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Churn Ice Cream like Dolley Madison
In the dog days of summer there's nothing better to quench the heat like ice cream. But, it's no modern-day love affair with chilled treats. Dolley Madison, the first lady of the United States and wife of James Madison, fifth president of America, gets credit for popularizing ice cream in the White House.
Chef Walter Staib, proprietor of City Tavern Restaurant in Old City Philadelphia met up with Dolley recently at her home in Montpelier, Va., to learn her tricks to make the best ice cream. Staib filmed episodes of his Emmy Award winning show, A Taste of History, at Montpelier for season three, due out nationwide on PBS channels in just a few weeks.
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The Return of the ProRangers
The typical internship does not offer opportunities like hosting Philadelphia's Mayor Michael Nutter, celebrity visitors, or the 20-millionth visitor to the Independence Visitor Center, but then again, ProRanger Philadelphia is no ordinary internship and Independence National Historical Park is no ordinary place to work. Sarah Rutter and Dan Sweeney are two of the 20 Temple University students enrolled in the 10-week partnership program with the National Park Service (NPS) to recruit, train and employ law enforcement park rangers. They are stationed here at Independence NHP for the summer and will rotate between divisions to better understand not only the park's historical significance, but also its inner-workings. "We are delighted to help train participants in the ProRanger program for a second summer," said Cynthia MacLeod, park superintendent. "Sarah and Dan are both outstanding individuals, eager to learn and help carry the burden when it comes to the behind-the-scenes business of operating a national park."
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The President's House Site
The open-air commemoration that now stands, thanks to an eight-year collaboration between the National Park Service and the City of Philadelphia, marks the site where the nation's first two presidents, George Washington and John Adams, served portions of their terms of office and began to shape the executive branch of government. Through a series of signs, videos and exhibits, the memorial showcases, specifically and particularly, the enslaved men and women of African descent who lived and toiled on this site.
A small sample of the signs depicting and paying tribute to the nine enslaved at the President's House Site.
This original foundation is what remains of the president's house and can be viewed from street level.
Memorial wall depicting the names of the nine enslaved Africans at the President's House Site. |
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Staff INDEavors: Serving the Homeless
When the second Friday of each month rolls around, you can find members of the Law Enforcement Division serving those less fortunate in the City of Brotherly Love.
Volunteering with "Feeding the Homeless Ministry" at Chosen 300, Jacqulyn Bryant and her entire squad, Mary Town, Dottie Vauls and Keith Manchester, along with Nicole Brenton and Kevin Guiney assist in distributing meals and services to the homeless throughout the Philadelphia region. Jacqulyn has done so every second Friday for the past three years, joined by the others since March.
"We usually interact with the homeless from a law enforcement perspective, so serving in this fashion helps us to support the brotherly love and humanitarian concept," said Bryant.
She plans to return on any given second Friday, in addition to the fourth Wednesday of every month, and invites other divisions to join her in giving back to those less fortunate.
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior
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The National Park service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage
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Independence National Historical Park
143 S. Third StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19106_________________________ Comments? Write to: Jane Cowley, INHP Public Affairs Officer 143 S. Third Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 Phone: (215) 597-0060 Fax: (215) 597- 0042 Email: Jane_Cowley@nps.gov
U.S.Department of the Interior
NPS Photographers
Park Staff
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Independence NHP Celebrates Freedom Week
Independence National Historical Park and the City of Philadelphia celebrated Independence Day 2011 with pomp and parades
Gearing everyone up for the holiday, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops performed in front of Independence Hall on July 3 for a large audience. The Pops once again welcomed Thomas Jefferson for the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Despite threats of rain, this free, outdoor concert of patriotic American music was a crowd-pleaser. The City of Philadelphia and Congressman Robert Brady, through the Board of the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund, provided funding for this event to ensure visitors a wonderful celebration.
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Independence Hall Tower Renovations
This summer, Independence NHP staff and contractors caught a glimpse of architectual history. In the process of removing the wood cladding from the Independence Hall Tower, workers exposed the structural framing of the tower at the clock face level. This was the first time anyone has seen the tower framing exposed in this manner since the wood portion of the tower was added in 1828.
Funded by $4.4 million in stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the rehabilitation project began last July and is expected to be completed later this year.
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INDE Welcomes New Management Team Members Chief Ranger
Patrick Suddath has been enamored with the idea of the National Park Service since he was a kid. "I visited many national parks as a child, and was always fascinated by the incredible treasures that the park service has been trusted to protect, as well as the enthusiasm and dedication of the people in the uniform," he explained.
Over his 22 years with the NPS, Patrick worked his way from fire lookout at Mesa Verde National Park to, most recently, branch chief of ranger activities at Glacier National Park. This June, he will embark upon his first "urban park" experience as the new Chief Ranger for Independence National Historical Park.
