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TWEET IT: Experience #OldSchoolPhilly this spring/summer w/ @INDEPENDENCENHP @ConstitutionCtr @PHLVisitorCntr @HistoricPhilly http://bit.ly/1kJy2Dc

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS: Lauren Saul Jane Cowley National Constitution Center Independence National Historical Park 215-409-6895 215-597-0060 [email protected] [email protected]

Tiffany Weber Cari Feiler Bender Independence Visitor Center Historic , Inc. 215-837-2239 610-527-7673 [email protected] [email protected]

JOIN THE LARGEST GATHERING OF COLONIALS ON INDEPENDENCE MALL SINCE THE 18TH CENTURY THIS SPRING/SUMMER

Philadelphia, PA (April 30, 2014) – Take a trip to Independence National Historical Park and surrounding sites in Philadelphia’s Historic District this spring and summer and be transported back in time to the 1700s and America’s founding. From an exhibition on at the National Constitution Center to Historic Philadelphia, Inc.’s new “Colonial for a Day” costume rental program for children, regional and out-of-town visitors should expect an even more robust and authentic Colonial experience offered by and other organizations surrounding America’s most historic square mile.

A trip to Historic Philadelphia also means plenty of fun for those without kids in tow. Historic Philadelphia Inc.’s (HPI) Colonial Tales & Ales Tippler’s Tour takes participants to four different stops while a Colonial guide tells tales of Philadelphia’s rich history and includes an opportunity to “meet” Ben Franklin. Impress your out-of-town guests with HPI and the ’s Independence After Hours tour, where you will dine on a three-course meal at City Tavern and then take a tour of Independence Hall after hours, and witness some of the Founding Fathers engaged in debate as if you stepped back in time to July 1776.

Independence Mall-wide celebrations include Philadelphia’s Stripes and Stars Festival (Saturday, June 14, 2014), celebrating the birthdays of the U.S. flag and Army, and Independence Week (July 1-8, 2014). During Independence Week, visitors can expect to -MORE-

ADD ONE/SUMMER ON INDEPENDENCE MALL rub elbows with , Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Octavius Catto, Betsy Ross, William Penn, Thomas Paine, and more—the largest gathering of Colonials in Philadelphia since the 18th century! Additional Independence Week activities include Colonial music performances and military demonstrations. Plus, don’t miss the dramatic reenactment of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8 behind Independence Hall.

For a complete listing of events and programs in Philadelphia’s Historic District spanning now through September, click here.

Sample itinerary:

Begin your trip at Independence Visitor Center (IVC), the official visitor center of Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia and the region, including Bucks, Chester, , and Montgomery Counties, where local and out-of-town guests can purchase tickets to over 60 area attractions and tours and browse through a large collection of regional maps, brochures, and more. Visitors can stop by and pick up free, timed tickets to take an inspirational tour of Independence Hall and learn about all of the historic treasures in the area, including the Liberty —as well as receive custom itinerary suggestions on what to see and do from the IVC’s expert frontline staff.

Afterwards, head across the mall and experience the National Constitution Center— the of We the People, America’s Town Hall, and a national Civic Education Headquarters. The museum’s feature exhibition Slavery at Jefferson’s (on view from through October 19, 2014) follows the stories of six enslaved families who lived and worked at Jefferson’s plantation—the Fossett, Granger, Gillette, Hemings, Hern, and Hubbard families—and their descendants who fought for justice and helped bring to light their ancestors’ lives and values. Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello is included in the cost of museum admission, which includes the stirring theatrical presentation Freedom Rising, and the iconic Signers’ Hall, with life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers.

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ADD TWO/SUMMER ON INDEPEDENCE MALL

Historic Philadelphia, Inc. (HPI) operates many great family-friendly locations throughout Historic Philadelphia including the , Franklin Square, and Historic Philadelphia Center – all just a few blocks away from the National Constitution Center. Head to Franklin Square (behind the Constitution Center between Race and Vine Streets) for a round of Philly Mini Golf and a ride on the Parx Liberty Carousel, followed by a trip to Betsy Ross House, the birthplace of the American flag. Then, join the and learn the art of marching and musket etiquette during daily demonstrations at Signers’ Garden (5th and Chestnut Streets) and take in the Liberty 360 3D Show in the PECO Theater at the Historic Philadelphia Center (6th and Chestnut). And don’t forget to stop by one of the many Once Upon a Nation storytelling benches scattered throughout the Historic District.

Conclude your fun-filled day with some suds at City Tavern or participate in a Tippler’s Tour.

A variety of colonial-themed programs and exhibits also on view throughout the Independence Mall area and beyond include events at Christ Church Burial Ground, Independence Seaport Museum, National Museum of American Jewish History, and more.

About Independence National Historical Park (Independence NHP) 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 , , Franklin Court, and other historic buildings associated with the founding of the . The park is open from 9 am daily with the exception of Christmas Day. For more information visit the park’s website, http://www.nps.gov/inde.

Twitter and Facebook: @INDEPENDENCENHP.

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ADD THREE/SUMMER ON INDEPENDENCE MALL

About Independence Visitor Center (IVC) Independence Visitor Center is located at 6th and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For tickets or more information, call 800-537-7676 or visit phlvisitorcenter.com.

Daily, 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; June, July, August: open until 7 p.m.

Twitter and Pinterest: @phlvisitorcntr. On Facebook: facebook.com/phlvisitorcenter.

About Historic Philadelphia, Inc. The Betsy Ross House is located at 239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Open daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. For tickets or more information call 215-629-4026 or visit historicphiladelphia.org.

Self-guided tour: Adults $5; Children/Students/Seniors/Military $4. Audio tour: Adults $7; Children/Students/Seniors/Military $6.

Franklin Square is located at 6th & Race Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For more information call 215-629-4026 or visit historicphiladelphia.org.

March 22 – May 22: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.; May 23 – September 1: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.; open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Historic Philadelphia Center is located at 6th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For more information call 215-629-4026 or visit historicphiladelphia.org.

April 1 – May 24: Mondays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sundays, 11: a.m. – 5: p.m.; May 24 –26: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.; May 27 – June 22: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; June 23 – August 10: Mondays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sundays, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; August 11–29: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., open until 8 p.m. on Thursdays; August 30 – September 1: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Twitter and Instagram: @historicphilly. On Facebook: facebook.com/historicphilly.

About the National Constitution Center The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. For tickets or more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.

Open Mondays – Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sundays, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission: Adults $14.50, Students/Seniors $13, Children $8, FREE for children under 3 and active military.

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest: @ConstitutionCtr. ###