FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Tifanny Weber, IVCC
tweber@independencevisitorcenter.com
215-965-2310
PHILADELPHIA, May 24, 2012 - The Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC) and National Park Service (NPS) are gearing up for another eventful Memorial Day Weekend and the beginning of Philadelphia's vibrant summer tourist season in Independence National Historical Park.
The Independence Visitor Center will be open daily until 7:00 p.m. starting Friday, May 25 through Labor Day. Starting this weekend, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center are open until 6:00 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday through the month of June. From 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, tickets are not required to tour Independence Hall. Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center will close at 5:00 p.m. on Memorial Day. Admission to see the Liberty Bell is free and does not require a ticket. Free-timed tickets to tour Independence Hall before 5:00 p.m. must be picked up at the Independence Visitor Center. For more information about the services offered at the Visitor Center, visit www.IndependenceVisitorCenter.com.
In honor of Memorial Day, Independence National Historical Park is offering special programs on May 28. From 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., learn about a soldier's life during the American Revolution. Crafts, activities and presentations will be offered throughout the day on Independence Mall, next to the Independence Visitor Center. At 3:00 p.m., a walking tour, Heroism and Sacrifice During the American Revolution will start on Chestnut Street across from Independence Hall. The tour will begin by observing the national moment of silence and conclude with a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution in Washington Square. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/inde.
Crosswalk Café, located on Independence Mall across the lawn from the Visitor Center on 5th Street between Market and Arch Streets, is open from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Crosswalk Café is the ideal setting to take in views of Independence Hall and Philadelphia's historic district. Choose from an assortment of café items paired with one of our hand-crafted beers or savory wines. For more information about Crosswalk Café, visit www.CrosswalkCafePhilly.com.
The PHLASH Downtown Loop will begin daily service on Friday, May 25 through Labor Day from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. PHLASH is the quick, easy and inexpensive connection to key Philadelphia attractions and cultural institutions. The bright purple trolley is one the best ways to get around to more than 19 key locations in Center City. Purchase tickets at a discounted rate inside the Independence Visitor Center. For more information about the PHLASH, visit www.PhillyPHLASH.com.
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The Independence Visitor Center is Independence National Historical Park's and the region's welcome center for people from all over the nation and the world offering visitor amenities including trip planning service, easy onsite ticketing for area attractions, multilingual concierge staff, comprehensive daily listing of area events, attraction displays and regional maps, free, informative historical and orientation films, free wireless Internet access and much more. Follow @PHLVisitorCntr, the Visitor Center's virtual concierge service on Twitter, and like us on Facebook.
The Independence Visitor Center Corporation is a Pennsylvania non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which operates in cooperation with the efforts of the National Park Service, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Independence Visitor Center Corporation is a Pennsylvania non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which operates in cooperation with the efforts of the National Park Service, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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 6th 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/inde or follow us at twitter.com/independencenhp or facebook.com/independencenhp.
Crosswalk Café, located in the heart of Independence National Historical Park, is a seasonal outdoor café managed by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC) and operated by Brûleé Catering. The menu features a fullline of fresh café items including specialty salads, sandwiches and small bites. Crosswalk Café offers a selection of hand-crafted beers and savory wines. For more information about Crosswalk Café, visit www.crosswalkcafephilly.com.
The PHLASH Downtown Loop seasonal transit program is managed by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC). PHLASH vehicle service is provided by Philadelphia Trolley Works. For more information about the PHLASH, visit www.phillyphlash.com. For information about the IVCC, visit www.IndependenceVisitorCenter.com.