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Chief of Asset Preservastion & Maintenance
Steven Sims, on his way from the current nation's capital to the birthplace of our country, is eager to start his new position at Independence National Historical Park.
The opportunity at Independence was too hard to pass up," Steve says. "What the park stands for, the history behind it...to be part of a park that protects and holds all that history is just tremendous."
Steve served as an Army Engineer for six years before officially starting his National Park Service career. Since February 2007, Steve has been working at the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, D.C. He began there as a Civil Engineer and later became the Branch Chief for Facilities Maintenance at the park. In 2009/10, Steve graduated from the NPS Facility Managers Leader Program.
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Volunteers and Students
Clean Up Washington Square
 In a show of civic pride and support for a national park, the Society Hill Civic Association worked with McCall Elementary school on a volunteer clean-up event in Washington Square May 9. The Society Hill Civic Association, with the Society Hill Fund, used the occasion to announce a donation of $25,000 to Independence National Historical Park for a new irrigation system in Washington Square, home of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War.
One of five original squares in the 1682 plan for William Penn's city, it was named in honor of George Washington in 1825. The square has, over its lifetime, served as a potter's field, Revolutionary War burial ground, pasture, market place, site of congregation and burial for free and enslaved Africans, public square, commemorative landscape and urban park.
A statue of Washington marks the site of the memorial tomb, reminding visitors of the words of President Washington, still clearly relevant today: "The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts - of common dangers, sufferings, and success."
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Franklin Court Renovations Underway
The underground museum at Franklin Court is undergoing renovations, the first since the biographical exhibit opened its doors for Philadelphia's bicentennial celebration. Its grand reopening is tentatively scheduled for early 2013.
Dedicated to the life, times and legacy of Benjamin Franklin, the revitalized world-class museum facility will feature interactive displays exploring his life as a private citizen and statesman through individual, room-like installations.
The library is intended to be the culminating experience. Designed to invoke the feeling of Franklin's own library, which included not just books but inventions and gifts from high-ranking friends and colleagues, this room will include an animated feature focusing on Franklin's autobiography.
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Friends of Independence
"The Friends enhance what the park provides," says Maiti Gallen, Program Director for the Friends of Independence National Historical Park.
In the case of the Independence Hall tower, the Friends have enhanced the visitor experience with their generous donation of a decorative scrim. The scrim's artistic rendering of the tower provides safety during renovations, as well as allowing visitors to the park a more pleasant view throughout the 18-month rehabilitation project. The Friends agreed to raise the funds through fundraising and donations to purchase the scrim.
The scrim, however, is only one of the many contributions by this non-profit organization to Independence NHP. Over its 39 years of service to the park, the Friends have acquired or purchased over 1000 artifacts for Independence. These artifacts are used as teaching tools to enhance the educational experience. The Friends have also purchased and donated land to the park, including People's Plaza and Welcome Park.
You'll also see the Friends at all major park events. Their own volunteers help out during the annual Fourth of July events, including the Philly Pops concert. For the first time this year, the Friends also participated in the Fourth of July parade to show their support for the park. Maiti hopes the Friends will participate next year as well, "with a bigger and better float."
The Friends also keep everyone updated on the park's events. Not only do they send out Independence NHP's quarterly newsletter, they produce their own monthly newsletter that reaches park staff, partners, and other subscribers. In addition, Friends volunteers offer free Twilight Tours of the park that leave each evening at 6 p.m. (until Labor Day) from the Signer's Garden. In its 33rd year, these tours are verified and created by the volunteers themselves.
Recently, the Friends have started a new blog segment highlighting its employees and volunteers and why they support the park. Along with Friends and park information, this new segment will be posted each Wednesday. So head to friendsofindependence.blogspot.com to hear about the Friends and what they have to say about Independence NHP. For more information about the Friends, visit friendsofindependence.org |
EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
Summer Programs Happy Birthday to the National Park Service August 25 - Celebrate the 95th anniversary of the National Park Service. Events at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the Independence Visitor Center Special Programs at the Second Bank "George Washington's Band of Brothers" - Join a park ranger for for a tour of the portrait gallery that introduces Washington and his generals who led America to its independence. Daily at 1:00 p.m. "Stories of Struggle" - A park ranger will take you through a slide program highlighting the stories of the people, places and events surrounding the founding and early years of the U.S. Daily at 4:00 p.m. "Moses Williams: Cutter of Profiles" - Hear the amazing stories of Moses Williams who learned to operate the Physiognotrace to earn his freedom and make a good living making silhouettes in Peale's Museum. Daily at 4:00 p.m. "Votes for Women!" - Commemorate the 91st anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment by joining a park ranger for a special program highlighting the continuing contributions of women to the founding of this nation. Aug. 18-21 at 3:00 p.m. |
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