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Things You Should Not Miss
Even though, after new security procedures have been
put into place after September 11, the procedure to visit these areas
can be time consuming, take the time and put up with the hassle to line
up at the security pavilion and see both the Liberty Bell and take the
guided Independence Hall tour. The tour itself, staffed by the
well informed rangers of Independence National Historic Park, takes you
into the chambers of Independence Hall, where you will see the actual
location of all this Declaration of Independence and Constitutional
history. Make sure to get your ticket for the tour at the new
Visitor's Center. It is timed and there are only a couple hundred
available per fifteen minute time block. On a crowded day, these
tickets, which are free, will be gone by early afternoon, even for a
late tour time.
* The Lower Park Area. With the new Visitor Center placed north of Independence Hall on the mall, the spectacular history of old Philadelphia beyond the secure area may get a short stick. However, this is an area where many of the historic buildings sit, reaching down, at the point of City Tavern, almost to the Delaware River. If you walk here, not only will you get a better sense of what the city was like in 1776, but there are many places to rest and relax among mature trees. Although it is likely an unintended consequence of moving the center of gravity far from these buildings, don't let yourself be oriented solely around the new Visitor Center and Independence Hall area.
* The Freedom's Rising Show in the National Constitution Center. This new multimedia presentation with a live actor, projected images on the walls and floor within the tiered circular Kimmel Theater is on the opposite end of the above historic buildings and walks, but it serves as a good reminder of the chronology of the events surrounding the making of the constitution, plus it satisfies the technological, video generation with a media friendly exhibit. Tickets for this show can be bought at the Constitution Center (north end of the mall, picture below) or at the Independence Visitor Center.
* The Independence National Historic Park Visitor Center, new within the last few years, including two films, exhibits, visitor services for the park and other Philadelphia attractions, a gift shop, and ticketing procedures for the Independence Hall tour and Constitution Center. It is also the drop off point for many of the Philadelphia based tours, including the Ducks, the Trolley Tour, and the Double Decker bus tours.
* The new Liberty Bell Pavilion. This now includes a long, bricked corridor with exhibits and films on the history of the Liberty Bell, as well as the Liberty Bell itself, sited within the alcove of a window that overlooks Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell Pavilion is free, but is located within the secure zone and will require entrance through the airport style metal detector system.
* The National Constitution Center. This large new structure not only includes the multimedia presentation described above, but a multitude of exhibits on the Constitution, many hands on, and Signer's Hall, with life size bronze replicas of the original signers. There are also, at certain times of the year, additional exhibits on a variety of subjects. Fee required.
* All those many historic buildings, all with their individual stories.
Section 2010 Visitors
318 Market Street 14,502
Carpenters Hall 134,878
Christ Church 162,233
City Tavern 112,444
Congress Hall 219,678
Declaration House 16,310
Descher-Morris House 1,843
Edgar Allen Poe House 15,321
Franklin Court 186,422
Free Quaker Meeting House 42,659
Gloria Dei Church 16,258
Independence Hall 694,552
Independence Living History Center 0
Independence Park Institute 2,008
Independence Visitor Center 2,440,295
Kosciuszko House 2,888
Liberty Bell Center 2,271,938
National Constitution Center 804,551
New Hall Military Museum 31,627
Old City Hall 127,621
Printing Office 94,484
Second Bank 94,463
Special Programs 2,486
Special Events 57,757
Todd House 2.242
Bishop White House 2,242
West Wing 330,152
Source: Independence National Historical Park
And remember, Philadelphia and its history are not confined to the city limits. Thirty minutes west of town sits Valley Forge, the winter camhere Washington's men were housed during one of the harsh winters of the American revolution. And a little known fort whose battle in November of 1777 gave Washington's troops the time to gather at Valley Forge, Fort Mifflin. Fort Mifflin sits on the Delaware River just south of the city.
Independence Visitor Center
Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church National Historic Site
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
Greater Philadelphia Tourism & Marketing Corp.
Experience Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Convention & Visitor's Bureau
* The Lower Park Area. With the new Visitor Center placed north of Independence Hall on the mall, the spectacular history of old Philadelphia beyond the secure area may get a short stick. However, this is an area where many of the historic buildings sit, reaching down, at the point of City Tavern, almost to the Delaware River. If you walk here, not only will you get a better sense of what the city was like in 1776, but there are many places to rest and relax among mature trees. Although it is likely an unintended consequence of moving the center of gravity far from these buildings, don't let yourself be oriented solely around the new Visitor Center and Independence Hall area.
