Celebrating Earth Month & National Parks | |
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It's the perfect time to celebrate all things outdoors! In addition to being Earth Month, April also means National Park Week! This year, National Park Week is April 20th through April 28th and is a time to celebrate all things National Parks. With more than 400 national park sites nationwide, that's a lot to celebrate!
We feel especially lucky to have not one, but four national park sites right here in Philadelphia: Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site and Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') National Historic Site. Wow!
Earth Day Clean Up at Independence
Speaking of parks... we're happy to celebrate Earth Day at Philadelphia's National Park! Join us and our friends at Independence NHP for an Earth Day Clean Up event. We'll be picking up litter on Independence Mall and making our favorite park shine for everyone who visits. Sign up below to volunteer!
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When: Monday, April 22nd from 1pm to 3pm
Where: Meet at 5th and Chestnut Streets
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Safety briefing, gloves, and tools supplied. Please reach out to us at attn@inht.org if you have any questions or concerns. We hope to see you on the 22nd! | |
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Americans and Innovation
- Banking in the Early Republic -
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We are excited to partner with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP) as they mark their 200th anniversary and celebrate their expansive collection! The Trust is teaming up with HSP to present a joint exhibition and program that will explore the theme of Americans and Innovation: Science, Technology, and Enterprise. We invite you to join us and learn about banking in the early years of our nation and the foundation it established for American expansion and enterprise. Plus, learn a little bit about our largest project currently underway: the First Bank of the United States.
The exhibit “All View It As an Object of High Importance”: Banking in the Early Republic will be on view from April 16th through May 31st, with an opening reception on Thursday, April 18th.
The program, an Innovator Talk with author Richard Vague, will take place on Wednesday, May 1st and examine the financial industry in early America.
Both the exhibit and program will take place at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, (1300 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107). Find out more details below and sign up to attend! We hope to see you there!
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Exhibit Opening Reception
Thursday, April 18th | 6pm to 8pm
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Innovator Talk: Richard Vague
Wednesday, May 1st | 6:30pm
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It's April and that means National Park Week! National Park Week is a 9-day celebration of all things "parks." Celebrate your favorite national parks from April 20 to April 28. Entrance fees to NPS sites will be waived on April 20th to get the celebration started. Come join us at the Best Park in History this month! For all the latest on the Park's programs and events, check out the Park's calendar.
April Programs at Independence
Family Program: Happy 283rd Birthday, Charles Willson Peale!
Join the American Philosophical Society Museum and Independence National Historical Park in celebrating Charles Willson Peale's 283rd birthday! Learn more about this curious figure's role in natural history. Visitors will be able to channel their inner naturalist through activities including drawing, identifying fossils, and more! More information, here.
- Where: APS Museum (104 S. 5th Street)
- Date: April 14
- Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm
Fee-Free Day: Free Admission to the Benjamin Franklin Museum
Celebrate the first day of National Park Week with free admission for all to the Benjamin Franklin Museum. The museum features artifacts, computer animations, and interactive displays about the life and character of Benjamin Franklin.
- Where: Benjamin Franklin Museum
- Date: April 20
- Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm
National Junior Ranger Day
No matter what age you are, you are invited to explore, learn, and protect on National Junior Ranger Day. You can participate in the Junior Ranger program year-round and join this one-day celebration that is part of the annual National Park Week.
- Where: Independence National Historical Park and other national parks
- Date: April 27
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April Hours at Independence
Independence Visitor Center: 9am to 5pm
Liberty Bell Center: 9am to 5pm
Independence Hall: 9am to 5pm
Congress Hall: 9am to 5pm
Great Essentials Exhibit, West Wing: 9am to 5pm
Supreme Court Chamber: 9am to 5pm (Thu-Sun)
Second Bank Portrait Gallery: 11am to 5pm (Fri-Sat)
Ben Franklin Museum: 9am to 5pm
Franklin Court Printing Office: 10am to 5pm (Thu-Sun)
Free Quaker Meeting House: 11am to 4pm (Sat-Sun)
Carpenters' Hall: 10am to 4pm (Tue-Sun)
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The following buildings at Independence NHP are closed: 318 Market Street, City Tavern, Declaration House, Germantown White House, New Hall Military Museum, Todd and Bishop White Houses.
More of Philadelphia's National Parks
Edgar Allan Poe NHS: 9am to 5pm (closed 12pm-1pm), Friday thru Sunday
Thaddeus Kosciuszko NM: 12pm to 4pm, Saturday & Sunday
Gloria Dei Old Swedes' NHS: 5am to 11pm, grounds open daily
(for church hours and services, visit here)
America's National Park Stores
Museum Store in Old City Hall: 10am to 4pm, open daily
Benjamin Franklin Museum Store: 9am to 5pm, open daily
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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.
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Solar Eclipse on April 8th | |
The United States will be seeing a total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8th. While Philadelphia is not in the path of totality, we'll be experiencing about 90% coverage -- the most since 1984!
Independence NHP and Independence Historical Trust will be handing out solar eclipse glasses and viewers around Independence Mall for safe viewing of this awesome natural phenomenon. Be sure to stop by!
Learn more about solar eclipses from the National Park Service, here.
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Sneak Peek: Summer Programs with INHT | |
It might only be a few weeks into Spring, but we're already thinking about Summer!
We're excited to bring back a few of our favorite summer programs and and try out some new ones too!
This year, INHT will be hosting:
- Yoga at Independence
- BARK Ranger: Donuts and Dogs
- BARK Ranger: Pawtriot Yappy Hour
- Twilight Tours
More information is coming soon!
Follow us on Instagram or Facebook for updates.
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Bicentennial Bell Updates | |
Notice anything new at the corner of 3rd and Walnut? Last month, the Bicentennial Bell team installed the armature which will soon hold the Bicentennial Bell. The armature, designed and fabricated by Holzman Iron Studio, is 19' 3" tall.
This weekend, the Bicentennial Bell, presented by Queen Elizabeth II from the People of Great Britain to the People of the United States in 1976, will be installed in its new home at the Benjamin Rush Garden. The Bell, weighing in at 12,000 pounds, will be the centerpiece of the rehabilitated garden that sits on the site where founder Benjamin Rush's home once stood.
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Historic Crafts and Trades Fair at Carpenters' Hall | |
Please join the Carpenters' Company of the City and Country of Philadelphia for a showcase of historic crafts and trades in honor of the Company's 300th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the completion of Carpenters' Hall. The fair will be held on Saturdays (April 27 and May 4, 11, & 18) from 11am to 4pm. Featured trades include blacksmithing, masonry, carpentry, and colonial crafts. Find more information here.
Bonus: The Blacksmith program on April 27th is being run in partnership with Holzman Iron Studio -- the studio that designed and fabricated the armature for the Bicentennial Bell!
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Independence NHP Museum Accreditation | Congratulations to Independence National Historical Park! The Park has been awarded reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, the highest national recognition for a museum. | |
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Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, the public, and that the Park continues to meet the National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museums.
The Trust was proud to support this effort! Independence is one of only nine accredited national park museums. Many, many thanks to everyone involved with this process! And thank you to the staff at Independence NHP who care for our many cultural and historical resources!
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Want the latest information about your favorite National Park? Download the NPS App for interactive maps, walking tours, recommendations, events, and the latest alerts for more than 400 national parks, including Independence NHP!
Available for iOS and Android devices.
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