An inside Look from the Top of Independence Hall

To live in the presence of Independence Hall during this historic restoration has been a once in a lifetime experience for me. To see the spectacular changes on a weekly basis as our National Icon is restored to her historic glory is a project the Friends can be proud of.  

A little history…

Two and a half years ago, the Park along with Charlie Tonetti, Chief Historical Architect’s recommendations, came to the Friends with a plan that would enable the park to work on a beloved building while preserving the visitor experience.  Independence Hall had to undergo restoration work which would cover this iconic building in heavy scaffolding for many months.  Almost 4 million visitors come to this park annually and pose for pictures with Independence Hall in the background. Independence National Historical Park wanted the Decorative Scrim so visitors’memories could still be captured with little interference from ongoing construction. This project will be completed in the next couple of months.

Don Kaufman, former Board member and neighbor describes his experience as he viewed the Bell Tower restoration:

This was not just the end of another Friends project; it was the beginning of a transformation, ….. an out of the box experience for me and as well as Board Member Ed D’Alba, I’m sure.  We were invited to participate in a Press Conference held by INHP to present the restoration of the Bell Tower.  The tower hasn't had a major face lift for many years, so we climbed the scaffolding to examine the restoration that had taken place over the past few months.

We were thoroughly impressed by the quality of the restoration.    An interesting aspect was our ability to view the restoration for the outside of the tower.   One of Ed's employee's commented that “years from now when his kids visit the Hall, he would be able to say that he was on the outside of the tower on the tippy tippy top.” What a thrill to be part of the Friends and to be able to contribute to the restoration of this historic monument.

~Don Kaufman
   Former Board Member, 2005-2010

A few words from Ed D’Alba current board member…

The ascent of the tower was breathtaking.  The opportunity to stand above the "Hall," and outside the "Tower," all of which have withstood the test of time, debate and challenge from what happened within and beyond its hallowed halls will never be forgotten. 

It took but a few steps along the highest levels of the scaffolding to observe the stately beech trees around Commodore Barry to the south, to see the openness of the multi-storied south face of the Constitution Center to the north, and the contemporary and many other historic properties around and near the mall to the east and west.  Is there any other place on earth that so vividly helps underscores the role, the need, and the importance of friends groups nationwide, and of the Friends of Independence National Historic Park in particular?  Helping to preserve and enhance this National Treasure felt very right that day, and will provide memories for years to come.  In one word - Awesome! 

~Ed D’Alba

  Board Member, 2011 -

As Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Independence Hall Scrim Committee, this is civic project that I and the Friends of Independence will never forget.

~ Karen D. Kaufman
   Treasurer and Board Member

Excitement through Evolution

Yesterday, our Governing Board Members held its bi-monthly meeting to discuss the business of the Friends of Independence and to make decisions that will best lead our organization into the future.  Like many non-profits, our leaders are part of the business community and use their knowledge and skills to help our organization thrive and grow.

For the past few years the Governing Board meetings centered on the financial health of the organization and how we would weather the down-turning economy.  Many of our discussions dealt with future funding and the stability of the Friends.  This is not an uncommon theme for most non-profits, and in comparison, we have weathered better than most.  However, it has become a repetitive, never-ending topic.  There never will be a time when we say that as an organization we have too much, that we do not need more, and that we will not accept funding; because we know that the more funding we have, the more we can do for our park.

Yesterday’s meeting, however, was different.  While we still discussed the financial health of the organization, we also started to discuss the future:  How we wanted to see ourselves, how we wanted others to see us, and what we wanted to do to have our name reach more people.  Looking around the room, I could see my board members becoming animated as they brainstormed the possibilities.  They were so excited for what we were doing that in turn they enlivened me.

As the lone staff member for the Friends of Independence, I am charged with thinking ahead.  It is my responsibility to look for ways to connect with our constituents and to plan events, programs, and opportunities that will make our organization more visible.  Usually by the time I present an idea to the Governing Board, I am past my excited stage; I am in the business portion of the planning.  I am working out the logistics to make sure that we not only can produce the program but that it will meet tangible goals.

I walked into that meeting yesterday with my facts and figures, and I walked out feeling very excited for the future possibilities because my board members were enthusiastic and energized.  It is an incredible feeling to have a clear idea of where you are headed and to have the support of the Board.  Next year marks the 40^th anniversary of the Friends of Independence.  While that is an amazing accomplishment, we know we cannot live on our past glories.

