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Forty Years with Friends
Within sight of the First Bank of the United States, the Friends of Independence National Historical Park marked their 40th
As a part of the celebration, the first "Friends Founder's Award" was presented to former Independence NHP Superintendent Hobart "Hobie" Cawood and his wife Adelaide "Addie-Lou" Cawood. Both were honored for their service to the park from 1971-1991 and to the establishment of the Friends of Independence NHP.
Park Superintendent Cynthia MacLeod, Friends Chairman Austin Morris, Jr., Mayor Michael Nutter and of course Hobie and Addie-Lou Cawood recognized the outstanding contributions made by the Friends of Independence NHP over the past forty years.
Through the years the Friends have contributed to the park's historic furnishings and artifacts collection, they supported and funded the purchase of the glass armonica in Franklin Court in addition to numerous other physical improvements and interpretive programming in the park.
Retired Independence NHP Superintendent Cawood remembered each Chair of the Friends since their founding back in 1972, recognizing their individual accomplishments and contributions to the park. |
Camp Independence
September 8th marked the 150th anniversary of Camp Independence and visitors to Independence NHP had the opportunity to experience a reenactment of this Civil War recruitment camp on Independence Square.
The first of the 25 tents that sprang up behind Independence Hall began appearing on September 8, 1862. The country was in the midst of the Civil War. As the war had become increasingly unpopular, federal recruitment numbers were on the decline. Philadelphia officials, recognizing the decline in enlistments, called on the patriotic spirit of Americans to join the army. They established a military recruitment center, Camp Independence, on Independence Square.
Park Ranger Tom Daniels explained, "While these buildings and historic grounds are most commonly associated with the events of the American Revolution and birth of the United States, they also proved to be very powerful symbols in the great struggle to preserve the nation during the Civil War."
Park staff in period dress and displaying military accoutrements answered questions about the camp and military life. A Civil War Brass Band (the Philadelphia Brigade Band) offered two concerts on Saturday, September 8, attracting both civilians and potential military recruits. A photographic display about Camp Independence and other Civil War related events attracted thousands of visitors. Children who completed the park's "Civil War to Civil Rights" activity book received Junior Ranger badges, Civil War trading cards and other prizes.
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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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225 Years of the U.S. Constitution
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U.S. Constitution, on display in the West Wing of Independence Hall "Great Essentials" Exhibit |
The United States Constitution established a new nation - and changed the face of the world in the 18th century. Independence National Historical Park celebrated the 225th
Throughout the summer, the park posted an online daybook, highlighting the daily discussions at the Constitutional Convention between May 13 and September 17, 1787. Visitors to the park's website were able to track the day by day concerns of the delegates to the convention.
On Constitution Day, National Park Rangers worked in partnership with the National Constitution Center staff to offer a "Live Chat" online, answering visitor questions about the Constitutional Convention and the American Constitution.
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INHP Welcomes New Staff
Independence National Historical Park welcomed a number of new employees to our staff over the last few months. Joining the park's Maintenance Division are park laborers Gregory Iannarelli, Ricardo Griffin and Pasqualle Vallese. Loniel Lee has been hired as a motor vehicle operator whi le Gar th Hubbard and Morris Roker work as painters in the park. Lisa Bethea is a new Telecommunications Equipment Operator. Archeologist Alexander Keim rounds out our new hires. Please introduce yourselves and welcome our new colleagues to Independence NHP.
There are also some familiar faces in new places. Park Rangers Renee Albertoli and Bill Caughlan have taken on new challenges as Interpretive Specialists within Interpretation and Education and Joe Aprile is now a Supervisor in Asset Preservation & Maintenance.
Employee Spotlight: David Hamby
A born and raised "Hoosier," David Hamby from Indiana recently joined the staff of Independence National Historical Park as the new Facility Manager within the Division of Asset Preservation and Maintenance.
A career U.S. Army veteran, David was most recently employed by the Army Corps of Engineers in Wilmington, NC, where he worked in a transportation logistics position. He described the job as quite demanding but at the same time extremely rewarding.
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Founders Day
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Rehabilitated guardbox in
Washington Square. |
Independence National Historical Park was one of nearly 400 National Park Service sites across the country that celebrated the National Park Service's 96th birthday on August 25, 2012. Independence NHP celebrated this "Founders Day" with the dedication of two newly restored guard boxes on Washington Square and with a variety of special programs and activities.
Restoration of the guard boxes was a joint venture between the National Park Service, the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust and the Society Hill Civic Association, made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Society Hill Civic Association.
The Fairmount Park Preservation Trust oversaw the project, focusing on rehabilitation of the tongue and groove moldings and woodwork, in addition to door and window rehabilitation.
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EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™
Fall Programs at Independence NHP
Hours of Operation
Fall hours are now in place. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, Congress Hall and the West Wing ("Great Essentials Exhibit") will be open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Old City Hall and the Franklin Court Printing Office are open daily from 11 am to 5 pm. Check the park website (www.nps.gov/inde) for additional building hours and more information on the special programs listed below.
Special Events
"This House by Horror Haunted" - "This House by Horror Haunted," is a traditional Halloween offering by park staff. The program focuses on Poe's themes of horror while touring the house Poe lived in during his time in Philadelphia. Saturday, October 27, 6 pm at the Edgar Allan Poe NHS. Visit www.nps.gov/edal for more information.
"Elections, How the Founders Did It," A presentation by noted historian Gordon S. Wood, November 1, 6pm in historic Congress Hall. A small reception will precede the event at 5:15pm in the East Wing of Independence Hall. Event is free but reservations are required and seating is limited. Call 215-597-5102 to RSVP.
Veteran's Day Events
Ranger-Led Programs in the Independence Visitor Center at 3pm:
* Nov 5: "U.S Navy and the War of 1812"
* Nov 6: "The Continental Navy, Its Victories and Defeats"
* Nov 7: "Lewis and Clark a Military Expedition"
* Nov 8: Keystone Patriots: Pennsylvania Women Soldiers of the American Revolution
* Nov 9: "Independence and the Civil War"
* Nov 10:"Two Generals and the Battle of Germantown"
Ranger-Led Programs in the Second Bank at noon:
* Nov 7: Washington and his foreign officers
* Nov 8: Washington's Band of Bothers
* Nov 9: Washington, the Army and Civilian Control with the Order of Cincinnati etc.
* Nov 10: Washington and his foreign officers
Ranger-led Walking Tour, "Determined to Persevere, the American Revolution through the eyes of its veterans." November 10 at 11 am and 1pm, November 11 at 2 pm, starting at the New Hall Military Museum.
Living History Program, "A Soldiers Life," November 11 from 10 am to 2 pm in the Carpenter's Hall Courtyard (rain location New Hall). Event will include a military muster at 11am and 1 pm.
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Catch the Social Media Bug!
Stay up-to-date with all that's going on at Independence National Historical Park!
Look for us on social media and Youtube!
FACEBOOK: IndependenceNHP
TWITTER: IndependenceNHP
YOUTUBE: IndeNHP
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