July 2022
Celebrating at Independence!
Thank you to everyone who celebrated our 50th anniversary with us last month! The Trust received a Tribute from the City of Philadelphia, presented by City Representative Sheila Hess in honor of the occasion. This milestone would not be possible without the support of friends like you. Thank you! We are looking forward to the next 50 years (and more!) of partnership, philanthropy, and preservation with you by our side.

June 15th was just the beginning, we are planning a year of programs and events to commemorate 50 years of supporting the Best Park in History. Please join us on Friday, July 8th for some fun, family-oriented activities as we round out the July 4th celebrations at Independence National Historical Park.

Declaration of Independence Activities - July 8th
Join the crowd to hear a commemorative reading of the Declaration of Independence by a Park Ranger portraying Colonel John Nixon. Snag a free copy of the Declaration of Independence and cheer (or jeer!) as the colonists did on July 8, 176, when Colonel Nixon first read the document publicly in the State House yard, now Independence Square.

Readings will take place at 12pm and 5:30pm.

Between the two re-enactments, join the Trust, Independence NHP, and the American Philosophical Society for fun, family-oriented activities related to the Declaration of Independence! Meet James Forten, Thomas Jefferson and John Dunlap (printer of the Declaration) and hear their perspectives on this momentous event. In addition, the American Philosophical Society will be open until 7:00pm this day. See below for more information on their exhibit and free, timed tickets.
INHT Welcomes Jonathan Burton
The Trust is pleased to introduce our newest team member and Director of Development, Jonathan Burton!

Jonathan Burton recently returned to the Philadelphia area after living in Colorado while his wife earned her doctorate degree. While in Denver he completed a Master of Science degree in Nonprofit Leadership from the University of Denver. Before leaving for Colorado in 2019, Jonathan was the Executive Director for the Philadelphia Society for the Preservation of Landmarks for six years and managed the Powel House Museum on 3rd Street.
He previously served on the Rutgers University-Camden advisory council for the historic preservation certification program at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Center for the Humanities and is a past grant reviewer for the Philadelphia Cultural Fund. Jonathan also served on the board of the Elfreth's Alley Association.
Independence NHP Updates
It's officially summer at Independence NHP! Enjoy extended hours, walking tours, and lots of programming at the Best Park in History! Be sure to join the Park later this month for Franklin Festival, a week of activities all about Philadelphia-favorite, Ben Franklin.

Summer Talks & Walking Tours

"Stories of Independence - Life and Liberty in Philadelphia" Walking Tour
Join a Park Ranger to find stories of real people and their pursuit of life and liberty in revolutionary Philadelphia. 1 hour.
  • Where: Meet at Signers' Garden at 5th & Chestnut Streets
  • Dates: Daily
  • Time: 10:00am

"Dr. Franklin's Philadelphia" Walking Tour
Printer, politician, diplomate, inventor - get to know the real Ben Franklin as you explore the streets and sites of his beloved city. Franklin's accomplishments continue to shape our city, country, and the world. 1 hour.
  • Where: Meet at the Benjamin Franklin Museum entrance
  • Dates: Daily
  • Time: 11:00am

Washington Square Ranger Talks
In the 1700s, Washington Square became a burial ground for the dead, and later a gathering place for the living. Join a Park Ranger to hear stories about this hallowed ground. 20 minutes.
  • Where: Meet at the Tomb of the Unknown Revolutionary War Soldier
  • Dates: Daily
  • Time: 11:30am & 2:30pm

Ben Franklin Festival

Join Independence NHP staff for talks, family-friendly activities, and special programming commemorating the life of Benjamin Franklin!
  • Dates: July 17-23
  • Where: Franklin Court
  • Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm
July Building Hours at Independence

Independence Visitor Center: 9am to 7pm

Liberty Bell Center: 9am to 7pm

Independence Hall: 9am to 7pm

Congress Hall: 9am to 5pm

West Wing: 9am to 5pm

Old City Hall: 9am to 5pm

Ben Franklin Museum: 9am to 5pm

Franklin Court Printing Office: 10am to 5pm

Edgar Allan Poe NHS: 9am to 5pm (Fri-Sun)

Thaddeus Kosciuszko NM: 12pm to 4pm (Sat- Sun)

Free Quaker Meeting House: 11am to 4pm (Sat-Sun)
Carpenters' Hall remains closed for renovation. Please enjoy their temporary exhibit at the Independence Visitor Center.

