Independence Day Celebrations and Programs
in the National Park Service - 2009

Many parks celebrate Independence with special events and programming.  We invite everyone to join in the following celebrations of Independence at National Park Service sites this year.

Alabama

Natchez Trace Parkway
Pioneer Day at the Colbert Ferry Visitor Center: July 4, 2009 - The Tombigbee Pioneer Group will perform living history demonstrations that show the challenges faced and creative solutions developed by those Americans who lived in the area from the 1700s to 1840. The demonstrations will take place at the Colbert Ferry Visitor Center (located at milepost 327 near Cherokee, Alabama), from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The public is invited to watch pioneer lifestyle activities that often include corn shuck doll making, basket weaving, leatherworking and mountain dulcimer demonstrations. Children are invited to participate by dressing up in pioneer clothes and trying these activities firsthand.

This program is free to the public. For additional information, please call the visitor center at: 662-680-4027 or 1-800-305-7417.

See also: Mississippi

Colorado

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site
Old Fashioned Fourth - Join park staff and volunteers as they celebrate the birth of our country, 19th Century-style! Festivities begin at 1:30 with a parade to the Fort, followed by games, activities and a pinata break. The afternoon activities will wrap up at 4:30 with a drawing for one of the 27-Star 1846 Flags that has flown over the Fort this year.

Colorado National Monument
4th of July Celebration at Colorado National Monument - Colorado National Monument will commemorate Independence Day by raising Old Glory 450 vertical feet from the canyon floor to the top of Independence Monument, the tallest free-standing rock formation in the park. As thirty-plus rock climbers scale Independence Monument, two interpretive programs will take place at scenic overlooks along the rim of Wedding and Monument canyons. After the last climber works his way through the final crux move of the climb, the climbing team will gather to raise the flag. As the Stars and Stripes begin to show, trumpeters will play “The Star- Spangled Banner.” The music will echo across the canyons. This tradition was started over ninety-eight years ago by the legendary John Otto. Today, Mesa County’s Technical Search and Rescue Team continue the tradition of raising the flag every Fourth of July.

From 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., take the guided walk “Raising Old Glory – John Otto’s Style.” Meet at the Otto’s Trailhead 1 mile east of the visitor center on Rim Rock Drive and join a park ranger for a short walk to the breathtaking overlook at the end of Otto’s Trail. Learn about John Otto’s classic tradition for July 4. Watch rock climbers from Mesa County’s Technical Search and Rescue Team scale Independence Monument and raise the flag. Bring water and sunscreen and wear sturdy walking shoes. Distance: 1.0 mile roundtrip.

From 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., attend the Ranger Talk “A Monumental Independence Celebration.” Meet at Independence Monument View Overlook. Come celebrate the raising of the American flag on top of Independence Monument. Listen to stories of the legendary John Otto, watch rock climbers from Mesa County’s Technical Search and Rescue Team scale Otto’s original route, and hear patriotic music resonate across the canyons as the Stars and Stripes is raised. Bring water and wear sunscreen.

For more information about the celebration, please contact Michelle Wheatley at (970) 858-3617 ext. 363 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/colm/

Hawai'i

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
Survivors ring bell for freedom: Join the national effort to Let Freedom Ring at the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument Visitor Center. Pearl Harbor survivors from the Aloha Chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association will ring the bell of the USS Arizona battleship on the morning of Saturday, July 4, 2009. This historic bell is one of two bells removed from the USS Arizona and is preserved by the National Park Service. Its companion bell is housed at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.

Survivors will ring the bell thirteen times for the thirteen original states at exactly 8:00 a.m. Hawaiian Time (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time). This event is synchronized with over ten thousand bells nationwide, including the Liberty Bell itself.

Following the bell ringing event, survivors will speak of their own personal experiences of December 7, 1941 and World War II. They will be available for pictures and book signing after the short, formal presentation. In 1963, an act of Congress officially authorized the Let Freedom Ring National Bell Ringing Ceremony.

For more information, please call 1-800-330-1776 or visit www.let-freedom-ring.org.

Illinois

Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Capitol City Celebration (the evening of July 3 thru July 4, 2009) - A variety of period games, performances and activities will take place as part of the City of Springfield’s Bicentennial celebration. For more information about this program, contact the park at (217) 391-3226 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/liho/

Iowa

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Celebrate Independence Day at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and Presidential Library & Museum
Celebrate Independence Day on Saturday, July 4 at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. From 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., living history interpreters will demonstrate crafts, games, school teaching, and other activities from life in 19th century West Branch. Games and home crafts demonstrations by costumed volunteers take place near the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Cottage. Visit the 1853 West Branch Schoolhouse for historic school teaching activities. Park ranger Chuck Ping will demonstrate the art and craft of blacksmithing in the Blacksmith Shop.

Presentations in the auditorium of the Presidential Library and Museum will begin at 1:30 p.m. with patriotic music from the Marengo Civil War Band followed by a single dramatic performance of “President Lincoln” by Lance Mack. The entire program will last a little over an hour. The band will take the stage a second time at 3:00 p.m. while President Lincoln is meeting with visitors and posing for photographs. Admission to the National Historic Site, the two band concerts and the single Lincoln presentation are free. Regular admissions fees will be in effect for the exhibits at the Presidential Library and Museum.

