Media coverage from park news releases and media outreach.
April 10, 2024
The Bicentennial Bell hasn’t been seen in 10 years. Now, it’s back on display in Philly via Philadelphia Inquirer
April 6, 2024
The Bicentennial Bell returns to public view in Philadelphia via Whyy
January 9, 2024
William Penn statue to remain in Philadelphia after public outcry via Axios
Biden admin reverses decision to remove William Penn statue from park commemorating founding of Pennsylvania via Fox News
January 8, 2024
Park Service retracts decision to take down William Penn statue at Philadelphia historical site via Associated Press
William Penn statue to stay at Philly’s Welcome Park after criticism via Billy Penn
William Penn statue won't be removed from Philadelphia's Welcome Park after all via 6 ABC
William Penn statue to stay in Welcome Park after National Park Service reversal via Washington Post
January 7, 2024
Biden’s National Park Service to Remove William Penn Statue from Philadelphia via Breitbart News
November 2, 2023
Bicentennial Bell, given to U.S. by Queen Elizabeth II in 1976, to go back on display in Philadelphia via Philadelphia Inquirer
October 13, 2023
Independence National Park gets new leader ahead of 250th celebration via Philadelphia Inquirer
July 10, 2023
Alexander Hamilton’s First Bank to become a museum of the American economy via WHYY
First Bank of the U.S. in Old City to receive multimillion dollar overhaul to reopen as museum via NBC10
First Bank Of The United States To Be Restored via National Parks Traveler
First Bank of the United States to be renovated, reopened as museum via Philly Voice
First Federal Bank Building In Philly To Reopen For Nation's 250th Birthday Celebration via Biznow
First Bank of the United States to become Philly's newest museum via Axios
First Bank set to open as museum in 2026 with $22 million grant via Philadelphia Metro
April 3, 2023
Superintendent of the Independence National Historical Park retires after 42 years
January 25, 2023
National Park Service wants to replace shuttered City Tavern with new restaurant via Philadelphia Business Journal
January 25, 2023
National Park Service Wants to Replace Shuttered City Tavern With New Restaurant via NBC10
The National Park Service is looking for a new restaurant tenant to take over the former City Tavern space in Old City.
Independence National Historical Park issued a request for proposals on Wednesday for a lessee to operate and maintain the building at 138 S. 2nd St. in Old City. The RFP lists a targeted opening date of July 1 for a lease of 10 years or more.
January 3, 2021
Independence Hall and Liberty Bell reopen after COVID shutdown
With COVID safety measures in place, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall begin welcoming guests Monday as the city’s ban on museum visits expires.
If you’ve been looking for things to do and haven’t been for a while, it might be worth a trip. Judging from a tour before the historic destinations shut down Nov. 20, the restrictions won’t really take away from your visit — in fact, they’ll probably let you get a better view.
August 25, 2019
400 children in Philadelphia mark 400 years since start of black slavery in America
Keith Collins, the spiritual leader of the Church of the Overcomer, brought 25 children with him to Independence Mall on Sunday afternoon to join hundreds of other black families marking an important anniversary.
November 11, 2018
Amid 'really rough time' for American unity, honoring veterans with 'bells of peace'
Several hundred people gathered at Independence National Historical Park Sunday not only to celebrate Veterans Day. They also marked the 100th anniversary of the armistice that ended World War I with a moment of silence at 11:10 a.m., and then one minute later, at 11:11, 21 rings of a bell.
Hundreds gather in Independence Hall to hear freedom ring on Armistice Day
he birthplace of freedom was ringing in the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War at Independence Hall. It began with a minute of silence for the millions who were killed in the war began the ceremony, and then it was all ears-time for the hundreds of people gathered.
March 28, 2018
Oney Judge: a black Philly woman's story of triumph and tragedy
Ona Maria Judge Staines died in 1848 at the age of 75 a free woman. But her claim to fame – being the woman who, in her 20s, escaped the house of President George Washington, where she was his slave – was almost unknown during her own lifetime.
