PRESS CONTACT: Cari Feiler Bender, Relief Communications, LLC (610) 416-1216, [email protected]
HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA, INC. 2012 FALL PROGRAMMING FACT SHEET
DESCRIPTION: Historic Philadelphia, Inc. makes our nation’s history relevant and real through interpretation, interaction, and education, strengthening Greater Philadelphia’s role as the destination to experience American history. Historic Philadelphia, Inc.’s Once Upon A Nation brings history to life, featuring Adventure Tours (walking tours), History Makers, Storytelling Benches throughout the Historic District and at Valley Forge, and the Benstitute to specially train all staff. Franklin Square is an outdoor amusement oasis with Philadelphia-themed Mini Golf, the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, and SquareBurger, hosting parties and special events in the new Pavilion in Franklin Square. Liberty 360 , a digital 3-D experience, is a year-round indoor attraction housed at the Historic Philadelphia Center as Phase I of the all-new completely re-imagined Lights of Liberty . The Betsy Ross House allows visitors a personal look at the story and home of a famous historical figure, with newly remodeled and reinterpreted rooms and changing exhibitions.
LIBERTY 360: Liberty 360 in the PECO Theater immerses the viewer in the symbols of freedom. Benjamin Franklin appears in a groundbreaking 360-degree, 3-D show unlike anything that has ever been seen before, and escorts the audience on a journey of discovery and exploration of America’s most beloved symbols. The 15-minute, 3-D film surrounds the audience in the customized state-of-the-art PECO Theater. Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th & Chestnut Streets Open daily, year-round, 363 days a year Shows every 20 minutes Sept 4 – March 31, 2013 : 10 am - 6 pm, Mon – Sat; 11 am - 5 pm, Sun (Christmas Eve: open 10 am – 4 pm) Closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day $6 adults, $5 senior/military/student and children 12 & under, $20 family four-pack Duration: 15 minutes FRANKLIN SQUARE: Fun family entertainment and a beautiful park are just steps away from the Liberty Bell, in one of William Penn’s original five squares. Award-winning Franklin Square is an outdoor amusement oasis located in the heart of Historic Philadelphia, featuring Philly Mini Golf, a renovated vintage marble fountain, playgrounds, the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, and the acclaimed SquareBurger, with offerings from STARR Restaurants. After a day of experiencing the treasures of Philadelphia’s history, putt through some of the city’s most famous icons, take a ride on hometown – more –
Historic Philadelphia, Inc. 2012 FALL Fact Sheet * Page 2 of 5
racehorse heroes Afleet Alex or Smarty Jones aboard the carousel, enjoy a rest next to the refreshing fountain, and dine on the finest burgers and shakes in town. Awarded Best of Philly® two times by Philadelphia Magazine and one of the Five Coolest Playgrounds in the United States by Yahoo! Franklin Square: 6th & Race Streets. All hours are weather permitting. 2012 Franklin Square Season Operating Hours: October 1 – 31 : 10 am - 9 pm, Fri, Sat, & Sun (open Columbus Day) SquareBurger also open 11 am - 2 pm, Mon – Thurs November 23 – 25 : 12 - 5 pm (SquareBurger same hours) December 1 - 23 : 12 - 5 pm, Saturdays & Sundays (SquareBurger same hours) December 24 : 12 - 4 pm (SquareBurger same hours) December 26 – 30 : 12 - 5 pm, daily (SquareBurger same hours) December 31 : 12 - 8 pm (SquareBurger same hours) Note SquareBurger opens at 11 am and closes one hour before Franklin Square closes, except where noted. • Philly Mini Golf : Putt around the city on this Philadelphia-themed miniature golf course! $9 adults/$7 children (3-12), FREE for children under 2 • Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel : A zebra, a lion, an eagle, horses and more! Hop on this spectacular all-American style carousel with hometown racehorse heroes Afleet Alex and Smarty Jones. $2.50 per person (adult or child), FREE for children under 2 • Playgrounds : Slides, swings, and spinners…bring the kids and enjoy two playgrounds! Open year-round and free. • SquareBurger : STARR Restaurants presents a delicious menu featuring burgers, hot dogs, french fries, and delectable frozen treats such as The Cake Shake with Tastykake Butterscotch Krimpet© and a Shake-of-the-Month! • The Pavilion in Franklin Square – Rent this brand new all-season, climate- controlled building for birthday parties, family reunions, and corporate or special events. On nice days, open the doors for stunning views of the fountain.