For more information, please call Herbert Hoover National Historic Site at (319) 643-2541 or the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum at (319) 643-5301. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space.

Kansas

Fort Larned National Historic Site
Volunteers on the Plains 1859 to 2009: July 3 & 4, 2009 - This special event honors volunteer units manning Fort Larned during the Indian Wars and 21st Century heroes. Special ceremonies and living history memorialize contributions by volunteer state militia replacing regular army troops redeployed east to fight in the Civil War. 21st Century military and civilian emergency responders will demonstrate equipment and field operations. A special dedication of a Medal of Honor replica recognizing Medal of Honor recipients from Fort Larned’s past and Kansans will be conducted. For more information about this program, contact the park at (620) 285-6911 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/fols/

Tall Grass Prairie National Preserve
July 3, 4 and 5 - Independence Day at the Ranch: On Friday, enjoy a day of music and clogging in the historic barn. Clogging demonstrations at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Historic barn dance from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. with the Tallgrass Express String band. Refreshments served.

On Saturday, ride in a covered wagon, watch historic cooking demonstrations, and see the blacksmith hard at work.

On Sunday, join in the historic games of an old-fashioned egg toss, rope jumping, hoop and stick, and a lively bucket brigade. Activities will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, please call the park at (620) 273-8494 (Ranch Headquarters Information Station) or (620) 273-6034 (Administrative Headquarters) or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/tapr/

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site
Independence Day Programs: July 4, 2009, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm - Costumed interpreters from the Frazier International History Museum, Louisville, KY will present two special hour long programs, “Young Abe” at 11:00 a.m. and “Day in a Soldiers Life: the American Civil War” at 2:00 p.m. In addition there will be a living history program with demonstrations about military life during the Civil War. Demonstrations will be from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. (ET). For more information about this program, contact the park at (270) 358-3137 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/abli/

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park
Golden Anniversary Dedication Celebration: July 4, 2009 - The July 4th, 1959 weekend was a buzz as local residents and dignitaries celebrated the dedication of the new Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. 50 years later, the excitement continues with the purchase of lands surrounding Fern Lake and the recently restored Wilderness Road Trail. Festivities galore will mark this day. Activities will be at the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park visitor center. For more information about this program, contact the park at (606) 248-2817 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/cuga/

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky
Homecoming: Before Mammoth Cave National Park opened in 1941, its lands supported 600 farms and 30 small communities. Following creation of the park, “Going to the Fourth” was the common phrase that brought the scattered neighbors back together for a homecoming celebration on July 4th. The event dwindled in the 1970s, but was revived last year for what is becoming an annual event.

Maryland

Antietam National Battlefield Salute to Independence: July 4th, 2009 - Join the Maryland Symphony Orchestra for their annual Salute to Independence Concert. Concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks at approximately 9:45 p.m. There is a minimum one hour to ninety minute traffic delay when leaving the event so be patient. Be sure to bring a blanket, plenty of water or soft drinks, and a flashlight. Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service sells food and drinks at the event. Be prepared for large crowds of up to 30,000 people. Limited parking is available in the park and additional parking can be found on Rt. 65 and Rt. 34 bordering the park. For more information about this program, contact the park at ( 301) 432-5124 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/anti/

Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
The Glorious Fourth!...an Old-Fashioned Fourth of July! - Saturday, July 4, 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: July 4th was the most important holiday in early America. Many regarded the War of 1812 as “America’s Second War of Independence.” Join the garrison of Fort McHenry and patriotic citizens of Baltimore for the following activities: fife and drum music, cannon firing, a musket salute for 18 states, period dancing and games. Highlight of the event will be the public reading of the Declaration of Independence at 3 p.m. For more information, please call the park at (410) 962-4290 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/fomc/

Massachusetts

Adams National Historical Park
Liberty or Loyalty: Take a Stand: On Sunday, July 5, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Join the Continental Congress and debate independence with the future President, John Adams. Admission $1-$5, Massachusetts school children free. Old State House at the corner of State Street and Washington Street in Boston. For more information, please call (617) 720-1713.

Boston African American National Historic Site
Freedom’s Trial: A Unique Walking Tour Offered by Boston African American National Historic Site: On Tuesday, June 30, 2009, Thursday, July 2, 2009, and on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at 11:00 a.m., join a National Park Service ranger on a special ninety-minute walking tour focusing on the time when the promises of the American Revolution were “on trial” in Boston’s nineteenth-century African American community. Developed in conjunction with Boston National Historical Park, this new tour will take you to places where Boston’s developing black community struggled to realize the full promise of citizenship. Hear the stories of men and women, black and white, who worked to secure freedom and equal rights for all. Learn of the struggle to maintain churches, the ongoing fight for equal school rights, the Abolition Movement, and the burgeoning social welfare services and organizations of the community. Tours will start at the Samuel Adams statue in front of Faneuil Hall in Boston and conclude at the African Meeting House on Beacon Hill. Tours are free and open to the public. For more information and to RSVP, please call (617) 742-5415. For more information about Boston African American National Historic Site, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/boaf

Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area
Boston Light Climbing Adventure: On Thursday, July 2, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A guided tour of Little Brewster Island, site of the first lighthouse in the nation, meet the keep and cruise the outer Brewster islands. The boat leaves from Fan Pier at the Moakley Courthouse, Northern Avenue, South Boston. Admission $40-$48, reservations recommended. For more information, please call (617) 223-8666.