We are changing.  We are growing.  We are evolving as we should.  We know our future has unlimited potential.  And we hope that you share our vision.  We invite you to continue the journey with us as we explore and reshape the Future of the Friends of Independence.

Stay tuned for some incredible programming…

~Maiti Gallen

  Program Director

It’s Almost Here!!!!

The trees are still green and leafy, the flowers still bloom, but there is a bite in the air these days. A chilly breeze as you walk through Independence National Historical Park foretells of autumn days to come – fall days when the park is covered in leaves, our wildlife (the gray squirrel) is foraging for winter and you can hear the wind rustling through the grass.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year here at the park. The whole park comes alive with the bright reds, golds and oranges of the season. Instead of sunbathers worshiping the light of summer, we have parents and children holding hands as they scoot through the fallen leaves. People walk closer together to warm themselves against the chill in the air instead of finding solitary relief in the cool shade. I find the whole park feels warmer during these transitional days and the smell of hot cider with mulling spices wafting through the air will always make me want to stop in at City Tavern for a quick sip or two.

This is the time of the year when the park belongs to the locals. The summer tourists are gone, the ones who come here to celebrate our independence, who stand with us in spirit to fight for freedom and who happily take pictures of their experience at a national historical park. Even as the late summer tourists slowly disappear from our sidewalks, park neighbors emerge from their homes to reclaim the park as their own. Soon the benches will be filled with workers from the neighboring buildings trying to soak up the last rays of sun before winter’s gray clouds are upon us.

This is the time of the year when I feel most at home at my national park. So even though it is still in the high 70’s here in Philadelphia and the humidity levels have not dropped, I will wear a scarf and coat in happy anticipation of the chillier weather. I will also kick the leaves scattered on the ground and dream of days when I can secretly jump into the massive piles of leaves when our maintenance workers are not looking. I do all of this because I know, when there is a bite in the air, my favorite season at Independence National Historical Park is just around the corner.

~Maiti Gallen
  Program Director

Edgar Allan Poe ~ The Master of the Macabre

Fans of literature, mystery and the macabre are drawn to the Philadelphia house of Edgar Allan Poe.  Managed by the National Park Service, the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site celebrates Poe’s amazing literary accomplishments.  Edgar Allan Poe thrived and achieved his greatest sustained success while living in Philadelphia: here Poe invented the detective story, served as America’s premier though sometimes brutal literary critic, edited the country’s most successful magazine, and wrote enduring, haunting and disturbing stories and poems.

Personal Communication in the Age of Technology

For several weeks at the Friends office, we have been experiencing issues with some of the computers. Nothing that was a state of emergency, but just the little things that can be frustrating and annoying in this age of technology.  For example, when our modem died we had to wait a few days for the replacement to arrive.  Well, we had more than enough work to keep us busy, so that getting through a day or two without a modem seemed do-able, until we realized that half of our work dealt with researching, registering and reviewing multiple groups, people and places on the internet. 

The modem arrived, we were back online, but then our computers didn’t like the new modem and refused to network with each other.  Again, we thought, not a big deal; we will get it fixed eventually.  That was until three of us were trying to work on different aspects of the same project and we were all trying to use the same computer at the same time.  Needless to say, we made sure the network was fixed immediately.  Most recently, our computers just started freezing up on us… well, there is no cure for this.  The computers are old.  So we whisper terms of endearment to them, pet them occasionally, and once in a while offer up a thanks to the powers that be.

In coping with all of the trials of the office computers, I had a constant worry about how I would be able to do my job if the computers went down.  How would I share information with the volunteers who work in the office if we cannot network?  How would I print and mail over 500 invitations for the Annual Meeting if I didn’t have a computer to help me?  Trust me, the daunting task of hand writing 500 addresses crossed my mind but was quickly dismissed. 

Through my worries and contingency plans, one thought kept coming to my mind… “How did the first members do it all without technology?”  It seemed they were constantly planning, setting up or breaking down an event every month; giving Behind the Scenes Tours to members, or sending volunteers to organizations to present slide shows of the park.  How did they do this without technology, and why were they successful?

They were successful because they believed in the cause.  They didn’t need computers, they were happier to pick up the phone and make the personal plea.  Networking was done at events with members and potential supporters.  Volunteers came in to learn and then go forth as ambassadors for the Friends; and, yes, there was someone who hand calligraphied hundreds upon thousands of invitations for all the events.   The original Friends didn’t have technology and even if they had it, I do not think they would have used it.  They understood the power of personal communication.