2012 Special Events at Franklin Square [12 - 3 pm, except where noted] All free activities are available during stated times or while supplies last October 1-28, dusk - 9 pm – Spooky Mini Golf – Philly Mini Golf is transformed into spooky fun for the season with fog, lights, music, and surprises (Fri., Sat., and Sun. evenings) (tickets required). October 6 – Lightning Bolt Express – A fall train ride around the Square (tickets required)! October 13 – Pumpkin Patch – Pick a pumpkin out of our Pumpkin Patch and decorate it to take home, FREE!* October 20, 11 am – PumpkinFest – Historic Philadelphia, Inc. presents Franklin Square’s Second Annual PumpkinFest, a family-friendly fundraising event that will take place 11 am – 2 pm on Saturday, October 20, 2012. This event helps raise funds to maintain Franklin Square, while providing families with an enjoyable fall tradition in Philadelphia’s most picturesque setting. PumpkinFest in Franklin Square is a fall festival that offers a variety of enjoyable activities for all ages, including tasty favorites from SquareBurger, paint-your-own-pumpkin, face-painting, cupcake-decorating, fall carnival games, Spooky Mini Golf, unlimited rides on the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, kids’ attractions, fun raffles and prizes, and much more. Costume parade at 1 pm hosted by Kathy O’Connell from WXPN’s Kids Corner. Individual tickets are $35, and family four-packs are $125 in advance. Prices increase to $40 individuals/$130 families at the event. October 27 – Trick-or-Treat Trail – Make your very own Trick-or-Treat bag and follow the Trick-or-Treat Trail map throughout Franklin Square. FREE!* The Lightning
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Bolt Express train ride around the Square is a fun treat (tickets required). Sponsored by Blank Rome. December 31, 3 - 6 p.m. – Kids’ New Year’s Eve Countdown – Enjoy food, music, and dancing in The Pavilion (tickets required) with a free countdown and Square Drop at 6 pm.* (*sponsored by Adventure Aquarium)
TOURS: Independence After Hours Independence After Hours Evening Adventure Tour is an evening walking tour visiting some of the landmarks of Philadelphia’s Historic District and is populated with Colonial characters who bring history to life right in the place where it happened. Tour-takers walk through the shadows of Independence Hall (in this exclusive opportunity to visit inside the Hall at night, with no crowds) and experience what those late nights of the summer of 1776 were like for the Founding Fathers. The evening begins with a delicious three- course meal at the Historic City Tavern where Colonial townspeople entertain guests. The Colonial host then “sneaks” everyone into the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), once he talks his way past the vigilant night watchman. Inside the Hall, visitors witness several Founding Fathers deep in discussion over the creation of the Declaration of Independence. Add on Liberty 360 to complete your night for only $5. August 17 – October 27 : 5:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays Departs from the Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th & Chestnut Streets $80 adults, $50 children 12 & under, $75 senior/military/student (dining gratuity included) Duration: 2 ½ hours. Wear comfortable shoes. Recommended for children 10 and older.