Kayaking at Grape Island: On Thursday, July 2, 2009, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Take the water shuttle from Georges Island to Grape Island and kayak around the island with an experienced ranger. Admission $8-$14 for ferry, space is limited. Boston Harbor Islands Ferry Kiosk, Long Wharf, Boston. For more information, please call (617) 223-8666.

Boston National Historical Park
Rum and Revolution: On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Join a ranger-guided walking tour of colonial taverns where the Revolution was brewed! Tours begin at the Boston National Historical Park visitor center at 15 State Street. Space is limited. For more information, please call (617) 242-5642.

Join the Colonial Militia!: On Thursday, July 2, 2009, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Learn about the life of an eighteenth-century soldier. The program will take place at the Battle of Bunker Hill Museum in Monument Square, Charlestown. For more information, please call (617) 242-5601.

A Flag for the Fourth: On Saturday, July 4, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., learn about the flags of the American Revolution. The program will take place at the Boston National Historical Park visitor center at 15 State Street. Space is limited. For more information, please call (617) 242-5642.

USS Constitution Turnaround Cruise: On Saturday, July 4, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Old Ironsides gets underway to fire a twenty-one-gun salute to the nation. The cruise goes from Charlestown Navy Yard to the US Coast Guard base. For more information, please call (617) 242-7511.

“Cock..Firelock! Present..Fire!:” On Saturday, July 4, 2009, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., demonstration of eighteenth-century military skills. The program will take place at the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. For more information, please call (617) 242-5601.

The Battle for Bunker Hill: On Saturday, July 4, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., join a ranger-guided walking tour of the famous battlefield. Space is limited. For more information, please call (617) 242-5601.

Twisted Times: On Saturday, July 4, 2009, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., learn about the craft of rope making. Take part in this hands-on activity at the Charlestown Navy Yard visitor center. For more information, please call (617) 242-5601.

USS Constitution Sunset Parade: On Sunday, July 5, 2009, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., experience the traditional ceremony honoring our nation's flag at Pier One, Charlestown Navy Yard, in Boston National Historical Park. For more information, please call (617) 242-7511.

For more information, please contact Sean Hennessey at (617) 242-5616.

Salem Maritime National Historic Site
The July 4th activities begin early in Salem! At 9:00 am, join a reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Salem Common by one of Salem Maritime’s park rangers. Come hear our nation’s founding document read aloud, as it was in Salem 233 years ago.

From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm you can visit Salem Maritime and learn about how Salem’s captains and sailors helped to win our independence. Tours will be offered of Salem Maritime’s historic buildings, including the home of Elias Hasket Derby, whose privateers captured dozens of British ships, cutting British supply lines and providing vital support to the war effort. Tour fees are $5.00/adults, $3.00/children and seniors.

From 4:00 pm to10:00 pm, Salem Maritime will host the City of Salem’s celebration of Independence Day on historic Derby Wharf. This annual event attracts thousands to Salem Maritime each year to enjoy an evening of children’s activities, music from the Hillyer Festival Orchestra and other local talent, and a spectacular fireworks display.

For more information, call (978) 740-1650, or visit our website at www.nps.gov/sama

Mississippi

Natchez Trace Parkway
The Natchez Trace Parkway Presents Traditional Music by the North Mississippi Dulcimer Association - A special program of dulcimer music will be provided by the North Mississippi Dulcimer Association from 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 4, 2009 at the Parkway Visitor Center located at milepost 266 near Tupelo, Mississippi.

The North Mississippi Dulcimer Association teaches dulcimer history, tradition, craftsmanship, and music by sharing its knowledge and talents. The Appalachian mountain dulcimer is the first instrument developed in the United States. Dating back to the early 1800s, the dulcimer is an instrument whose very name means “sweet sound.” The National Park Service and the North Mississippi Dulcimer Association invite everyone to listen to the soft sweet sounds of the dulcimer and learn of its extensive history.

This program is free. For additional information, call (662) 680-4027 or 1-800-305-7417.

See also: Alabama

Nebraska

Homestead National Monument of America
Fourth of July Campfire Program: Homestead National Monument of America will be hosting its annual Fourth of July Campfire Program. The program series will begin on Saturday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m. behind the Education Center (old visitor center). First, musician Chris Sayre will entertain with patriotic songs from the 18th Century to today. Then join a Park Ranger to discuss the meaning of patriotism. Campfire programs are held outdoors unless inclement weather occurs. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, insect repellant, and drinking water for comfort. “Campfire programs are a summer tradition in America’s national parks,” according to Mark Engler, Superintendent of Homestead National Monument of America. “The Fourth of July is a great time for us to begin our annual campfire programs.”

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park System located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska on State Highway 4. The monument is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day, including Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call (402) 223-3514 or visit www.nps.gov/home.

