View from the Back Office, Part 2: Saying Good Bye

Summer is quickly slipping away as I sit at my desk and watch the people walk by the Merchant Exchange Building. The young, the old, locals, and tourists all mosey past my window as they head towards City Tavern or The First Bank of the United States or other destinations here at the park.

People from all over the world take a stroll past my window; some stop to look at the beautiful façade of the Merchant Exchange Building and take a picture or two,  some peer into the shaded window trying to glimpse the interior, but are thwarted in their efforts by the screen shades. They are not missing much, just the National Parks Service’s administrative offices, which are not as exciting as they may sound.

NOT LOSING SIGHT OF THE REAL REASON I BECAME A FRIEND

It is very difficult to live in Philadelphia and not be aware that it contains the most historic square mile in America.  We are surrounded by historic buildings, plaques and statuary. Tours of the historic district, special events on the 4^th of July and carriage rides all remind us of Philadelphia’s place in our nation’s history.  In fact, Philadelphia is Ground Zero as far as American history is concerned.  Everything started right here.  Our founding Fathers really did “begin the world anew.”   Anyone like me with an interest in American history would love to live in Philadelphia.  So why wouldn’t I jump at the opportunity to join the Friends of Independence National Historic Park, immerse myself in history and contribute to efforts to support the Park?

But there was more than just an interest in history that led me to join.  An event I witnessed on a cold December evening in the year 2000 continues to remind me why the Park and Independence Hall are so important.  That evening, I was walking down Chestnut St. at about 7 PM.  Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had just ruled, 5 to 4, that George W. Bush should be our next president.  As I approached the southwest corner of 6^th and Chestnut, I saw a girl, about 20 years old, walking down 6^th St. toward Independence Hall.  Her hair was styled in a shocking pink Mohawk, she was wearing high black motorcycle boots and her face was studded with earrings.  She was wearing a sandwich board, on both sides of which were printed, in bold, black letters: “[expletive deleted} BUSH! “ Not the sort of person you would fail to notice.

As she walked toward Chestnut St., one of the rangers patrolling around the Hall strolled toward the corner.  She certainly noticed him.  But she kept on walking.  And he didn’t say a word, or even appear to really notice her.  When he reached the corner he turned around and began walking the other way.  When I began to think about it, I realized that this little tableau exemplified, centuries after the fact, the significance of our origins as a nation.  But why was this incident so noteworthy?  Nothing happened on that December evening, right?  Yes, that’s right, and that’s what’s important.  Not only was Miss Sandwich Board free to express her critical views of the next president in a wholly rude and insulting way, right in front of the shrine to independence, she fully expected to be free to do so, and our Park Ranger, representing our government, evidently felt the same way.  Thomas Jefferson et al. would have sighed with satisfaction had they witnessed the scene.

This is why I joined the Friends -- to have the opportunity to remind myself why the Park is so special and why it is so important to support it.  What happened here in the 18^th century worked, and it’s still working.

~Antoinette R. Stone
  FINHP Member and Governing Board Member

An Impressive History and a Dazzling Future

I have worked for the Friends of Independence National Historical Park for exactly three years, three months and eight days.  It seems like a lifetime ago when I walked into the Friends office in the Merchant Exchange Building on my first day and was given the helpful suggestion that I should read some “old” newsletters to familiarize myself with the organization.

Three Years, three months and eight days later and I am still reading the history of The Friends of Independence.  It never ends.  Our organization has over 39 years worth of stories, board minutes, articles, pictures… you name it, we have it.  Just when I think I have read or put my hand on everything the Friends have done, something new emerges and leads to other sources of information. 

A quick trip to the archives can become hours of entertainment as I read through the past events and gaze in awe at all the things our organization has done in support of Independence National Historical Park.  Just the other day, while I was talking with a volunteer who has been working up in the archives for us, she pointed out two things in the Friends past that I did not know about.  This means two more things to add to my ever expanding list of things I need to look up the next time I am in the archives.

I have to say, this is my favorite part of working for the Friends, because it is fascinating to see how much we have done, how much we have given, and how many initiatives we have taken during our 39 years.  On the other hand, as the only full time staff member, this is also quite daunting.  It is overwhelming trying to think of new, bigger, better things we can do.  Most non-profits are always looking to have that edge, to come up with the next big thing to make them stand out and yet what they are doing now, the Friends of Independence was doing years ago.

How do we top ourselves?  How do we look back on our impressive history and say we can do better, we can outshine ourselves?  As the first Friends group for a National Park, we were the trailblazer for many of the programs and events that are now common among Friends groups.  It is difficult to re-invent the wheel when there is nothing wrong with it in the first place. 

