Another of America’s most popular places is the Independence National Historical Park located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It covers an area of 45 acres and contains most of historic downtown Philadelphia. Here, you’ll find Independence Hall, which is where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th, 1776, and is also where the Constitution was approved as well. You’ll also find the Liberty Bell, the Independence Visitor Center, and Old City Hall. Congress authorized INHP on June 28th, 1948, and it was officially started on July 4th, 1956, on the 180th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Independence Hall is the pride of INHP, and stands in the center of the park. Construction of the building began in 1732, and was finished in the year 1753. It was originally called the Pennsylvania State House. From 1775 to 1783, it was the primary meeting spot of the Second Continental Congress, and it was also the location of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. It’s also on the list of World Heritage Sites. The Liberty Bell was hung in its steeple in 1752, and stayed there for quite sometime. To tour Independence Hall, everyone must have a ticket, including infants. Tickets are free, and are available at the Independence Visitor Center. It is suggested that you begin your visit to Independence National Historical Park here, where you can get information on many different things, including eateries in the area, activities, and many other things. People can receive up to 10 tickets each, and the tickets are handed out on a first-come first-serve basis, starting at 8:30 am. Tickets can also be reserved online or by phone, for a transaction fee of only $1.50 for each ticket.
The Liberty Bell is housed inside the Liberty Bell Center, located across from Independence Hall. It was requested that a bell be made for Independence Hall’s new bell tower, and so Thomas Lester of Lester and Pack, a bell-founding firm in London, cast the bell and sent it over. It was said that in order to proclaim the right of self-government, the bell needed to be melted down and re-cast since it was from England. John Pass and John Stow said that they would recast it, even though they were inexperienced at bell-casting. The first one they did wasn’t worth anything, so another new bell was requested, and the old one was kept. The newer one was hung inside the bell tower. Although it is said that the Liberty Bell rang out on July 4th, 1776, it isn’t true. There was no announcement on the 4th of the Declaration! The Declaration was actually announced and read to the public on July 8th, and it’s believed that the Liberty Bell rang among the many others that day. The Liberty Bell has been housed in the Liberty Bell Center since 2003. Tickets aren’t required for entry.
Admission to the Independence National Historical Park is free of charge. Its hours are based upon those of the park’s sites. Most of the buildings open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, although the hours may be extended during the summer season. The Independence Visitor Center opens at 8:30 am.
