source: https://www.visitphilly.com/

More Americans Are Now Eligible for a Canadian Passport Thanks to a Newly Passed Law

This is a major update for many families with family roots in Canada. As of December 2025, a historic change to Canada's citizenship laws—specifically Bill C-3 (previously Bill C-71)—has officially gone into effect, opening the door for millions of Americans to claim a Canadian passport.If you have a Canadian parent or grandparent, you might already be a dual citizen without even knowing it. Here is everything you need to know about the new law and how to claim your status.

The "First-Generation Limit" is History
For years, Canada followed a strict "first-generation limit" on citizenship. This meant that if a Canadian was born outside of Canada, they could pass their citizenship to their children (the first generation born abroad), but that child could not pass it to their own kids (the second generation).

In 2023, the Ontario Superior Court ruled this limit unconstitutional, leading the Canadian government to pass new legislation. The new law effectively removes this barrier for anyone born before December 15, 2025.

1. If You Were Born BEFORE December 15, 2025For this group, the "first-generation limit" has been retroactively removed. You qualify if:You have a Canadian ancestor: You must have an "anchor" ancestor (parent, grandparent, or even great-grandparent) who was either born in Canada or naturalized there.

You can prove the lineage: You are now considered a citizen "at birth" through an unbroken chain of descent, regardless of how many generations were born outside Canada.

No "Connection" Required: You do not need to prove you or your parents ever lived in Canada. You simply need the paperwork (birth certificates, marriage records, etc.) to link yourself to that original Canadian ancestor.

How to Apply

The government provides two ways to submit your application depending on your specific situation:
Online Application: This is the fastest method. You can apply online if you are a first-time applicant or replacing a certificate. You will need to create an IRCC secure account, upload digital photos, and pay the $75 CAD fee via credit or debit card.

Paper Application: You must use a paper application if you are applying through a grandparent who was a "Crown servant" (working for the Canadian government abroad) or if the online system does not support your specific lineage link. You can download the CIT 0001 application package directly from the site: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship.html

Michelin Guide Names Top Philadelphia Hotels For America’s 250th Birthday Travelers

As America celebrates its semiquincentennial in 2026, there’s plenty of reason to visit the city where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed and adopted. Beyond the cheesesteaks and the cracked bell, travelers have 33 restaurants and 17 MICHELIN hotels to explore in our Philadelphia selection.

Of those 17 hotels, the four below are Inspectors' top picks. Distinguished with Keys, the hotel equivalent of the Stars for restaurants, the best hotels in Philadelphia are luxe, well-crafted, and have their own stories to tell about this historic city. And located as they are in some of its most appealing neighborhoods, they have no shortage of top restaurants nearby.

A remade row house in the center of the city is the warm and residential Guild House. © Guild House

Guild House

What it’s all about: In the Midtown Village district of Center City, an intimate One-Key expertly crafted from a historic 19th-century home.

The physical home of the Guild House is a crucial part of its story. This 1855 row house was once the headquarters of the New Century Guild group that supported working women by providing education and a space for discourse. Common areas play directly on that history. The former dining room, where guild members once gathered for entertainment and activism, is now the hotel’s lounge, a place where like-minded travelers sip drinks and peruse vintage novels from the surrounding bookshelves, as well as the site of hotel events and guest speakers.

All but one of the 12 elegant, moody guest rooms honors a different guild member, while the exception, the Ruby, is named for a senior member’s ruby brooch. Naturally, a hotel that takes such care of its history retains the home’s original light fixtures and includes much vintage décor alongside plush comforts, modern flourishes and even such touches as original guild documents, like a clipping from its 19th-century newsletter.

Although a manager is on site, the Guild House operates with invisible service, with guests emailed PIN codes before check-in, and a dumbwaiter to help transport luggage to the upper floors. Along with the cozy rooms and communal spaces, this makes for a particularly tailored stay for solo travelers, although any will appreciate the design and story of this unique place, and larger parties may consider the large, multi-bedroom suite refashioned from the guild’s auditorium.

The Four Seasons makes its home in the city's tallest skyscraper. © Four Seasons

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center

What it’s all about: The only hotel in the city with Two Keys, an all-star cast brings the very best in dining, design and city views to a reinvented standard bearer.