Tippler’s Tour On the Tippler’s Tour, Historic Philadelphia, Inc.’s weekly tavern tour of Colonial and modern day watering holes, a Colonial host shares historical facts about the traditions of drinking and leads guests in Colonial drinking songs and toasts. With drinks and snacks at each of the four stops: Salon 401 at Omni Hotel, National Mechanics, Triumph Brewing Company, and the historical City Tavern, the tour guide entertains guests with songs and stories of the drinking traditions from Colonial times, and shares some of Benjamin Franklin’s most fun phrases for someone who is drunk, including “nimptopsical” and “tipsicum grave.” Hear tales about how taverns were used as recruiting stations (getting people inebriated sometimes helped convince them) and how news of the day was discussed in the taverns. April 19 – December 27 : 5:30 pm, Thursdays (except November 22) Wind through the streets of Old City, imbibing drinks and a little sip of history at Colonial and modern-day watering holes. September 20 – November 8: Tippler’s Tour: Ghosts & Toasts : 5:30 pm, Thursdays Special seasonal tour ! Once Upon A Nation's Colonial pub crawl gets spiked with seasonal beers and tales that will give you goosebumps! Cheers to the spirits of '76! Triumph Brewery will be serving a seasonal Pumpkin Ale and a spooky stop at the Christ Church Burial Ground adds to the fun. NOTE : Ghosts and Toasts departs from the Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street. November 15 – December 27: Tippler’s Tour: Yuletide Cheers & Beers: 5:30 pm, Thursdays (except November 22) It’s the most wonderful time… for a beer! Raise a glass of cheer on Once Upon A Nation’s Colonial pub crawl through Historic Philadelphia. It is 1777 and the British are occupying Philadelphia…will there be holiday celebrations during this tumultuous time? Step with us into the holiday season in charming Old City, circa 1777, whilst enjoying winter brews and festive libations.
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Departs from the Historic Philadelphia Center, 6th & Chestnut Streets $40 adults, $35 senior/military/student. (tastings & gratuity included, 21 and over with valid I.D.) Duration: 2 hours Cobwebs & Cobblestones Story Stroll – ONE TIME ONLY Enjoy a family-style spooky evening stroll through Historic Philadelphia with a Once Upon A Nation Storyteller, hearing stories about Philadelphia’s macabre and strange past. The stroll begins at the Betsy Ross House with stops at the Christ Church Burial Ground, Arch Street Meeting House, and historic Christ Church. Hear stories about Joseph Plumb Martin and his spooky meeting with a mysterious…ghost…that turns out to be something quite different, Dr. Benjamin Rush and his yellow fever “cures,” the remarkable story of the Hunchback of the Arch Street Meeting, and the first and only Pennsylvania witch trial. October 5 ONLY, 6:30 pm, Friday Departs from the Betsy Ross House Courtyard, 239 Arch Street $15 per person. Duration: 1 hour BETSY ROSS HOUSE: The Betsy Ross House is dedicated to preserving the legend of the first flag and the story of Betsy Ross, and all Colonial working-class women. The House, just blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, is one of Philadelphia’s most popular historic attractions with nearly 200,000 visitors annually. The House is two and a half stories with eight rooms and was originally built in 1740. The House is restored to the period from 1776-1779, when Betsy Ross, as the story tells it, created the first American flag. The house is furnished with period antiques and some reproduction furniture. Highlights include several objects known to have belonged to Betsy Ross. Visit Betsy Ross in the country’s only interactive colonial upholstery shop and get an up close look at the parlor, where she famously received the Flag Committee, and her bedroom where the first flag was secretly stitched. Kids will love the interactive exhibits in the House’s basement. See changing exhibits in the gallery and meet Betsy Ross, in person. March 1 – November 30: 10 am - 5 pm, daily December 1 – February 28 : 10 am - 5 pm, Tuesdays - Sundays 239 Arch Street Admission is $5 adults, $4 children/students/seniors/military. Audio tour available for $7/adult, $6/senior/student/military/child starting, includes admission. Duration: 25 minutes.
