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Independence Visitor Center and National Park Service Invite the Public to Experience Independence Day at Its Home

Jun 30, 2012 Uncategorized Comments Off on Independence Visitor Center and National Park Service Invite the Public to Experience Independence Day at Its Home

Philadelphia, PA, USA (June 29, 2012) /PRNewswire/ — The Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC) and Independence National Historical Park (INHP) are excited to host a diverse selection of events and offer extended hours of operation for Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center and the Independence Visitor Center during INHP’s Freedom Week (July 1-July 8) leading up to and on the Fourth of July.

Extended Hours at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center (July 1-4, 9:00 a.m.
– 8:00 p.m.)
In celebration of the country’s independence, the National Park Service is extending hours for visitors to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center. Both sites will be open from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. fromJuly 1-4. Tickets will not be required for Independence Hall after 5:00 p.m. No tickets are needed to visit Independence Hall all day on July 4. Tickets are never required for the Liberty Bell Center. To visit Independence Hall from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on July 1-3, stop by the Independence Visitor Center or reserve tickets online at www.nps.gov/inde. National Park Service rangers also offer professionally researched accounts of the founding of the United States in Philadelphia.

Extended Hours at the Independence Visitor Center (June 29 – July 4, 8:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
The Independence Visitor Center is gearing up to welcome those celebrating Independence Day on America’s Most Historic Square Mile with extended hours of operation. Located at 6th and Market Streets, the Visitor Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. from June 29-July 4.
Normal summer hours of operation resume on July 5 and are from 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m. daily through Labor Day.

America’s Birthday Party hosted by Termini Bros. Bakery at the Visitor Center (July 4, 1:00 p.m.)
Join us for a celebration of America’s Birthday hosted by the Independence Visitor Center and Termini Brothers Bakery on July 4 at 1 p.m. Termini Bros., a third generation family run business was founded byGiuseppe Termini who came to Philadelphia from Enna, Sicily in 1921. The Termini family is excited to share their story of American freedom and celebrate Independence Day at the Visitor Center with a five-tier cake and cupcakes for all to enjoy.

The spectacular five-tier cake will be decorated at the Visitor Center throughout the day prior to the celebration at 1 p.m. This will be the first time Termini Bros. will be off-site decorating one of their cakes in plain sight for passers-by to observe and get a sneak peak at the inner workings of what makes Termini Bros. a local icon and one of a kind. In addition to a custom designed cake, Termini Bros. will also give-away 2,500 cupcakes!

As if you were at Termini’s main location in South Philadelphia, they will bring the same exceptional customer service and signature Termini Bros. experience at the Visitor Center on July 4th in the heart ofPhiladelphia’s historic district. For more information and event updates, check out the event listing on Facebook.

Additional Visitor Center and INHP activities include:
A dramatic Reading of the Declaration of Independence will take place on Independence Mall next to the Visitor Center on June 30, July 1 and July 4 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The reading will be performed by costumed performers and re-enactors with a fife and drum accompaniment.

A park ranger-led walking tour, Stories from the Past, will take place every day during Freedom Week from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Join a park ranger for a walking tour and hear about the people, both famous and forgotten, who played a role in establishing Philadelphia as the preeminent city of 18th century America. This walking tour starts at the Signers’ Garden on the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets.

Let Freedom Ring, a ceremony of inspiring music and patriotic presentations on Independence Square isJuly 4 and begins at 1 p.m. The ceremony will conclude with a symbolic tapping of the Liberty Bell at 2 p.m. The ceremony begins on Independence Square (outside secure area between Walnut and Chestnut Streets and 5th and 6th Streets) at 1 p.m. and continues inside the Liberty Bell Center at 1:45 p.m. for the Liberty Bell tapping. This programming is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution and the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Extended Hours at Crosswalk Cafe (June 29 – July 4, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
Crosswalk Cafe offers light bites and refreshments. The cafe will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.from June 29-July 4.

More Fourth of July Events
Wawa Welcome America! is also hosting events on Independence Mall throughout the week and on July 4:

  • Independence Day Picnic & Military Change of Command (June 30)
  • Mural Arts Paint Day (July 3)
  • POPS! On Independence (July 3)
  • Celebration of Freedom Ceremony (July 4)
  • Philadelphia Independence Day Parade (July 4)
  • Let Freedom Ring Ceremony and Liberty Bell Tapping (July 4)

Visit http://www.welcomeamerica.com/ for more information.

The celebration continues on Independence Mall after July 4:

Free Concert featuring Payton Taylor at Crosswalk Cafe (July 7, 1–3 p.m.)
Crosswalk Cafe, located on Independence Mall across from the Visitor Center, is excited to host country singer Payton Taylor for a free concert on July 7 at 1:00 p.m. Taylor is a Southern New Jersey native who has been gaining national attention through multiple TV appearances, newspaper and magazine interviews, and online music retailers. This summer, she is touring and has appeared at “CMA Fest” inNashville, TN. She will be appearing at other festivals such as “Summerfest” in Milwaukee, WI, and “Country on the Beach” in Key West, FL.

A re-enactment of the First Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence at Independence Square will take place on July 8 from 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Join the crowd to hear a costumed Park Rangerportraying Colonel John Nixon (who read the Declaration of Independence to the public for the first time onJuly 8, 1776). Free copies of the Declaration of Independence will be given out so that you can follow along and cheer or jeer!

The Independence Visitor Center is Independence National Historical Park’s and the region’s welcome center for people from all over the nation and the world offering visitor amenities including trip planning service, easy onsite ticketing for area attractions, multilingual concierge staff, comprehensive daily listing of area events, attraction displays and regional maps, free, informative historical and orientation films, free wireless Internet access and much more. Follow @PHLVisitorCntr , the Visitor Center’s virtual concierge service on Twitter, and like us on Facebook . For more information, visit http://www.independencevisitorcenter.com/ .


The Independence Visitor Center Corporation is a Pennsylvania non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which operates in cooperation with the efforts of the National Park Service, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


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 Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, Franklin Court, and other historic buildings associated with the founding of the United States. The park is open from 9:00 am daily with the exception of Christmas day. A visit to Independence National Historical Park should start at the Independence Visitor Center, located at 6th and Market Streets. Here, visitors can pick up a park brochure, park map, and the free, timed tickets required for Independence Hall. For more information visit the park’s website, http://www.nps.gov/inde or follow us at twitter.com/independencenhp or facebook.com/independencenhp.


Crosswalk Cafe, located in the heart of Independence National Historical Park, is a seasonal outdoor cafe managed by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation (IVCC) and operated by Brulee Catering. The menu features a full-line of fresh cafe items including specialty salads, sandwiches and small bites. Crosswalk Cafe offers a selection of hand-crafted beers and savory wines. For more information about Crosswalk Cafe, visit www.crosswalkcafephilly.com .

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