March 21, 2018
Independence Park's longest-tenured staffer has personal connections to history | We the People
When Bob Giannini slid down the hills in Yorktown, Va., on pieces of cardboard as a young boy, history would come up and sting him right in the keister.
March 19, 2018
Philly women in history: How Oney Judge Staines escaped slavery
Reverend T.H. Adams, a 19th century reporter for The Granite Freeman, was the first to get the scoop on a fugitive slave living in exile not so far from the abolitionist newspaper’s base in Concord, New Hampshire.
March 16, 2018
Escaping George Washington: Oney Judge's 'amazing story' of courage
Nearly 222 years ago, Oney Judge slipped out of President George Washington's house in Philadelphia and fled to New Hampshire, a sudden disappearance that shocked the first family.
March 9, 2018
Slave Who Escaped From George, Martha Washington Inspires Generations Later
A young slave in Philadelphia continues to inspire generations later as her tale is celebrated during March, which is Women’s History Month.
November 8, 2017
76 Trees to be planted in Independence Park
Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia has begun planting 76 new trees, anticipating a mature canopy in time for the nation’s sesquicentennial in 2026.
August 3, 2017
With eye on the past, Independence National Historical Park looks to its future
Like any other national park throughout the country, Independence National Historical Park has a long wish list of goals it would like to see come to fruition. But the cash-strapped park is the first to admit that doesn’t mean it have the resources for big-time projects.
July 7, 2017
Harvard Researcher, Philly Native Helps Find Second Copy of Declaration of Independence
July 3, 2017
Thousands Celebrate in Front Of Independence Hall
Thousands filled Independence Mall on Monday July 3rd to watch the Philly POPS perform in front of Independence Hall.
June 30, 2017
The economic juggernaut that is Independence National Historical Park
With summer in full swing, Independence National Historical Park is gearing up for more visitors, who descended on the park’s more than 20 houses and buildings in record numbers last year, the most since the Constitution’s 200th anniversary in 1987.
June 29, 2017
Journey to the house where US Independence was born
Walking through Independence National Park, in the heart of historic Philadelphia, is a journey through the places that marked the birth of one of the most powerful nations in the world. One such site is the house where Thomas Jefferson, a young 33 years old lawyer, locked himself up for 17 days to write what happened to be the founding document of the republic: the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America, a philosophical and legal treaty Philosophical that gave him a place in history.
June 29, 2017
Philly gets money from DAR for semiquincentennial trees
The rest of America will learn Wednesday what Philadelphia knows right now: The Daughters of the American Revolution is making a $380,000 donation to America’s 2026 semiquincentennial marking the nation’s 250th birthday.
June 29, 2017
Philadelphia Airport shows off the city's 67 National Historic Landmarks
Philadelphia has 67 National Historic Landmarks and for the next year they will all be within a hundred feet.
May 8, 2017
Buried Philly: Uncovering 300 Years of History
Just take a walk in Philadelphia and it's hard to find someone who's not distracted. You can't blame them, but many have no idea what lies a few feet below their feet.
May 2, 2017
Independence National Historical Park generates economic highs in 2016
Buoyed by record visitation in 2016, the Independence National Historical Park continues to see economic highs. The Independence National Historical Park — the 55-acre park comprised of more than 25 sites, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell — in 2016 hit more than 5.1 million visitors, a milestone not touched since 1989.
April 15, 2017
Independence National Historical Park hosted a special family friendly celebration in Old City to kick off National Park Week.
April 6, 2017
Centennial Bell Rings for 100th Anniversary of U.S. Entry into WWI
Ringing of the bell also happened on April 6th, 1917 when Independence Square became gathering place throughout the war.
February 21, 2017
Experience Benjamin Franklin Museum
Dedicated to one of the most beloved Founding Fathers of America, the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Independence National Historical Park is full of personal artifacts, computer animations and interactive displays exploring Franklin’s life and character. The 18th-century life of the passionate, industrious and rebellious Franklin is explored through interactive exhibits and multimedia presentations.
