Independence National Historical Park Tourism Creates $150 million in Local Economic Benefit

Release Date: February 26, 2013
Contacts: Jane Cowley, e-mail us, 215-597-0060

Philadelphia - A new National Park Service (NPS) report for 2011 shows that the 3,572,770 visitors to Independence National Historical Park spent $149,894,000 in communities surrounding the park. This spending supported 2,086 jobs in the local area. Combined with the other National Park Service units in Philadelphia administered by Independence National Historical Park - Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site - those numbers total 3,589,430 visitors who spent $151,040,000, supporting 2,103 jobs in the local area.

"Independence National Historical Park is a wonderful place to learn about America's story," said park superintendent Cynthia MacLeod. "We attract tourists from across the United States, and around the world who come here to visit and experience these historic iconic sites such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell as well as to see our less visited sites like the Bishop White and Todd Houses. We know that visitors who come to see Independence often stay for multiple days to experience all the great attractions in this City and region. The National Park Service is proud to have been entrusted with the care of America's most treasured places and delighted that the visitors we welcome generate significant contributions to the local, state, and national economy."

The information on Independence National Historical Park is part of a peer-reviewed spending analysis of national park visitors across the country conducted by Michigan State University for the National Park Service. For 2011, that report shows $13 billion of direct spending by 279 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. That visitor spending had a $30 billion impact on the entire U.S. economy and supported 252,000 jobs nationwide.

Most visitor spending supports jobs in lodging, food, and beverage service (63 percent) followed by recreation and entertainment (17 percent), other retail (11percent), transportation and fuel (7 percent) and wholesale and manufacturing (2 percent.)

To download the report visit www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/products.cfm#MGM and click on Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation, 2011.

The report includes information for visitor spending at individual parks and by state.

To learn more about national parks in Pennsylvania and how the National Park Service works withcommunities to preserve local history, conserve the environment, and provide local recreation opportunities, go to www.nps.gov/PA.

www.nps.gov/inde

A unit of the National Park Service, Independence National Historical Park was created by an Act of Congress on June 28, 1948. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Independence NHP covers almost 54 acres in Philadelphia's Old City, and includes Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, Franklin Court, and other historic buildings associated with the founding of the United States. The park is open from 9:00 am daily with the exception of Christmas day. A visit to Independence National Historical Park should start at the Independence Visitor Center, located at 6^th and Market Streets. Here, visitors can pick up a park brochure, park map, and the free, timed tickets required for Independence Hall. For more information visit the park's website, https://www.nps.gov/indeor follow us at twitter.com/independencenhp.