When the Four Seasons moved to its new location on the 60th floor of the Comcast Center, it shed its historical landmark status and embraced a reinvention. It is fair to call this Two-Key gem, in a skyscraper in the heart of the Center City business district, its most no-holds-barred luxurious. Among the contributors were one of Britain’s greatest living architects, Norman Foster, the legendary producer of U2 and Talking Heads, Brian Eno, a floral designer, Jeff Leatham, known for a clientele that includes Oprah and the Dalai Lama, and chefs well-known to these pages, among them Jean-Georges and Greg Vernick.

Rooms feature stunning views of the entire city, while some of the best are enjoyed while leaning against the edge of the 57th-floor infinity pool, looking up from a massage table in the spa, or seated at the aforementioned chef’s chic Jean-Georges Philadelphia. Opening soon are the residentially inspired Sky Garden rooms, set on a floor dedicated to art by local artists and sculptors, a nice nod to Philly’s newly opened Calder Gardens art museum.

But even the most standard room at this Four Seasons offers touches of luxury: floral arrangements on tables, room controls embedded in headboards, and bedside tablets for more services.

The Rittenhouse makes its home in one of the city's toniest districts. © The Rittenhouse Hotel

The Rittenhouse Hotel

What it’s all about: Overlooking the lovely Rittenhouse Park, a One-Key hotel for a luxe base with broad appeal in a residential urban neighborhood.

A 10-minute walk south of the Four Seasons, the Rittenhouse Hotel occupies one-third of the floors in this stepped, 33-story high-rise overlooking the leafy Rittenhouse Park. Another excellent upscale option in the Center City for families, business travelers or staycations, some rooms are as large as 2,000 square feet, in particular the one- and two-bedroom, high-ceiling specialty suites along the book-lined third-floor hallway.

But every guest is guaranteed no shortage of amenities, especially with a spa that offers full-service hair and nail appointments and views of the park, a pool, yoga classes and massage treatments. Meanwhile, the French-inspired cuisine at Lacroix features an a la carte menu that can be transformed into a four-course tasting menu with wine pairings for less than $200, while smaller plates and cocktails are served at the Library Bar.

Additional refined events include British-inspired afternoon tea in the Mary Cassatt Tea Room and Garden just off the lobby, and for the first half of 2026, the property will host Chef RJ Smith, who will serve Caribbean-inspired meals every other Sunday at the Ocho Supper Club, which finishes its run at the end of June.

Balcony rooms at the Anna & Bel overlook the courtyard and pool. © Anna & Bel

Anna and Bel

What it’s all about: A warm and carefully designed One-Key hotel for a cool crowd in trendy Fishtown.

If Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love, Anna and Bel is the hotel of sisterly suave. Once a home for widowed women, this 1769 building in the trendy Fishtown neighborhood closed during the pandemic. Foyer, a hospitality and design team, bought the red brick building and opened this charming boutique hotel that embraces its historic setting and acts as a lovely base for exploring Fishtown, complete with its own Italian restaurant and cocktail lounge.

Spaces lean intentionally into the local and feminine, with rooms stocked with books about women, travel and design, while velvet-draped elevators are lined with wallpaper featuring female silhouettes. Rooms continue the artistic touches and funky modernism, and the best have balconies that gaze down on an interior courtyard and pool, but there is always an eye toward preserving and reviving history — many doorways, the grand stairway, and moldings are original.

Find local snacks and beverages, along with CBD gummies and libido patches, behind the French doors hiding each room’s kitchenette. Reading nooks, hand-printed robes, basement saunas and the occasional bowl of mandarin oranges round out a property that matches its neighborhood’s energy.

Travelore Tips: Pre-Register For Europe's Entry/Exit System: Skip The Hours-Long Lines!

If you are Traveling to Europe this summer, be prepared for potential delays upon arrival. A new system called the Entry/Exit System (EES) is being implemented across many European airports, and it's unfortunately causing significantly longer wait times for non-EU travelers, including American tourists.

What's causing the delays?

The EES requires biometric registration – fingerprints and photos – for all non-EU visitors entering and exiting member states. This process takes considerably longer than the previous manual passport checks, leading to congestion and frustration, especially during peak travel periods.