New Jersey

Morristown National Historical Park
Saturday, July 4; noon: Warm-Up for the Declaration. Stories, riddles, jokes and an inspection of the troops are just part of the warm-up activities prior to our reading of the Declaration of Independence. Join in the fun as a costumed park ranger entertains the crowd and gives a “kids level” explanation of the Declaration. Washington's Headquarters grounds, 30 Washington Place.

Saturday, July 4; 1:00 p.m.: Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Celebrate the Fourth of July the way our ancestors did, with a public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Cheer along with costumed park rangers as they denounce tyranny and praise liberty! At the conclusion of the reading, members of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment, Helms' Company, a volunteer re-enactment group, will fire a feu de joie (musket salute). Washington's Headquarters grounds, 30 Washington Place.

Please bring water to drink and a blanket to sit on the ground. Dress appropriately for the weather including wearing a hat and sunscreen. Due to limited parking, visitors to the July 4th activities are encouraged to carpool in as few cars as possible or walk to the event.

There is no admission fee on July 4th. The event will be cancelled if there is inclement weather. There is no rain date.

New York

Fort Stanwix National Monument
Public Readings of the Declaration of Independence: July 4, 2009 - Join the Park as we commemorate public readings of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Army. In the morning an in the afternoon public readings will take place in the fort’s Parade Ground. This will be followed by cannon salutes and cheers for the new independent United States of America. Children may join this event by serving as honor guards. Please call the park for further information at (315) 338-7730 or visit our website at http://www.nps.gov/fost/

Governors Island National Monument
Living History and Birding - For the Fourth of July, Governors Island National Monument will have living history demonstrations throughout the day. In addition, there will be a special Birding Program for children ages 8 to 12. This program will demonstrate birdwatching and then let the children put their newly acquired skills to use by finding the birds that inhabit Governors Island and New York Harbor. The program will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will meet at Fort Jay.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Independence Day at Sagamore Hill—A Red, White, and Blue Fourth of July: Independence Day was an important holiday for Theodore Roosevelt, who often spoke at the festivities in Oyster Bay and then gathered his extended family and friends at Sagamore Hill for a day of celebration. Cousins and friends enjoyed the day here and participated in flag-waving outdoor activities for all. The National Park Service and the Friends of Sagamore Hill invite you to bring your family and friends, dressed in your best patriotic attire, to join the afternoon outdoor festivities at Sagamore Hill on Saturday, July 4, all of which are free and open to the public.

In the morning, at 11:00 a.m., there will be a special “Birds of Prey” demonstration presented by the Theodore Roosevelt Audubon Sanctuary in the picnic area adjacent to the Visitor Center. Come and see raptors, including a hawk, an owl, and a falcon, closeup and hear about their natural history and how they have come to the Sanctuary. Learn to identify these birds and ask questions of the experts.

During the afternoon, beginning at 1:00 p.m., an old-time red, white, and blue Fourth of July celebration will start with an equestrian demonstration by the “Rough Rider Re-enactors” in the field adjacent to the windmill. The “Rough Rider” Cavalry Troop of the Nassau-Suffolk Horsemen's Association will offer demonstrations of riding techniques used by mounted soldiers of the Spanish American War at an authentic cavalry training camp. A period encampment will be set up as well.

A concert at 2:00 p.m. with the Sagamore Hill Band, under the direction of Bandmaster Steve Walker, will feature music of the time of TR, speeches by local dignitaries, and an appearance by Theodore Roosevelt himself, as portrayed by re-enactor James Foote. The Band will present works by Sousa, period campaign songs, and popular selections of that day. The program will include Don Luckenbill's “Sagamore Hill March,” written in 1953 for the opening of Sagamore Hill. Seating for the audience is on the lawn, so you may want to bring a blanket or a lawn chair.

The home is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and morning is the best time for a tour. The house is open by guided tour only. Tours are held on the hour, cost $5 per person, and are available on a first-come-first-served basis until 4:00 p.m. Those wishing to enter the house must have a ticket and an assigned tour time.

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site is located at 12 Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay, New York. For more information, please call Sagamore Hill National Historic Site at (516) 922-4788 or visit our website at www.nps.gov/sahi

St. Paul's Church National Historic Site
Independence Day Celebration - Kick off a traditional Fourth of July celebration at 10:30 a.m. with music, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, the tolling of the old St. Paul’s Church bell 13 times, speeches and refreshments.

Saratoga National Historical Park
Fourth of July: Saturday, July 4, 2009 at the Visitor Center (Battlefield) - Morning citizenship ceremony, followed by Park Ranger Joe Craig portraying a 1776 town crier with news of American Independence. Join with fellow citizens in toasting the 13 “new” states. Naturalization Ceremony at 10 am; Readings of the Declaration of Independence at 1 and 3 pm. House For more information about this program, contact the park at (518) 664-9821 ext. 224 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/sara/

North Carolina

Guilford Courthouse National Military Park
Independence Day Celebration: As we enter our 233rd year of Independence, come honor North Carolina’s role in America’s Independence. On Saturday, July 4, 2009, take part in free all day activities at Guilford Courthouse NMP. Dedicated and informed historical interpreters will entertain questions and present a variety of programs demonstrating period life and work as it was in the last years of the American Revolution.

