Photographs
The 1960 view shows a portion of the land cleared by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Independence Mall, which encompasses an area from Race Street to Chestnut, and from Fifth to Sixth. Independence Hall is located between Fifth and Sixth on the south side of Chestnut. The Free Quaker Meeting House at the southwest corner of Fifth and Arch Streets (MG-R 1960) was moved to the west so that Fifth Street could be widened. Commercial buildings on the east side of Fifth Street (MG-L 1960) were demolished and the United States Mint was constructed on the site. It was completed in 1969 (for details see commentary, Plate 6). In 1974 the Commonwealth turned over Independence Mall to the National Park Service. The 2000 photograph shows the Park's Public Affairs Officer Philip Sheridan, standing on the future site of the National Constitution Center (near Fifth and Race Streets). He points to its location on the master plan for the reconstruction of the Mall. In addition to the National Constitution Center the plan calls for the erection of the Independence Visitor Center (between Arch and Market), the Independence Park Institute's Education Building and a new home for the Liberty Bell in the Liberty Bell Complex (between Market and Chestnut). Construction is scheduled for completion by the end of 2002 at a total cost of about $230 million.