2012 Special Events at the Betsy Ross House October 5, 5:30 pm – After Hours Candlelight Tours of the Betsy Ross House Discover the Betsy Ross House after the lights go down. Bring Betsy’s story to life and hear macabre facts about her and the birthplace of the American flag. $5 per person. Tours available from 5:30 pm – 8 pm. October 5, 8 pm – Night of the Living Dead at the Betsy Ross House An outdoor movie screening for First Friday in the Betsy Ross House courtyard. Bring your own bottle of wine and enjoy the zombie hysteria. $5 per person, includes admission to the Candelit Tours. October 6 - 8, 11 am – 4 pm – Colonial Chocolate Making – Demonstrations (and tastings!) of the tasty treat that’s more American than apple pie. FREE! November 3, 1 – 3 pm – Appearance and Book Signing with the Phillie Phanatic – Each purchase of a Phanatic book will come with one complimentary ticket to tour the Betsy Ross House. Free book mark coloring craft for kids. (Appearance 1 - 1:45 pm, Book signing 2 - 3 pm)
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November 23 – 25, 11 am – 4 pm – Colonial Chocolate Making – Demonstrations (and tastings!) of the tasty treat that’s more American than apple pie. FREE! December 31, 11 am - 4 pm – Betsy’s Birthday Bash – Birthday cake and crafts for kids. FREE! FREE PROGRAMS: Free Quaker Meeting House Meet historians or History Makers such as Revolutionary War-era Free Quakers Timothy Matlack or Samuel Wetherill, or 19 th -century descendent John Price Wetherill, and learn about their impact on Colonial Philadelphia in this historic house of worship. FREE. Free Quaker Meeting House, 5th & Arch Streets September 5 – November 30: 11 am - 4 pm, Wednesdays – Sundays December 1 – 23: 11 am - 4 pm, Saturdays and Sundays December 26 – 31 : 11 am - 4 pm CLOSED: January and February
PARTNERS: Historic Philadelphia, Inc. is led by President and CEO Amy Needle and Board Chair William H. Haines, IV, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, City of Philadelphia, Independence National Historical Park, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Fairmount Park Commission, and Valley Forge National Historical Park.
FUNDERS: The Lenfest Foundation and H.F. Lenfest, PECO, Delaware River Port Authority, PARX Casino, William Penn Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, ACE Charitable Foundation, Lincoln Financial Group Foundation, Philadelphia Eagles, William J. Avery, Brett’s Pony, Cash Is King Racing Stable, Team Smarty and the Chapman Family, ARAMARK, Connelly Foundation, Lewis Katz, Esq., Wayne S. Spilove, Kathy and Peter Linneman, PNC Bank, The McLean Contribution, Samuel S. Fels Fund, Thomas Skelton Harrison Foundation, The Van Alen Family, Philadelphia Cultural Fund, Hersha Hospitality Trust, Edward G. Rendell, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Google, Friends of Valley Forge, Valley Forge Convention & Visitors Bureau, Otto Haas Charitable Trust, Adventure Aquarium, American Express, American Institute for History Education, The Home Depot, Wells Fargo, Brûlée Catering, Blank Rome LLP, Starr Restaurants, City Tavern, Religious Society of Free Quakers, Pennsylvania Heritage Society, Omni Hotel at Independence Park, William H. Haines, IV, and media partners, KYW 1060 and WPVI 6abc.
BACKGROUND : Historic Philadelphia, Inc. enhances the visitor experience and helps strengthen Philadelphia’s tourism industry through interpretation and interaction, making our nation’s history relevant and real. Historic Philadelphia, Inc.’s programs include the Betsy Ross House, Once Upon A Nation storytelling and Adventure Tours, Franklin Square, and Lights of Liberty. MORE INFORMATION: For all Historic Philadelphia, Inc. event information, call 215-629-4026, 877-462-1776, or visit www.historicphiladelphia.org to buy tickets online. Tickets available in person at the Historic Philadelphia Center, Betsy Ross House, Franklin Square, or the Independence Visitor Center. Follow HPI at twitter.com/HistoricPhilly and twitter.com/FranklinSqr or on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/HistoricPhila or http://on.fb.me/FranklinSquare . All events, prices, and dates are subject to change.
### EDITOR’S NOTE: High-resolution photographs are available for media usage at: http://tinyurl.com/HPIphoto . Email [email protected] for login information. 9/21/12