So what do we do?  Do we rest on our laurels or do we keep going?  The answer is that we try new things, we enhance the already great ideas that have worked for us and we review our history and see what we did before that can be started again.  This is the great thing about such a long and extensive history; there is a never-ending source of ideas.  We are taking our past and creating a dazzling future for our organization and the park we love to support. 

So as Program Director for the Friends, I will continue to look for inspiration from our past, to learn the lessons from the ones that came before, and to always keep the best interest of the organization at heart.  I will do this because in another thirty-nine years, three months and eight days, I hope the staff member charged with researching the history of the Friends, will look back at the many things we did while I worked here and say “How can we top our past?”

~Maiti Gallen

  Program Director to the Friends of Independence National Historical Park

THE GARDENS IN AND ABOUT INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

There is a string of really beautiful gardens in and about Independence National Historical Park that adds a magical quality to this wonderful historical site. I know of no other park located in a city that has such a perfect and extended Greenway for promenading, viewing historical buildings and enjoying the landscape.

Here is a suggested walk:

Start at the Society Hill Towers located at 2nd and Locust Streets and then walk west on Locust Street. Cross 3rd Street and head south to Pine Street. Make a right on Pine. There is a small walk on the right across from St. Peters Church Between 3^rd and 4^th Streets. This is the Greenway which connects Independence Hall and St. Peter's Church.

After walking along the Greenway, you will arrive at Bingham Court. Cross 4th Street at Locust Street. Between 4th and 5th Streets on Locust are two marvelous gardens: the Magnolia Garden to the South or left; and, directly across to the North or right, a Rose Garden, filled with old roses, irises and daffodils. The Rose Garden is between Locust and Walnut Streets.

Now cross Walnut Street and you will be in the back of the 2nd Bank. Note the iron work and the columns on the Bank. Turn left or west and walk behind the Bank to 5th Street. On the right, you will see the garden of the American Philosophical Society.

Cross 5th Street and you will be in the back of Independence Hall. Walk through this grand space and then cross 6th Street to historically important Washington Square which lies between 6th and 7th Streets. There are beautiful plantings in this Square and wonderful walkways for strolling. 

All of these garden spaces change with the seasons. The landscaping is carefully thought out and there is a succession of blooms and changing colors from early spring to late fall.  All of us can stroll and enjoy these gardens while we learn about the extraordinary history found in the City of Philadelphia and Independence NHP. 

If you enjoy the Greenways of Philadelphia and appreciate living and working in a “Green” neighborhood, you should join the Friends of Independence.  Friends’ members help to maintain and preserve the beautiful gardens of Independence NHP and allow all of us, residents and visitors alike, to enjoy the greenery all year long.

~Flora L. Becker

Treasurer for the Friends of Independence Governing Board

The Independence Tower Decorative Scrim a Great Success!

Have you noticed the visitors in the Park lately?  They are looking up at Independence Hall.  They pose for pictures near the Liberty Bell, on the sidewalk across from the Washington Statue, in the Square behind the Hall, and anywhere they can get a good view of that stately building where our country’s founding documents were created.   The visitors look excited to be here, eager for photo mementos, waiting for a clear view.  In other words, just the way they always did, before the Decorative Scrim when up on Independence Hall Tower late last fall. 

The Twilight Tours have been in full swing at 6:00 PM every evening for more than six weeks.  On my tours, the feedback from the visitors about the Decorative Scrim has been overwhelmingly positive.   Of course, I mention the Friends and the work we do to enhance the visitor’s experience, such as Twilight Tours and the Decorative Scrim project.

Often, before I even refer to the Hall, visitors admire the 'painted cloth', as some call it.  When I'm on the lawn with my tour group beside the Liberty Bell Center, many others stop to photograph the Hall, sometimes not realizing at first that they are not seeing the actual building. 

Recently, I looked toward the Hall from the National Constitution Center and was delighted by how convincing the scrim looks.  Many tourists were taking photos from there, too.

Last week, visitors from Maine and Utah thanked me (i.e., the Friends) for making Independence Hall look so attractive while the important restoration work is going on.  This ‘thanks’ has happened many times this summer.  I accept those thanks in the Friends’ name.

Even though at the beginning of a project there is a vision and a driving purpose, the outcome is not ‘guaranteed’.  The purpose of having a Decorative Scrim on Independence Hall Tower was all about a welcoming, positive experience for the many visitors who come and for the neighbors who look at Independence Hall every day.  Compare the Tower scrim to the protective scrim on the Customs House at 2^nd and Chestnut and you will know why this project was so important and so successful. 

Thank you, thank you to everyone who raised the funds and to all those who donated.  The scrim really makes a difference for our visitors and our Park, just as we all hoped it would.

~ Cathy Siegl

   Friends Member, Volunteer and

   Twilight Tour Guide