There will be a 1781 style military encampment by the Guilford Militia and demonstrations of Colonial Life-Ways (blacksmithing, cooking, spinning, and children’s games) from 10 am to 4 pm.

You may learn how to write using a quill pen and sign the Declaration of Independence from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm. There will be a Ranger-led battlefield walking tour at 11 am as well as a Commemoration Ceremony honoring the North Carolina Signers of the Declaration. Starting at 12:45 pm, the Guilford Court House Fife and Drum Corps will perform.

Every half-hour, from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm, the Guilford Court House NMP Artillery Crew will demonstrate firing a six (6)-pounder cannon. At 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm, watch the Carolina Colonial Dancers perform a variety of colonial dances to period music.

In addition, on Sunday, July 5, 2009, the 208th U.S. Army Band will perform patriotic and popular music at 3:00 pm on the Greene Monument Lawn. Bring chairs or blankets and make yourself comfortable.

The Battle of Guilford Courthouse is the largest, most hotly-contested battle of the Revolutionary War's Southern Campaign and was fought at the small North Carolina backcountry hamlet of Guilford Courthouse. The battle proved to be the high-water mark of British military operations in the Revolutionary War.

In the event of inclement weather, these programs may be cancelled. For more information, call (336) 288-1776 or visit our website, www.nps.gov/guco. The visitor center and park tour road are open 8:30 am to 5:00 pm daily. The visitor center is located at 2332 New Garden Road, Greensboro, NC 27410.

Ohio

William Howard Taft National Historic Site
Independence Day Celebration 2009: Come celebrate with us on July 4, 2009 - Independence Day and enjoy free tours, free music, and free Ice Cream. The National Park Service is proud to host Jake Speed and the Freddies. FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. For more information, contact Park Ranger Kerry Wood at (513) 684-3262 ext. 310.

The event begins at the William Howard Taft National Historic Site, located at 2038 Auburn Avenue, one block south of the Christ Hospital. Free parking is available in a small lot in front of the Taft Education Center or a lot on Southern Avenue. Please call (513) 684-3262 for accessibility assistance and information. You can obtain a map and driving directions and information related to your visit at www.nps.gov/wiho or by calling (513) 684-3262.

Pennsylvania

Gettysburg National Military Park
146th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg: July 1, 2 & 3, 2009 - A series of ranger-conducted battle walks and special programs will mark the 146th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. The 146th Anniversary Battle Walks will be held July 1-3. A schedule will be posted on our Summer Ranger Programs page by June 1, 2009.

The  Real-Time Programs guide visitors through the battle in chronological order in a series of special, short programs held at specific sites throughout the park. The schedule for these programs will be announced. A complete schedule of the park’s anniversary programs will be available at the Visitor Center Information desk. These programs are free of charge. House For more information about this program, contact the park at (717) 334-1124, ext. 8023 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/gett/

Independence National Historical Park
Independence Hall (enter at 5th and Chestnut Streets) and the Liberty Bell Center (enter at 6th and Market Streets): In honor of our nation’s birthday, these two buildings will stay open beyond regular hours. July 1 to July 5, both buildings will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. No tickets are needed to see the Liberty Bell. No tickets are needed to see Independence Hall between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. or all day on July 4. During daytime hours (July 1 to July 3 and July 5, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.), free tickets for Independence Hall are available at the Independence Visitor Center at 6th and Market Streets.

From Friday, July 3, through Sunday, July 5, celebrate Abe Lincoln's 200th birthday on Independence Mall. July 4th takes a new twist as Philadelphia celebrates Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday at the very spot where America was born. Join in to celebrate America's 16th president with Lincoln200™: The Bicentennial Festival. The Festival theme, "Lincoln Then and Now," shines the spotlight on period and contemporary takes on artistic, cultural, and culinary works, innovations in technology, and healthcare, and connects the lasting legacy of Lincoln to today’s world.

On Friday, July 3, at 8:30 p.m., join the Philadelphia POPS for a free outdoor concert. It doesn’t get much better than rolling out a blanket, breaking open a picnic basket, and settling in for an evening of al fresco entertainment with Peter Nero & the Philly POPS performing in the shadows of Independence Hall. Under the baton of the two-time Grammy-winning maestro, the POPS and the Voices of The POPS will delight audiences with a playful blend of patriotic tunes, popular classics, and new favorites. None other than Thomas Jefferson will make an appearance to read the powerful words he wrote in the Declaration of Independence.

On Saturday, July 4, at 10:00 a.m., the city of Philadelphia sponsors its annual Independence Day Ceremony in front of Independence Hall. Join Independence National Historical Park Superintendent Cynthia MacLeod, Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia, and special guests to honor our nation’s proud history.

On Saturday, July 4, at 11:00 a.m., the city of Philadelphia sponsors its annual Independence Day Parade, and this year it will be in Historic Philadelphia! Come watch the parade from Independence Mall. The parade route will pass Independence Hall on Chestnut Street then travel north on 6th Street, East on Arch Street, South on 5th Street, then East on Market Street.