Lisbon Airport's Solution: The "Travel to Europe" App

Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Portugal, having experienced substantial delays, has been selected to pilot a new solution: the "Travel to Europe" mobile app. This app, developed by Frontex (the European Border and Coast Guard Agency), allows travelers to pre-register their information, significantly speeding up the entry process.

How the App Works:

Download the App: Available on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android).

Pre-Register Up to 72 Hours Before Travel:

Answer a travel questionnaire.

Enter your personal data and passport details.

Upload a recent photo and trip information.

Receive a QR Code: After successful pre-registration, the app generates a unique QR code.

Scan at Self-Service Kiosks: Upon arrival at Lisbon Airport, look for the designated self-service kiosks. Scan your QR code to quickly complete the remaining border control steps.

Benefits of Pre-Registration:

Reduce Wait Times: While not explicitly guaranteed, using the app can significantly decrease the time spent in immigration queues compared to completing the entire process in person.

Smoother Arrival Experience: Pre-registering allows for a more efficient and less stressful start to your European vacation.

Avoid Missing Connecting Flights: Shorter lines mean less risk of missing subsequent travel connections.

Key Considerations:

Lisbon Airport Only (For Now): Currently, the "Travel to Europe" app's pre-registration functionality is only available for arrivals at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS). Plans are underway to expand its use to other airports in the future.

Optional but Recommended: While using the app is optional, it's highly recommended to minimize wait times, especially during busy summer months.

Physical Border Control Still Required: All American tourists, regardless of pre-registration, must still physically pass through border control.

Stay Informed: Keep an eye on updates from European border authorities and your airline for the latest information on EES implementation and potential pre-registration options at other airports.

Don't Let Long Lines Dampen Your Spirits.

While the new EES system presents a challenge, the "Travel to Europe" app offers a valuable tool for pre-registered American tourists traveling through Lisbon. By taking advantage of this pre-registration option, you can streamline your entry process, minimize wait times, and get your European adventure off to a smooth and enjoyable start.

7 Countries Where U.S. Citizens Can Live Without A Visa

“Live without a visa” usually means you can show up without applying in advance and get a generous visitor window at the border. It’s perfect for long trips, slow travel, or a remote-work-style “life reset,” but it’s still not the same as residency. The officer you meet on arrival can approve fewer days, and paid work (even online) may trigger separate local rules.

Also: policies change, sometimes quietly. Treat your plan like a science experiment—do one last confirmation right before you fly. With that in mind, these seven destinations give U.S. passport holders an unusually long time on the ground compared with the common 30–90 day pattern.

1. Federated States of Micronesia

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

This is one of the rare cases where “long stay” really can mean long. Under the Compact of Free Association framework, U.S. citizens can enter, live, work, and study in the Federated States of Micronesia without needing a visa on a typical tourist countdown. The practical checklist still applies—passport validity, arrival forms, and whatever entry questions the officer asks—but the calendar is not the main limiter here. U.S. State Department: Federated States of Micronesia (entry basics)

What usually determines whether this feels “easy” is logistics, not legality. Flights can be limited, inter-island hops take planning, and some services are cash-first. If you want a true slow pace—reef days, small-community rhythm, and fewer “deadline” feelings—Micronesia is unusually accommodating.

2. Georgia

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Georgia is the “one-year runway” pick that keeps things simple for Americans. For tourism, you generally don’t need a visa in advance, and the allowance can stretch to a full 365 days—plenty of time to live at a normal pace, not a sprint. U.S. State Department: Georgia (entry/visa notes)

The easiest way to use that freedom is to pick a base first—Tbilisi works well—then do side loops: Kakheti wine country, Batumi on the coast, or mountain towns like Stepantsminda/Kazbegi when you want a scenery reset. Keep a simple record of your entry date and any border paperwork so you’re never guessing later.

3. Albania

Image Credit: Emily Marie Wilson / Shutterstock

Albania is another standout for Americans because the visitor window can run up to a year without requiring a tourist visa up front—and without immediately forcing you into a residency-permit process. If you truly want to stay beyond that year, that’s when you transition into local residency steps instead of trying to “stretch” tourist status. U.S. State Department: Albania (entry/visa notes)

This is one of the best places to let seasons plan the trip for you: Riviera time when it’s warm, Berat and Gjirokastër when you want history, and the north when hiking weather hits. Because the rule is tied to duration, a simple calendar log is your friend if you bounce in and out of neighboring countries.

