Winter at the National Parks of Philadelphia

December 2024

Winter at Independence

Winter is officially here at the National Parks of Philadelphia! During the winter months, please check the park website to keep up to date on any weather-related closures or delayed openings.

As the year comes to a close and we gather with friends and family, it's a wonderful time to reflect and take stock on all that's happened at the national parks in our backyard. We have hosted dozens of community programs and special events, enhanced public spaces around the park, and welcomed visitors from near and far. Of course, none of our work would be possible without support from our community of partners, volunteers, donors, and our friends at the National Park Service. Thank you!

We are looking forward to next year where we will be commemorating several important military anniversaries, continuing all our preparations for the nation's Semiquincentennial, and welcoming even more visitors to our favorite National Park! See you in 2025!!

Thank you for your support!

2024 has been an amazing year at the Trust and we couldn't have done it without you! This year, we welcomed thousands of visitors to the Park through Twilight Tours, Movies on the Mall, Yoga at Independence, and many other community programs. We reopened the Benjamin Rush Garden featuring the Bicentennial Bell, installed an accessible ramp on Independence Square, upgraded seating in Congress Hall, and made other enhancements that enrich the park experience. We are so grateful for your generous support and can't wait to see what 2025 brings!

You can still make an end-of-year gift and have it count for 2024 by donating online.

Thank you for being part of our story!!

Independence NHP Updates

Come visit the National Parks of Philadelphia and experience America's most historic square mile this winter. Plan your visit and find out the latest on Park programs and special events Park's calendar.

Winter Programs at Independence

History Hang-Out

Take a break, drop-in, and hang out with a Park Ranger as they dig deep into one of the many fascinating stories of Independence NHP. Enjoy casual conversation and hands-on activities for people of all ages.

Where: Liberty Bell Center
Date: Daily
Time: 3:30pm

The Park will be closed on Wednesday, January 1st.

Winter Hours at Independence

Independence Visitor Center: 9am to 6pm

Liberty Bell Center: 9am to 5pm

Independence Hall: 9am to 5pm

Congress Hall: 9am to 5pm

West Wing: 9am to 5pm

Old City Hall: 9am to 5pm

Ben Franklin Museum: 9am to 5pm

Franklin Printing Office: 10am to 5pm (Fri-Sun)

Carpenters' Hall: 10am to 4pm (Wed-Sun)

The following buildings are closed: 318 Market Street, City Tavern, Declaration House, Edgar Allan Poe NHS, Free Quaker Meeting House, Germantown White House, New Hall Military Museum, Second Bank Portrait Gallery, Thaddeus Kosciuszko NM, Todd and Bishop White Houses.

Visiting Independence Hall & Congress Hall

Independence Hall

9:15am to 2:45pm - Guided Tours (no tickets required; first-come first-serve))

Tours every 15 min and 45 min past the hour

3:15pm - 40 min. Expanded Tour (tickets required)

3:40pm to 5:00pm - Open House

Congress Hall

9:00am to 5:00pm - Open House

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More of Philadelphia's National Parks

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: 10:00am to 4:30pm, open daily

Benjamin Franklin Museum Store: 9:00am to 5:00pm, 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.

2024 Legacy Award Gala

Earlier this month, the Independence Historical Trust hosted our 2024 Legacy Award Gala! We were honored to present the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial with the Legacy Award for their commitment and leadership to Philadelphia as the region prepares for 2026.

The Collaborative supports Philadelphia-area programs commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence like the Red, White, and Blue To-Do, the Young People's Continental Congress at Carpenters' Hall, Visit Philly's TED Democracy, and Art Philly.

Scroll down for more pictures!

Photo credit: Hugh E. Dillion

Groundbreaking on Market Street

The City of Philadelphia broke ground on the Market Street Old City Improvement Project! The project includes a revamp of Market Street to enhance pedestrian and bike safety, the creation of a pedestrian plaza at 2nd and Market Streets, and making this stretch of the Historic District a welcoming environment for visitors. Project completion is scheduled for 2026.

Independence Historical Trust is proud to be a partner in this collaborative project.

Read more about it here.

Rising Sun Society Event at the Second Bank

In November, we hosted a special white glove tour with our Rising Sun Society, a group of supporters who have included the Trust in their estate planning.

Thanks to park curators, guests were able to get an up-close look at several artifacts in the Park's museum collection and talk all about the impact of legacy.

Please contact Jonathan Burton to learn more about the Rising Sun Society.

This silver tea set was donated to Carpenters’ Hall by Company member, architect, and historian Charles Peterson in 1986.

Tuesday Tea at Carpenters' Hall

Enjoy afternoon tea in the historic and elegant Carpenters' Hall. Dolley Todd Madison, your hostess for the afternoon, will regale guests all about the importance of tea in the colonial economy and, of course, its role the American Revolution.

Tea is offered every Tuesday in February at 3:30pm. More information, including how to purchase tickets, here.

This program is presented by Carpenters' Hall and Historic Philadelphia Inc.

Ben Franklin Birthday Celebration

The 2025 Benjamin Franklin Birthday Celebration is upon us! Join friends and partners on Friday, January 17th for a series of events to honor one of our favorite Founding Fathers. The day starts with a morning seminar at Benjamin Franklin Hall (427 Chestnut Street), followed by a procession to Dr. Franklin's grave and a luncheon.

This year's theme is "Exploring New Worlds" and will honor Dr. John C. Mather, a senior scientist at NASA, with the 2025 Franklin Founder Award. More info about the all the celebratory events here.

2024 Legacy Award Gala

Thank You to Our Sponsors!

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