On Saturday, July 4, at 1:00 p.m., the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution and the Society of Descendants of Signers of the Declaration sponsor the annual Let Freedom Ring ceremony. Let Freedom Ring (1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.) celebrates the day with patriotic music and, at 2:00 p.m., the ringing of bells all across the country to commemorate the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The ringing will be set off by the symbolic tapping of the Liberty Bell by eight young descendants of original signers of the Declaration. Watch the ceremony, including special guests, in the shade on the south side of Independence Hall or come into the Liberty Bell Center before 1:30 p.m. to watch the symbolic tapping.

On Wednesday, July 8, at noon, stand on Independence Square to participate in a re-enactment of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Join the crowd to hear a costumed park ranger, portraying Colonel John Nixon, read the Declaration to the public, as Nixon did on July 8, 1776. Free copies will be given out so that you can follow along and cheer or jeer.

For more information, please call the park at (215) 965-2305 or (215) 597-8787.

South Carolina

Cowpens National Battlefield
History, Fireworks, and Family Fun: Cowpens National Battlefield will celebrate our nation’s independence with fireworks and family activities on Friday, July 3, 2009. This free event will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a guided battlefield walk and end with a 650-shell professional firework display around 9:00 p.m.

Local reenactors will set up a soldiers’ camp and will give cannon firing demonstrations at 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Additional battlefield walks and programs will begin at the Visitor Center at 2:45 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. The Visitor Center will be open 9:00 a.m. – 8:45 p.m.

On the lawn behind the Visitor Center, the Spartanburg Community Band will play patriotic music from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., leading up to the fireworks. Children’s activities will be offered from 7:00 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. After rolling a musket “cartridge” and performing a Revolutionary War musket drill, children will use a quill pen to sign up as a Junior Patriot.

Bring a picnic and enjoy the afternoon with your family and friends. Please note that there will NOT be food available in the park. Restaurants and fast food are located in both Chesnee and Gaffney. While supplies last, water and soft drinks will be available for purchase at the Visitor Center. Park regulations prohibit personal fireworks, sparklers, chem-lights, etc. For our visitors’ safety, the Macedonia Fire Department will close the battlefield area at 5:30 p.m.

In the event of inclement weather, the fireworks display will be rescheduled for Sunday, July 5, 2009.

Cowpens National Battlefield is the site of the American victory over the British on January 17, 1781 and is located 10 miles west of Gaffney, SC, and 3 miles east of Chesnee, SC at the intersection of Highways 11, 110, and 221-A. For more information, call (864) 461-2828 or visit the park’s webpage at www.nps.gov/cowp/.

Kings Mountain National Military Park 
Sign the Declaration of Independence on Independence Day: July 4, 2009 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm at the park Visitor Center. House For more information about this program, contact the park at (864) 936-7921 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/kimo/

South Dakota

Mount Rushmore National Memorial
The 2009 Independence Day Celebration at Mount Rushmore National Memorial will be held on July 3, 2009 with a full day of entertainment, military tributes, and educational programs that lead up to the evening fireworks display. Over 1,400 new Junior Rangers will be sworn in at special ceremonies throughout the day in the amphitheater. The memorial is honored to have three Navajo Code Talkers join the celebration as they will be honored for their service to their country with a flag folding ceremony in the evening. The full schedule of events is available on the park website.

Attendance is free to the event. There is a $10 annual parking fee that is good for the remainder of the calendar year. No reservations or tickets are needed. Please be prepared for increased security, crowds, and inclement weather. Many visitors plan to stay at the memorial for the full day in order to secure parking and find a space to watch the fireworks. For more information, contact the park at (605) 574-2523, ext. 5, or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/moru.

Tennessee

Natchez Trace Parkway
See Alabama and Mississippi

Virginia

Colonial National Historical Park
Independence Day Celebration: The Yorktown Battlefield unit of Colonial National Historical Park will host the Thirtieth annual Independence Day Celebration in the historic village of Yorktown, Virginia, on July 4. Highlights will include a 5K run on the battlefield tour road, musical entertainment, and a bellringing ceremony at the home of Thomas Nelson, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The celebration will culminate with a spectacular fireworks display over the Yorktown Victory Monument and is sponsored by the Yorktown Fourth of July Celebration Committee, in cooperation with Colonial National Historical Park. For more information, please visit www.yorkcounty.gov/fourth or call (757) 890-3500.

George Washington Memorial Parkway
Free Concert on the Fourth: Visitors may attend a free concert from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on July 4 at the Netherlands Carillon. The carillon is a large bell tower located near the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Visitors will be able to watch and listen to a trained carillonneur play the Carillon’s bells. Visitor access to the viewing areas in the carillon will, unfortunately, not be possible this year.

Parking throughout the area will be extremely limited on July 4th. Visit the website www.nps.gov/dc/july4th for updated information about transportation, access points, road closures and other issues. The National Park Service recommends visitors use Metro or other public transportation, since on-site parking will not be available.

George Washington Memorial Parkway parking: No parking will be allowed along the shoulders of the GWMP, as parking there would create unsafe access points and could lead to injuries or death. This restriction will be strictly enforced and violators will be towed.

Free parking will be allowed on a first-come, first-served basis at Theodore Roosevelt Island, Gravelly Point, and Daingerfield Island. Ground conditions permitting, we will open the grass area on Gravelly Point to additional parking. We will also have three designated parking areas on the George Washington Memorial Parkway -- two grass lots North of Memorial Circle and one grass lot South of Memorial Circle. The Pentagon will also allow parking in the North Parking lot across from Columbia Island.

