INDE Staff Go Above and Beyond
Ben Franklin, arguably the most famous Philadelphian, is celebrated at Independence National Historical Park for his role as a revolutionary, political leader, statesman and inventor. In 2013, the refurbished Franklin Museum in Franklin Court will open with interactive exhibits that teach visitors of Franklin's many and varied accomplishments. But thepark is not the only place with a claim on Franklin's importance.
Thanks to the volunteer efforts of INDE Interpretive Rangers and volunteer firefighters Ed Welch and Bill Caughlin, a Pennsylvania Historical Marker has been installed at Grindstone Alley and Market Street (the 200 block of Market Street, outside of the park's boundaries) to commemorate the Union Volunteer Fire Company and its most famous founder, Benjamin Franklin.
The Union Volunteer Fire Company developed the idea of fire insurance and became a model for others across the nation. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission recognizes it as the first volunteer fire company in the nation, formed 275 years ago. |
Recipes from City Tavern
With October's cool autumn winds and crisp, colorful scenery, it's time to warm up with comfort foods, and there are many that hail back to the beginning of the nation. In the 18th century tradition, Chef Walter Staib, proprietor of City Tavern Restaurant in Philadelphia uses local, seasonal ingredients. This time of year, he turns to fruits that were as popular hundreds of years ago as they are today - apples and cranberries.
"Colonists found native cranberries similar in flavor to lingonberries, a fruit they ate in Europe. They learned that the cranberry required quite a bit of sweetening, though," said Chef Staib. In the eighteenth century, cranberries were most often preserved or stewed to sweeten them for use in pies. At times, cooks would make cranberry relish much like the one that graces most Americans' tables for Thanksgiving.
"Apples were extremely important in colonial America," said Bruce Gill, curator of Harriton House in Bryn Mawr, Pa., who hosts an heirloom apple tasting each October with varieties more than 300 years old. "Apples were eaten 'out of hand' or baked into pies or baked by themselves. Sometimes they were cut and dried into 'schnitz' for use all winter long or they were converted to cider (hard and soft) and vinegar," he said.
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INDE Goes Hi-Tech
The park unveiled its new QR code program in August to help educate visitors on the Independence Hall Tower project. The codes can be found on the informational waysides on Independence Square and near the Chestnut St. side of the Liberty Bell Center.
Don't know what a QR code is? That's okay! Not everybody knows what they are, but these days they are all around us. QR codes appear in newspapers and ads, taxis, buses, and trains. Sometimes they blend into the urban landscape unnoticed.
QR codes are essentially barcodes, but with a little more oomph. QR codes encode data both horizontally and vertically in a grid of tiny squares. Standard barcodes encode numbers and are good for storing and sharing small amounts of data. QR codes actually embed the information in the code itself, and, when read with the proper software, can take the viewer to websites, video, downloads, emails, text messages and other electronic data.
Today, most smart phones can download free applications that will quickly read these codes. Visitors to Independence Hall can scan the code and find out more about the Independence Hall Tower project. Since the park started using these codes, the numbers of visitors viewing the Tower project video has doubled! Scan the one below to try it out for yourself.
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Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Reconvenes in Old City Hall
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held the first day of its September session in the historic Supreme Court Chamber in Old City Hall in Independence National Historical Park. This historic event was part of the park's commemoration of Constitution Week, September 12-17, 2011.
By hearing cases in this historic courtroom, the PA Supreme Court made the site come alive with current meaning and connected the past with today for visitors and participants. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sat in the courtroom in the building now called Old City Hall between the years of 1791 and 1802. The U.S. Supreme Court also sat here from 1791 to 1800, while Philadelphia was the new nation's capital. In 1800, the U.S. Supreme Court moved to Washington, D.C., and in 1802, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court moved back into the courtroom in the old State House, what is now Independence Hall.
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Moon Tree Clone Grows in Washington Square
In celebration of our national public lands, gardeners at Independence National Historical Park planted a clone created from the ailing Moon Tree at Washington Square on National Public Lands Day.
In 1971, Astronaut Stuart Roosa carried hundreds of tree seeds to the Moon on Apollo XIV. On May 6, 1975, one of the trees grown from those seeds was planted in Washington Square, which is now part of Independence National Historical Park. The Washington Square Moon Tree was the first such tree to be planted. Today, hundreds of Moon Trees are growing around the nation. Information on the Moon Tree program, including a list of all the Moon Trees known to still be growing, can be found at the NASA Moon Tree web page: http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/moon_tree.html.
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Gates Receives Liberty Medal
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates received the National Constitution Center's 2011 Liberty Medal on September 22, in honor of his five decades of distinguished service. In what was a moving tribute to Dr. Gates' role as the "Soldiers' Secretary," Iraq War veteran Anthony Odierno, representing Wounded Warrior Project, and SFC Dana Graham of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, representing the USO of Pennsylvania and Southern NJ (Liberty USO), joined Center President and CEO David Eisner to present the prestigious medal to Dr. Gates. The ceremony took place at the National Constitution Center in Independence National Historical Park.
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Philadelphia Students Grow with the Junior Ranger Program
Urban students have made personal connections to national parks thanks to the Junior Ranger program at Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site. The ten week partnership between the Edgar Allan Poe NHS and Spring Garden Elementary School in North Philadelphia incorporates classroom sessions, guest speakers and field trips to help students learn about the NPS mission and organization. Program leaders worked to instill a sense of confidence in the students as well as a commitment to our National Parks.
Students also learned about NPS career opportunities. National Park Service Rangers serve as role models for youth participating in the program, connecting them to the historical and natural treasures in our national park
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EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
Fall Programs Ranger-Led Programs
"Dr. Franklin's Philadelphia"- Join a Park Ranger to hear about the many contributions of Benjamin Franklin to his city, his country and the world. Meet at the arbor in the Franklin Court courtyard. Saturday and Sundays in October at 2 PM
"Poe's Legacy: A Discussion" - A lively discussion about Poe and his literary legacy featuring three Poe scholars: Daniel Hoffman, Robert Regan, and Alvin Holm. Saturday, October 15, at 2 p.m.
"Halloween with Edgar Allan Poe" - For those looking for a fun and educational Halloween outing, join us for an illustrated program on the Halloween themes in Poe's literature. This free program will be offered on Friday, October 28, at 2 p.m., in the Second Bank of the United States and on Saturday and Sunday, October 29 and 30, at 2 p.m. at the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site
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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: [email protected]
U.S.Department of the Interior NPS Photographers Park Staff
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