* The Freedom's Rising Show in the National Constitution Center. This new multimedia presentation with a live actor, projected images on the walls and floor within the tiered circular Kimmel Theater is on the opposite end of the above historic buildings and walks, but it serves as a good reminder of the chronology of the events surrounding the making of the constitution, plus it satisfies the technological, video generation with a media friendly exhibit. Tickets for this show can be bought at the Constitution Center (north end of the mall, picture below) or at the Independence Visitor Center.
What is There Now
Independence National History Park* The Independence National Historic Park Visitor Center, new within the last few years, including two films, exhibits, visitor services for the park and other Philadelphia attractions, a gift shop, and ticketing procedures for the Independence Hall tour and Constitution Center. It is also the drop off point for many of the Philadelphia based tours, including the Ducks, the Trolley Tour, and the Double Decker bus tours.
* The new Liberty Bell Pavilion. This now includes a long, bricked corridor with exhibits and films on the history of the Liberty Bell, as well as the Liberty Bell itself, sited within the alcove of a window that overlooks Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell Pavilion is free, but is located within the secure zone and will require entrance through the airport style metal detector system.
* The National Constitution Center. This large new structure not only includes the multimedia presentation described above, but a multitude of exhibits on the Constitution, many hands on, and Signer's Hall, with life size bronze replicas of the original signers. There are also, at certain times of the year, additional exhibits on a variety of subjects. Fee required.
* All those many historic buildings, all with their individual stories.
Who
Visits What at
Independence?
Section 2010 Visitors
318 Market Street 14,502
Carpenters Hall 134,878
Christ Church 162,233
City Tavern 112,444
Congress Hall 219,678
Declaration House 16,310
Descher-Morris House 1,843
Edgar Allen Poe House 15,321
Franklin Court 186,422
Free Quaker Meeting House 42,659
Gloria Dei Church 16,258
Independence Hall 694,552
Independence Living History Center 0
Independence Park Institute 2,008
Independence Visitor Center 2,440,295
Kosciuszko House 2,888
Liberty Bell Center 2,271,938
National Constitution Center 804,551
New Hall Military Museum 31,627
Old City Hall 127,621
Printing Office 94,484
Second Bank 94,463
Special Programs 2,486
Special Events 57,757
Todd House 2.242
Bishop White House 2,242
West Wing 330,152
Source: Independence National Historical Park
And remember, Philadelphia and its history are not confined to the city limits. Thirty minutes west of town sits Valley Forge, the winter camhere Washington's men were housed during one of the harsh winters of the American revolution. And a little known fort whose battle in November of 1777 gave Washington's troops the time to gather at Valley Forge, Fort Mifflin. Fort Mifflin sits on the Delaware River just south of the city.
Independence and Philadelphia Links
Independence National Historic ParkIndependence Visitor Center
Gloria Dei (Old Swedes) Church National Historic Site
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
Nearby Attractions
National Constitution CenterGreater Philadelphia Tourism & Marketing Corp.
Experience Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Convention & Visitor's Bureau
Philadelphia Then and Now
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Philadelphia Then |
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Independence Hall
Known as the Pennsylvania State House prior to independence, Independence Hall (engraving of building above) became the cradle of liberty. Beginning in 1753, the Liberty Bell rang within its steeple. In May 1775, this building housed the Second Continental Congress, which debated how to wage war against Britain, but was not yet convinced about independence from the crown. It was not until June 1776 that the idea of becoming a free nation rippled through the hall, followed up only one month later by the acceptance of the Declaration of Independence. And after years of a loose confederation of states and the problem inherent in that arrangement, the Constitution was hammered out here in 1787. Carpenter's Hall Inside this building built by the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia in the early 1770's, the first Continental Congress gathered to respond to the Intolerable Acts that had been thrust upon the colonies by British Parliament. Their response, in the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, saw no concessions from Great Britain and King George III, leading to the the battles of Lexington and Concord. |
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Philadelphia Now |
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Independence Hall The signature building of the formation of our nation, Independence Hall may no longer hold the Liberty Bell within its steeple (picture left above, now housed in a new pavilion just north of Independence Hall) and requires passing through a metal detector after 9.11 security arrangements, but it still remains the most tangible structure in which to hear about the history of the period from 1774 to 1800. The rooms within the Independence Hall structures hosted Constitutional conventions, the first sessions of the Supreme Court, as well serving as the temporary capital of the United States with the first meetings of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Tickets for the free guided tours of Independence Hall must be gotten at the Independent Visitors Center two blocks north of the regulated area. Tickets can be difficult to get in the afternoon, so arrive early and secure your passes for later in the day. Carpenter's Hall This hall, now in the middle of the most sedate section of the Independence National Historic Park, is open to park visitors during regular hours for independent tours. 
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