January 18, 2017
Philly's Independence National Historical Park Hits 27-Year Milestone
The Independence National Historical Park, thanks in part to the National Park Service's centennial, got a major boost in visitation in 2016 that led to a milestone not touched since 1989.
Independence Nat'l Historical Park visitation hits 27-year milestone.
Visitors came in droves to see Independence Hall, Liberty Bell in 2016
Independence National Historical Park welcomed more visitors lat year than it had in nearly three decades, according to the National Park Service. More than 5 million people flooded the PHiladelphia park to see gaze upon the Liberty Bell, tour Independence Hall or stroll through Washington Square, among other historic attractions.
October 27, 2016
Get 'Poe-tic' at the Edgar Allan Poe Arts Festival
This Halloween, Philadelphia gets a little more “Poe-tic” at the very first Edgar Allan Poe Arts Festivalat the German Society of Pennsylvania on Friday, Oct. 28. Created in partnership with the Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site, this celebration hopes to bring festivalgoers back to the origins of “All Hallows' Eve.”
October 21, 2016
Resurrecting Poe
The National Park Service and the German Society of Pennsylvania create Poe Arts Festival to bring poetry and life of iconic figure to life through acting and tours.
October 12, 2016
First-ever Poe Arts Festival celebrates life and work of Edgar Allan Poe
People don’t linger long in Edgar Allan Poe’s basement. Dimly lit, with only a few slivers of natural light filtering in, the room — more crypt than cellar — is all cobwebs, crags, and eerie quiet. Floorboards creek overhead, as guests move from the parlor to the kitchen. A dank stillness hangs in the air.
October 7, 2016
Journeys across America helped secure Liberty Bell's iconic status
Some 18,000 people pass through the Liberty Bell Center on any given day, enduring lengthy waits to gain a few minutes up close to the famously cracked bell.
September 30, 2016
Independence Nat'l Historical Park visitation gets centennial boost
The National Park Service's centennial is giving "America's most historic square mile" in Philadelphia a visitation boost.
September 21, 2016
Project Underway To Preserve Iconic Statues On Independence Square
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A project is underway to help preserve and protect the outdoor statues at Independence National Historical Park.
August 26, 2016
Local officials join in national celebration for park service
The National Park Service turned 100-years-old on Thursday and Philadelphia joined other NPS sites around the country by celebrating with a day-long party. Gina Gilliam, an NPS public affairs officer, serves as an ambassador of sorts to people of color among the 4.5 million visitors to Independence National Historic Park. With a warm smile and a proud-to-be-from-and-still-live-in-West-Philly demeanor, Gilliam, an African American, eagerly shared the little-told stories of this historic region.
August 26, 2016
A Snapshot of Philadelphia Sealed for a Century in a National Park
In celebration of the National Park Service's 100th anniversary, a time capsule filled with pieces of Philadelphia's history were locked away Thursday at Independence Mall. The capsule will remained sealed for 100 years. NBC10's Keith Jones reports.
August 25, 2016
Hip Hip Huzzah! One hundred years ago, on Aug. 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the act that created the National Park Service "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for future generations."
August 25, 2016
Inquirer editorial: Cash the best gift to celebrate national parks system's birthday
From Independence Hall in Philadelphia to the redwood forest in California's Sequoia National Park, the country's national parks today are celebrating the 100th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson's signing of the National Park Service Act, which established the agency that protects our natural and historical riches.
August 25, 2016
National Park Service Centennial Discussion
To mark the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, the National Archives hosted a screening of the film Places of Healing and Expression: National Parks in the Next Century, followed by a panel discussion.
August 17, 2016
The National Park Service is turning 100
On Aug. 25, the National Park Service will be turning 100 years old and park enthusiasts won’t have to travel too far to wish them a happy birthday. Independence National Historical Park will kick off Founders Day on Independence Mall at 10 a.m. with a plaque ceremony honoring Stephen Mather, one of the founders of the park service, followed with a variety of free ranger programs including a special centennial walking tour, national park quizzo and a chance for your kids to enlist in the Continental Army.