After weeks of computer issues, I am beginning to believe in this personal communication.  I have found myself more willing to make the call than send an email, spend time on the other side of the desk with the volunteers going through the different projects rather than putting it on the shared drive, and even writing a personal note or two to people.

I still appreciate technology, even if I have to call my computer “you sweet, old dear,” when I want it to work, and I am grateful for the advantages it gives small non-profits like the Friends of Independence. But there are lessons to be learned from the past.  Nothing can replace the personal connection we share here at the Friends and it is important to foster that relationship.  So while I am sitting here, typing out an article for the Friends blog that will be posted on the internet, I am hoping that those who read this will respond with a phone call rather than a comment - because in this age of high-speed communication, once in a while it is nice to hear a human voice.  (215-861-4971)

~ Maiti Gallen

   Program Director

One of my favorite pictures.  I admire this Friends Member in more ways than I can say

WHY I VOLUNTEER

The T-shirts…   It’s fun…   Because I can…   Because we should... 

We should support good things.  And Friends of Independence National Historic Park is a good thing.  I have been a volunteer with the Friends (regularly for three years, occasionally for several years before that) and have enjoyed playing a part in many Friends’ events – setting up lectures, greeting visitors at the July 3 concerts, planting flowers,fetching, carrying, counting money, etc.  But the one that I am most proud of is helping collect the funds to wrap Independence Hall in its Decorative Scrim.

When I first saw, from Market Street, the scrim in place, I was thrilled because instead of seeing scaffolding, poles, wires and planking -  it looked like Independence Hall.

I walk by the Hall at least twice a week and many, many times have been requested by park visitors to “take the family vacation picture”.   And not once has anyone whined about Independence Hall being under construction - mostly they are just happy to be here and pleased to have their picture taken in front of the place the United States was started.  And that’s because of the scrim.

See… I said it was a good thing.

~ Tag Brewer
   Volunteer, Member and Supporter

Back to School at Independence National Historical Park

As a new school year kicks off we are starting to receive reservation for the Independence Park Institute education programs…….but perhaps I should start by letting you know that the Independence Park Institute is the park’s education branch.  We provide hands-on programs for students of all ages.  We offer programs on a range of topics including, the Liberty Bell, the Underground Railroad, and 18^th century life.  My two favorites, however, are our Archeology and Franklin programs.

In our one hour “Benjamin Franklin” program students learn about a few of Franklin’s achievements.  They get a chance to set their name in type, to learn the craft of a printer.  They try solving a Magic Square, a math puzzle that Franklin enjoyed.  They experiment with electricity and optics, to learn about the scientific side of Dr. Franklin.  The students explore Franklin’s desk to discover ways he improved life for his fellow citizens.  The students also enjoy playing a glass armonica to learn about Franklin’s musical talents. 

Another of my favorites is “Archeology: History Found in Pieces” In this program the students take on the role of an archeologist learning about James Oronoko Dexter through the few traces this man left behind. The students start with archival records that mention Mr. Dexter, though only a few records could be found.  The students next analyze replicas of the archeological artifacts dug up in Mr. Dexter’s backyard which was located underneath what is now the National Constitution Center bus parking lot.  In studying these items the students have to make educated guesses to fill in more of Dexter’s life.  While learning about this interesting man, the students begin to learn the excitement and challenges of archeology.  

We also provide professional development workshops, to better prepare teachers to use the park’s many resources. The next workshop is scheduled for this October to discuss the 2012 transit of Venus.  The June 3, 1769 transit of Venus helped establish the reputation of American colonials as effective scientists.  The wooden platform built behind Independence Hall to observe this transit was used again on July 8, 1776 to announce the Declaration of Independence.  Transits of Venus are rare (there have been 4 since 1761) so this is an opportunity for teachers to use the upcoming astronomical event to teach their students its historic significance and how to safely observe the transit.

The entire park is a great place to learn, but the Independence Park Institute makes that learning fun with hands-on, active programs for students and teachers.  Well, it’s time for me to get back to making reservations…….

~Jeffrey Collins

Education Program Manager

Independence National Historical Park
If you are interested in any of the programs mentioned above, feel free to contact Jeffrey Collins at
(215) 597-2760 or email inde_education@nps.gov