4. Barbados

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Barbados works well for a longer tropical stay that doesn’t feel complicated. For many visitor cases, Americans can enter without applying for a visa in advance and stay for an extended period (commonly up to six months), with onward travel proof often expected. U.S. State Department: Barbados (entry/visa notes)

Six months is enough to stop treating the island like a checklist. You can learn the bus routes, find your “regular” beach, and actually slow down. Just keep the legal line clear: “staying awhile” is not automatically the same as “working legally,” so don’t assume remote work is always permitted without checking local rules.

5. Canada

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Canada is “easy” for Americans, but it still runs on border discretion. U.S. travel guidance notes that a visa isn’t required for stays under about 180 days—so roughly a six-month window—yet the officer can stamp a shorter stay depending on your circumstances. U.S. State Department: Canada (travel requirements)

For smooth entry, show up looking organized: where you’ll stay, how you’ll support yourself, and when you plan to leave. The longer your visit, the more the basics matter—housing that matches the season, realistic transport, and a plan that doesn’t sound like you’re improvising forever.

6. Mexico

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Mexico is the classic long-stay neighbor, with one detail travelers sometimes learn the hard way: the maximum is not the same as the number you’ll be granted on a given trip. Mexican consular guidance notes that U.S. citizens generally don’t need a visa for tourism/business/transit as long as the stay does not exceed 180 days and that the immigration authority sets the authorized time on arrival paperwork. Consulate of Mexico (Presidio): entry/180-day note

In practice, your best move is to arrive with an address, a believable timeline, and (if asked) proof of onward travel. If you want to stay beyond the visitor window, the clean solution is switching to the appropriate residency track—not trying to “hack” tourist status.

7. Costa Rica

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Costa Rica has been leaning toward a longer visitor allowance, which matches how people actually travel here (beaches + cloud forest + volcano loops). U.S. travel guidance states a visa isn’t required for stays up to 180 days but also flags the fine print: onward/return tickets are required, and the length of stay is ultimately up to immigration officials at entry. U.S. State Department: Costa Rica (travel requirements)

That long window is perfect for splitting life between a service-friendly base and nature weekends. Keep digital copies of your return ticket and lodging handy, because those are common, boring questions that become stressful only when you can’t pull up the proof quickly.

https://guessingheadlights.com/contributor/marija-mrakovic/

Travelore News: El Al To Add Nine Additional Destinations, Several Int'l Airlines To Resume Ben-Gurion Flights

El Al will resume flights to Boston, London Luton, Tivat (Montenegro), Krakow (Poland), Marseille (France), Sofia (Bulgaria), Paphos (Cyprus), Rhodes, and Thessaloniki (both in Greece).

El Al will resume flights to nine additional destinations, the airline announced on its official social media.

The new destinations are Boston, London Luton, Tivat (Montenegro), Krakow (Poland), Marseille (France), Sofia (Bulgaria), Paphos (Cyprus), Rhodes, and Thessaloniki (both in Greece).

This will bring the total number of destinations El Al flies to approximately 40, the airline stated.

For other destinations, where flight operations have not yet been resumed, customers will be proactively contacted in order to check whether they still intend to fly, the airline stated.

Foreign airlines, including TUS, Etihad, to resume flights this week, IAI announces

Meanwhile, several foreign airlines will resume flight operations to and from Ben-Gurion Airport this week, the Israel Airports Authority announced/

Bulgarian charter airline ALK Airlines, also known by the flight code VBB, resumed flight operations on Sunday with a daily flight on behalf of Greek-registered, Israeli-owned airline Bluebird Airways.

TUS Airways, headquartered in Larnaca, Cyprus, will resume flights on Tuesday, IAI said.

Abu Dhabi's national flag carrier Etihad Airways and Ethiopian Airlines will resume operations on Wednesday.

China's Hainan Airlines will resume flights on Thursday, while Moscow-based Red Wings Airlines, Georgian Airways, and Moldova's FlyOne will resume flights on Friday.

Arrangements are taking place for additional airlines, including the low-cost FlyDubai, to resume flights this week.

"We are working very hard to expand air activity and return the aviation industry to full operations," Transportation Minister Miri Regev said.