Washington, DC

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park
The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal NHP will be presenting its traditional Independence Day excursion to Fletcher's Cove on the canal boat "Georgetown" on July 4, 2009. The "Georgetown" will depart its dock at 1057 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington DC, at 11:00 am and will arrive at Fletcher's Cove at approximately 12:30 pm. It will depart Fletcher's Cove at 2:30 pm and arrive back in Georgetown at about 4:00 pm.

Music, storytelling and a history of the Star Spangled Banner will be featured on the canal boat, while 19th century games such as quoits, horseshoes, and croquet will be available to all at Fletcher's Cove from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Fares for people aged 4 and up are $5.00 one way and $8.00 round trip. Reservations are strongly recommended as space is limited. Call the park's Georgetown Visitor Center at (202) 653-5190 Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm for reservations or for more information.

National Mall
America’s 2009 Independence Day Celebration with a Parade, Activities, Concerts and Fireworks in the Nation's Capital: The National Park Service announces the 2009 annual Independence Day celebration of our nation’s founding, continuing the tradition of daylong activities on July 4 for all ages, with events designed to highlight freedom and diversity. Events will include a parade, the Folklife Festival, concerts, and fireworks, all taking place on and near national parkland in the heart of the nation’s capital on both sides of the Potomac River. Public access to the National Mall begins at 10:00 a.m. The U.S. Capitol grounds open at 3:00 p.m. for visitors wanting to view “A Capitol Fourth,” with a security check required of all visitors. No alcohol or glass containers are allowed.

The 43rd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival, co-sponsored by the National Park Service, continues its run on the National Mall from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. between 7th and 14th Streets from June 24-28 and July 1-5, 2009. Evening events begin at 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. During the Festival, you may call (202) 633-7484 to hear a recorded description of daily events. The Folklife Festival includes daily and evening music and dance performances, crafts and cooking demonstrations, storytelling and discussions of cultural issues. Themes of the 2009 program are: Giving Voice: The Power of Words in African American Culture, The Americas: A Musical World and Wales Smithsonian Cymru. For more information, please visit http://www.festival.si.edu/ or call (202) 633-1000.

The National Park Service’s “America’s 2009 Independence Day Parade” kicks off the excitement at 11:45 a.m. and will last approximately two hours on Constitution Avenue. The parade route moves westward from 7th Street to 17th Street, N.W. Viewing areas for this traditional July Fourth parade will be available along Constitution Avenue. Parade participants include marching bands, floats, balloons, and military units. The National Park Service, with the assistance of many individual volunteers and the Environmental Protection Agency, will monitor the grounds and maintain recycling locations along the Washington monument grounds to collect recyclable, including aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Glass bottles are not permitted within the Independence Day celebrations.

From 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. NPS interpretive staff, dressed in 1776 period clothing will conduct interpretive and Junior Ranger programs at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Also, a miniature bell from the Old Post Office Tower - a cousin to the Liberty Bell, will ring at 1:00 p.m. joining other bells across the United States taking part in the "Letting Freedom Ring" for July 4th.

At 6:00 p.m., the Independence Day concert begins on the southwest corner of the Washington Monument grounds, near the intersection of 17th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W. Music will be performed by the U.S. Army Concert Band and the U.S. Army Downrange featuring guest Country Music Artist, Mark Wills.

America ’s biggest and best-loved birthday party, the concert “A Capitol Fourth,” featuring the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), begins at 8:00 p.m. on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. This ninety-minute concert will be broadcast live nationally on both PBS and NPR-member stations. The concert is free and is presented by the National Park Service and its producer, Capital Concerts, Inc.

Jimmy Smits will return to host the biggest and brightest birthday partyand for the first time ever, Barry Manilow, will open and close the broadcast with a stirring medley of hits and patriotic classics along with the National Symphony Orchestra and the Choral Arts Society of Washington. Joining him are the “Queen of Soul” Aretha Franklin; international pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield; the Tony and Grammy Award-winning cast of Jersey Boys; multi Grammy Award-nominee Michael Feinstein and acclaimed classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen.

This star-studded cast will light up the stage on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol for the 29th annual A Capitol Fourth celebration featuring unrivaled musical performances with the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of America's prince of pops Erich Kunzel. As a special treat for the entire family, Elmo, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar the Grouch and more of the SESAME STREET gang will be on hand to celebrate America's 233rd birthday. The Muppets will perform a musical medley of patriotic favorites as well as iconic songs that we all know and love from this breakthrough children's television series that is celebrating 40 years of fun and learning. The concert will be capped off by a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture,” complete with live cannon fire provided by the United States Army Presidential Salute Battery.

The day concludes with the traditional NPS fireworks beginning at 9:10 p.m. and lasting until 9:27 p.m. Pyro Shows, Inc. will provide this year’s visual extravaganza. The rain date for the NPS fireworks display is Sunday, July 5 at 9:10 p.m. The NPS and Pyro Shows, Inc. will fire more than 2,500 shells, weighing 14,212 lbs. For more information about the July 4th National Mall fireworks show, visit www.pyroshows.com.