The following buildings at Independence NHP are closed: 318 Market Street, Declaration House, Deshler-Morris House, New Hall Military Museum, Second Bank Portrait Gallery, Todd and Bishop White Houses.

After Hours Tours at Independence Hall

During extended summer hours, enjoy an after-hours tour of Independence Hall from 5pm to 7pm - no tickets required! Tours will be given every 15 minutes and have a limit of 70 people per tour. This is the perfect opportunity visit Independence Hall if you were unable to reserve tickets during normal operating hours. Security to Independence Square will close at 6:45pm, or earlier if tours have reached capacity.

Timed tickets are still required for tours of Independence Hall between 9am and 5pm.

Tickets for Independence Hall are fully mobile. Tickets can be reserved in advance through https://recreation.gov or on the recreation.gov mobile app. Tickets are free and up to 9 can be reserved per account. There is a $1 administrative fee to reserve each ticket. Please visit the NPS information desk at the Independence Visitor Center if you need assistance.

COVID-19: Please visit the Park's website before your visit for the latest information and current protocols regarding COVID-19, which may include masks or face covering, reduced capacity, social distancing and other procedures. More information: https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
Twilight Tours Through Labor Day
The 2022 Twilight Tour season has officially started! Join one of our knowledgeable Twilight Guides for a FREE walking tour around Independence NHP and the surrounding historic area.

Tours meet at the Commodore Barry statue (behind Independence Hall) at 6pm, Thursday through Sunday. Each tour and route is difference and depends on the guide. For a full list of topics, please our website.

We hope to see you on a tour or two this summer!
Thank You, Volunteers!
If you visited the Park during the Welcome America Festival to see a concert or watch the Salute to America Independence Day parade, chances are you saw some of our volunteers! They handed out thousands of flags and greeted so, so many visitors who came down to celebrate. A huge thank you to them for all their hard work over the last 2 weeks! There's no place to celebrate the 4th of July quite like Independence NHP and our volunteers are a huge part of that. Thank you!
Virtual Trivia Night: Celebrating National Parks
We're celebrating the National Park Service's 106th Birthday on August 25th!

Test your knowledge on all things National Parks during this virtual Trivia Night hosted by Independence Historical Trust. Gather some friends and log-on for a fun night of trivia!

Register here.
Quilt of America Gala with Ken Burns
Independence Historical Trust is celebrating 50 years of partnership, philanthropy, and preservation at our Quilt of America gala! This special evening will feature acclaimed documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns. Award-winning journalist Tracey Matisak will moderate the program. Learn more about the gala - or become a sponsor here.
Temporary Exhibit: The Stone Declaration
See a facsimile of the Stone Declaration of Independence that belonged to Charles Carroll of Carrollton. Exhibit panels explore how printer William J. Stone created a copperplate engraving of the original document in the 1820s and printed 201 copies for distribution to all 24 US states and to the three surviving signers of the Declaration: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Charles Carroll.
The Stone Declaration is the one most familiar to us today. Visit the Liberty Bell Center to see this temporary exhibit!
Becoming Weatherwise at the American Philosophical Society
Visit the American Philosophical Society's museum for their latest exhibit, Becoming Weatherwise: A History of Climate Science in America. The exhibit explores the questions and methods of studying weather, the people involved, and the evolution of ideas.
The museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Timed tickets are required for entry and can be reserved here.
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