"The return of foreign airlines will allow the Israeli public to fly to a wider variety of destinations, and we will continue to work to increase the supply of flights and the variety of destinations," she added.

"The return of foreign airlines reflects confidence in the Israeli aviation system and its ability to cope even in complex times," IAI Chairman Yiftach Ron Tal said.

https://www.jpost.com/author/james-genn

A Nation Of Artists-Philadelphia Museum of Art: April 12, 2026–July 5, 2027 Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts: April 12, 2026–September 5, 2027

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) present A Nation of Artists, a landmark exhibition and collaboration with the private Middleton Family Collection, on view from April 2026 to September 2027.

Organized in conjunction with America’s 250th anniversary, A Nation of Artists examines how artistic production in the United States has been shaped by creativity, exchange, expansion, conflict, and innovation. At PAFA, works made from the late 18th century to today will be arranged thematically to explore scenes of westward expansion, the rise of industry, and international exchange. At PMA, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026, visitors will encounter a chronological display of American art from 1700 to 1960, revealing the global connections that spurred artistic and technological innovation, as well as makers inspired by the natural world, western expansion, and dramatic shifts in economic abundance and disparity.

Installed throughout PAFA’s recently restored Historic Landmark Building and PMA’s newly renovated American art galleries, the exhibition will chart America’s history from 1700 to the present day through more than 1,000 paintings, photographs, sculptures, decorative arts, and more. Across both museums, more than 120 rarely seen works from the Middleton Family Collection—one of the nation’s most significant private holdings of American art—will be on public view for the first time.

Collective highlights from A Nation of Artists will include:

Large-scale portraiture and figurative paintings, from Charles Willson Peale’s self-portrait and portrait of George Washington to Thomas Eakins’s famous Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross (The Gross Clinic).

Lush landscapes and scenes of the natural world by Albert Bierstadt, Frederic Edwin Church, Winslow Homer, Rookwood Pottery, and Georgia O’Keeffe.

Explorations of the Civil War period, including a monumental jar made and inscribed by the enslaved potter Dave, who later took the name David Drake.

Textiles, ceramics, and sculpture by Native American artists from Haida, Hodínöhšö:ni:h (Iroquois Confederacy), Diné, Hopi, and Pueblo nations and contemporary Lenape artist Laura Watters Maynor (Delaware Tribe of Indians, Wolf Clan).

Impressionist paintings by Mary Cassatt, William Merritt Chase, Daniel Garber, and John Singer Sargent, as well as work by modern masters such as Jasper Johns and Andy Warhol.

Contemporary artists such as Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Rina Banerjee, María Berrío, Willie Cole, Clarity Haynes, Gisela McDaniel, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Catherine Opie, Stephanie Syjuco, Mickalene Thomas, and Kara Walker, and many more.

“Our aspiration is that this exhibition is for everyone—no prior knowledge of art or history required,” noted John S. Middleton. “We believe in the power of storytelling to connect people and are thrilled to partner with these two storied institutions to share the works that have brought our family so much joy and inspiration. Like baseball, art has the power to bring people together and surprise us when we least expect it. With every viewing, there’s something new to discover. It’s an honor to help bring American art to life in a new way during this very special 250th commemoration of our country’s founding.”

“This is a transformative moment for PAFA and for Philadelphia,” said Kristen Shepherd, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. “As PAFA celebrates its 220th anniversary as America’s first art museum and school and the reopening of the Historic Landmark Building, we invite audiences into a renewed experience—one that reflects our storied legacy as the nation’s first art school and museum, while offering a powerful setting for a reimagined installation of our collection, enriched by works from the Middleton Family Collection. In collaboration with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we are proud to present A Nation of Artists in a way that is deeply rooted in PAFA’s history, yet forward-looking in its exploration of what defines American art today.”

“Commemorating the country’s semiquincentennial and PMA’s 150th anniversary, we are honored to collaborate with the esteemed Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the rarely seen Middleton Family Collection,” said Daniel Weiss, George D. Widener Director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. “A Nation of Artists will span three centuries of art to trace the ever-evolving story of American creativity. This exhibition, a cultural milestone, will bring together voices from around the country through innovative programs, partnerships, and scholarship.”

To learn more about A Nation of Artists, including exhibition details, programming, and visiting information, visit ANationofArtists.org