Breaking Ground on the Bicentennial Bell Garden

November 2023

New Home for the Bicentennial Bell

We are excited to share that construction on the new home for the Bicentennial Bell is underway! On Friday, November 3rd, the Trust alongside our park partner hosted a groundbreaking event at the Benjamin Rush Garden. Located on the corner of 3rd and Walnut Streets, the timeworn garden is being rehabilitated and with the 6-ton bell being a focal point.

The Bicentennial Bell was gifted to the People of the United States from the People of Great Britain in 1976 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Queen Elizabeth II dedicated the bell in a ceremony at Independence NHP on July 6, 1976.

Rehabilitation work includes making the space accessible to all visitors by connecting the upper and lower portions of the garden, fixing the water feature on the north wall, and planting shrubs and other plants that were traded between England and her North American colonies during the 1700s.

We are grateful to work with such a wonderful team to make this long-awaited project a reality. Many thanks to G Force, Studio Bryan Hanes, Holzman Iron Studio, and Dan Bosin Associates. The Trust would also like to express our sincere gratitude to The Landenberger Family Foundation for its generous support.

Read the full press release here.

Thank You, Veterans!

November 11th is Veterans Day, a time when we honor all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Independence National Historical Park has the distinct privilege of being the birthplace for several of the country's military branches. Many of our friends at Independence have served in the Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force. This week, the Park and the Trust took a moment to honor those who served and say thank you. And of course, there was cake!

Independence NHP Updates

There are plenty of reasons to visit the Best Park in History. This month we're celebrating Native American Heritage Month, Veterans Day, and giving thanks! For all the latest on the Park's programs and events, check out the Park's calendar.

November Programs at Independence

America's Early Veterans

Join a Park Ranger for a 30-minute guided portrait gallery tour focusing on the stories of America's early veterans.

Where: Second Bank of the United States
Dates: November 10, 11
Time: 11:30am

Fee-Free Day at the Benjamin Franklin Museum

Commemorate Veterans Day 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: November 11
Time: All Day!

The Seven Strokes of Liberty

Join Park Rangers to explore the Liberty Bell's connections with World War II. Hear a recording of the tapping of the Liberty Bell from D-Day, June 6, 1944.

Where: Liberty Bell Center
Date: November 11
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm

Native American Hidden History Hunt

Who's ready for a Scavenger Hunt? Grab your map at the Independence Visitor Center and explore Native American History Month and its ties to Independence National Historical Park.

Where: Independence Visitor Center
Date: November 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
Time: 10:00am to 4:00pm

The Price of Liberty: POW and MIA Experiences at Independence National Historical Park

Explore Independence National Historical Park as a POW-MIA site during the American War for Independence. Discover the sacrifice service members paid while defending the liberty of others.

Where: Liberty Bell Center
Date: November 12
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm

Paths of Diplomacy: Indigenous Nations Meet with the American Nation

Explore the travels of Native American leaders and diplomats to Philadelphia to meet the new American government.

Where: Liberty Bell Center
Date: November 18, 19
Time: 11:00am to 3:00pm

That Our Corn May Grow: Piominko and the United States

Discover the story of Piominko, a Chickasaw leader who built a friendship with the new United States while in Philadelphia in hopes of preserving his people. 1 hour.

Where: Second Bank of the United States
Date: November 18
Time: 11:30am and 1:30pm

Lewis and Clark Among the Indians

Join a Park Ranger to learn about the Lewis and Clark expedition and their interactions with Native Americans during their travels. 30 minutes.

Where: Second Bank of the United States
Date: November 25
Time: 11:30am and 1:00pm

November 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

West Wing: 9am to 5pm

Old City Hall: 9am to 5pm

Ben Franklin Museum: 9am to 5pm

Franklin Court Printing Office: 10am to 5pm

Second Bank: 11am to 5pm (Thu-Sat)

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

The following buildings at Independence NHP are closed: 318 Market Street, Declaration House, Deshler-Morris House, Free Quaker Meeting House, New Hall Military Museum, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, Todd and Bishop White Houses.

Thanksgiving Hours

The Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, and the Independence Visitor Center are open from 11am to 4pm on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23rd. All other park sites are closed. Entrance to Independence Hall is by tour only; timed entry tickets are required.

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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.

Independence Historical Trust's Legacy Award Gala

Discover the stories that connect us! On January 4, 2024 the Trust will present our Legacy Award to Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, literary scholar, journalist, and cultural critic. He is the Director of the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard University, and you may know him from his groundbreaking ancestral and genealogy series Finding Your Roots.

Visit our event page for more information.

Legacy Award Gala

Sponsorship opportunities are still available! Please contact Jonathan Burton, Director of Development, for details.

New Superintendent at Independence

Last month, Steven Sims was named as the new superintendent of Independence NHP! He was most recently the superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park and prior to that served as the superintendent of Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Sims started his new position at Independence earlier this week and we are excited to welcome him back to Philadelphia. With the 250th anniversary of the country's founding on the horizon, we look forward to collaboratively working with our park partner.

INHT Welcomes 3 New Board Members

Independence Historical Trust is pleased to welcome Oliver Franklin, Ros Remer, and Bernie Shields to our governing board! Thank you for lending your time and talents to our 51-year old organization as we continue to support the mission of Independence NHP.

National Park Friends Alliance Conference at Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Trust staff attended the annual National Park Friends Alliance conference in Cleveland, Ohio. Friends groups from across the country met to discuss ways to support the National Parks, share creative ideas, learn new skills, and network with other park partner organizations.

The conference was hosted by the Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Many thanks to the group for showcasing their wonderful national park and offering inspiring ways to work creatively and collaboratively to protect and preserve these treasured places.

Organization of World Heritage Cities Meets in Bruges

Independence Historical Trust went international last month! Jonathan Burton, Director of Development, was part of the Philadelphia delegation at the Organization of World Heritage Cities' Regional Secretariat in Bruges, Belgium. Read more here.

Poetober at Edgar Allan Poe NHS

There is no better place to spend the spookiest month than at one of the spookiest national park sites. Independence NHP hosted Poetober and provided candlelit tours of the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site. Visitors reflected on what makes a scary story, listened to readings of different literary works by Poe, and as a special treat, met Edgar Allan Poe himself!

As part of the Poetober celebrations, during the day, the Trust hosted trick-or-treating fun in the garden of the Poe House. Thank you to our wonderful volunteers for all their help running Poe-themed activities, engaging with our many costumed visitors, and giving out candy and treats.

All Ivy Fall Fete: Night at the Museum

We love making new friends! At a co-hosted event by the Cornell and Harvard Clubs of Greater Philadelphia, the Trust gave remarks about the nation's upcoming 250th anniversary, shared updates on recent projects, and talked about the many ways to get involved and support Independence National Historical Park.

Independence NHP 75th Anniversary Items for Sale

Want to commemorate Independence National Historical Park's 75th anniversary? Special 75th items like t-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, and coffee mugs are now available at Eastern National stores in Old City Hall and the Benjamin Franklin Museum. For more information on the Park's 75th anniversary, visit the Park's website.

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