August 11, 2016
Pokémon Go leads to nation's founding
Independence National Historical Park, which has earned the nickname "American's most historic square mile," has lately seen a different type of visitor - Pokémon Go players.
August 5, 2016
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
Every American school student knows about Ben Franklin, Samuel Adams and Paul Revere. And rightly so - history records their contributions to the birth of this nation.
July 29, 2016
Unlike W.C. Fields, Edgar Allan Poe Loved Philadelphia
Given his tales of mystery and the macabre, happiness is not a word you associate with the great writer Edgar Allan Poe. But the six years he lived in Philadelphia in the mid-1800s have been described as the happiest of his short life
July 28,2016
Watch Fake President Tony Goldwyn Deliver an American History Lesson at the D.N.C.
Fake president of the United States and Brooks Brothers aficionado Tony Goldwyn has been hanging around the D.N.C. a lot this week.
July 27, 2016
National Parks Embracing Pokémon Go
National Parks are getting in on the Pokémon Go App craze!
July 26, 2016
Slurs, name-calling of 2016 can't touch Founders' rhetoric
PHILADELPHIA -- Feeling like this year's election is just too brutal? Look on the bright side: at least lawmakers haven't clubbed each other on the floor of Congress.
July 1, 2016
Independence National Historical Park: More than just a cracked bell
Most Americans are probably familiar with famous quotations that have helped to define the American way of life, even if they don’t know where the quotes came from.
June 28, 2016
5 Historic City Sights No 'Hamilton' Fan Should Miss
From the First National Bank to the Treasury Office, there are plenty of historical locations that all Hamilton fans can see right here in the City of Brotherly Love. Here are five places you can’t miss.
June 17, 2016
The bald eagle's day is coming - and it's Monday
There's a stuff bald eagle giving a wild turkey a little side eye at a museum on Independence Mall, a stern look of "Don't make me fly up there."
June 14, 2016
Today is Flag Day. Six things to know
Today is Flag Day. Here are six things to know about Old Glory and the date.
June 2, 2016
Local park marks an important milestone
Center City (WPVI) -- One of Philadelphia's most popular public spaces hosted a special Ceremony Thursday to mark a century milestone. The Independence National Historical Park honored the Society Hill Civic Association's contributions to Washington Square.
June 1, 2016
Independent by Design
Philadelphia’s variously recognized as “The City of Murals,” “The City of Restaurants,” “The City of the Arts” and “The City of Neighborhoods.” It boasts more than 3,000 murals—a greater number than any other city in the world!—eclectic restaurants and shops plus a host of internationally renowned museums including the most prized collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art in the nation exhibited in the Barnes Museum. Philadelphia is such a special city that it is the only World Heritage City in the nation.
May 25, 2016
'Historic Philadelphia' aims to draw tourists beyond usual spots
As the summer tourist season nears its official start, Philadelphia is campaigning an expanded tourist district, market itself to visitors as more than just the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
May 25, 2016
Philly POPS Play Historic Philadelphia Launch
The Philly POPS Brass Band joined Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and other dignitaries as Philadelphia relaunched its historic neighborhood. The event and ribbon cutting at the Second Bank of the United States along Chestnut Street in Old City late Wednesday morning kicked off the summer tourism season, said organizers.
May 4, 2016
Philadelphia's Parks: Then and Now
When William Penn planned out the city of Philadelphia, he included five open-space parks in his design. Little did he know that one of those spaces would turn into the largest city park in the country, or that Philly would be considered one of the world's 10 best cities for parks.
April 29, 2016
Visitation, economic impact rise for Independence National Historical Park
The Independence National Historical Park attracted more than 4 million visitors last year, generating more than $365.3 million in economic impact and supporting nearly 4,000 jobs.
