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Independence National Historical ParkPhoto of Independence Living History Center
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Independence National Historical Park
Places To Go
 

Complete list of buildings open to the public click here.

Independence National Historical Park was born to preserve the story of the birth of American democracy and stands, even today, as an icon of freedom for people around the world. Spanning over 55 acres on 20 city blocks within the City of Philadelphia, the park preserves and interprets resources associated with the establishment of the United States of America, including the site of the meetings of the first and second Continental Congresses and the site at which the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution of the United States of America were debated and signed. In Independence Square – now a world heritage site – the Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time on July 8, 1776. The park also encompasses the home of Benjamin Franklin and the First and Second Banks of the United States. Additionally, Independence is the steward of four discrete park units: the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site, the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and the Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church National Historic Site. Most notably, the park manages and displays one of the country's best-known and most enduring symbols of freedom and liberty: the Liberty Bell.

Painting  

Did You Know?
Did you know the Liberty Bell first went on public exhibit in 1852. At that time, the Bell was moved out of the Independence Hall tower storage room and down into the building’s first floor Assembly Room, the room where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed.

Last Updated: September 01, 2008 at 05:53 EST