The Washington Monument will be closed all day on July 4th. It will reopen for regular summer hours on July 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

For more information about the Fourth of July activities at the National Mall & Memorial Parks, please visit www.nps.gov/dc/july4th. For more information about Capitol Concerts, please visit http://pressroom.pbs.org/programs/a_capitol_fourth_2009.

Parking throughout the area will be extremely limited on July 4th. Visit the website www.nps.gov/dc/july4th for information about transportation, access points, free bicycle valet parking, road closures and other issues.

Both the NPS and the Washington Metropolitan AreaTransportation Authority (WMATA) strongly encourage all visitors to take public transportation or to bicycle to the Independence Day celebrations. Nearby Metro stations for the National Mall and President’s Park include Federal Triangle, Metro Center, and Gallery Place-Chinatown. Additional stations convenient to the National Mall include Smithsonian, Capitol South, L’Enfant Plaza, Union Station, Federal Center S.W., and Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter. Nearby stations for the George Washington Memorial Parkway include Arlington National Cemetery, Rosslyn,and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. For Metro information visit www.wmata.com.

(For events at George Washington Memorial Parkway) - See Virginia.

President's Park
If you have the "liberty" to stop by the White House Visitor Center on Saturday, July 4, 2009, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., you may experience what is would be like to be a "signer" of the Declaration of Independence with the help of National Park rangers and volunteers from President's Park. During this full day of free programming visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to sample some of the sights, sounds, activities, and personages that helped to form the United States of America on July 4, 1776. The day's events will include games, crafts, and other activities for both children and adults.

A signature event, scheduled at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., will be a one-of-a-kind opportunity to put on a tri-cornered hat and play a role in one of this nation's greatest dramas, the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. In this fun and engaging interactive program, suitable for all ages, members of the audience will actually assume the roles of delegates to the Second Continental Congress and represent their colonies in a debate that will determine the fate of a nation! After the debate, each delegate will sign his or her name with a quill pen to a giant sized copy of the document, receive a facsimile of period currency from his or her respective colony, ring a Liberty Bell, and receive a copy of the Declaration of Independence to keep as a memorial to their great efforts in the service of their nation! For additional information, call (202) 208-1631.

West Virginia

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
America ’s Picnic: Celebrating The Glorious Fourth: July 4, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm in the Lower Town District - Americans celebrated the nation’s birthday with picnics, band concerts, and patriotic speeches honoring the founding fathers and the glorious republic. Visitors are invited to see special displays of discoveries, inventions, and natural amazements in the “Wonders of the Modern World 1860!” exhibition or join a special guided living history program featuring the town’s famous July 4ths during the turbulent years at mid century. Visitors can compete in the hometown militia games of tug-of-war and fire engine house water bucket brigade. On Saturday, visitors are invited to experience the patriotic passion of a traditional hometown band concert with the Wildcat Regiment Band, the Regimental Band of the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. House For more information about this program, contact the park at (304) 535-6298 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/hafe/

Wyoming

Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Annual “Old-Fashioned Fourth of July” Celebration: For many years, Fort Laramie has been a part of Independence Day activities in southeast Wyoming. As in years past, the day will be packed with events and will offer something for everyone. Admission to the celebration is free.

The observance this year will begin on July 4, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. with a military flag raising ceremony and cannon firing. The popular Old time children’s games will begin on the parade ground in front of “Old Bedlam” promptly at 10:00 a.m. Sack races, pole climbing, egg tossing, foot races and more will challenge the youngsters of “all ages.” All participants will receive a ribbon, and first, second and third place prizes will be awarded for each event and age group.

At noon, a thirty-eight gun salute will be presented at the flag pole. The salute will include the firing of the park’s twelve-pound Mountain Howitzer.

Michael “Bad Hand” Terry, noted Plains Indian Warrior living Historian, will be present throughout the day and will give a formal program at 12:45 on the culture and warrior traditions of the Northern Plains Tribes. Mr. Terry will also set up his Lakota warrior lodge for visitors to inspect.

Back by popular demand, the Trotters equestrian drill team will perform at 2:00 p.m. Once again, the sights and sounds of nineteenth-century cavalry drill will be seen and heard on the historic parade ground.

At 3:30 p.m. National Park living history interpreters will present a historic weapons demonstration, including small arms and artillery.

Kids ages seven to twelve are invited to gather on the parade ground at 4:30 p.m. for “Junior Soldier Drill,” in which they will be schooled in marching and drill just as the soldiers of Fort Laramie were 125 years ago.

The day will end with a “final bang” as park staff recreates and 1876 period retreat parade and cannon firing for the lowering of our national colors at 5:15 p.m.

Throughout the day, members of the public can visit a variety of living history stations and period craft demonstrations. Free samples of army bread will be given out in the 1876 bakery.

A food concession will be operated by the Goshen County Chapter of Relay for Life and will be selling drinks, hamburgers, and chips. The 1883 Soldiers bar will also be open and will be selling root beer and sarsaparilla.

For more information about this old-fashioned, event-filled day of family fun and activities, please contact Stephanie Simon at (307) 837-2221 or visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/fola/

Last Update: July 2, 2009 - 11:17 a.m.