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The Story Behind the Creation of
Independence National Historical Park

On June 28, 1948, President Harry S Truman signed Public Law 795 creating Independence National Historical Park.

Under the leadership of Judge Edwin O. Lewis, the Independence Hall Association was at the forefront of the vision to create this national park commemorating the founding of a nation in Philadelphia.

In this jubilee year of the Park's creation, we felt that the best way we could honor the hard work and vision of Judge Lewis, William Lingelbach, Frances Wister, David Knickerbacker Boyd, and the other founding members of the IHA, was to publish their story for all to read.

The two chapters excerpted from Independence relate the fascinating and sometimes acrimonious turn of events that ultimately gave life to a National Park. The chapter titles are "Dreams for a Park" and "The Beginnings of the Park".

If you are interested in purchasing the full book, please contact us or phone the IHA at 215-925-7877. The book is out of print. We have copies to offer at $50, including shipping.

Click on this picture to advance to the first page:

CONTENTS
  1. Penn's Venture in Pennsylvania
  2. London in Miniature
  3. From 1790 to 1800
  4. The Seat of Federal Government
  5. Old Philadelphia Had Been Transformed
  6. The Future of Historic Buildings
  7. "Ourang Outang"
  8. "Sacrilegious Outrage"
  9. Another Narrow Escape
  10. The National Park Service
  11. The Second Bank of the United States
  12. An Upsurge of Patriotism
  13. Judge Edwin O. Lewis
  14. The Liberty Bell
  15. The Independence Hall Association
  16. A New Idea for an Old Shrine
  17. The IHA Moves Forward
  18. Philadelphia National Shrines Park Commission
  19. Charles Peterson
  20. Demolition
  21. Park Boundaries
  22. Grandiose Malls
  23. Society Hill
  24. The IHA's Better Philadelphia Model
  25. Franklin Court and the Graff House
  26. American Philosophical Society
  27. Lewis Was the Commission
  28. St. Joseph's and St. Mary's
  29. The Buildings To Remain!
  30. Judge Lewis's Masterly Public Relations Campaign
  31. The Beginnings of the Park
  32. History on the Losing Side
  33. Millions of Dollars to Purchase Property
  34. The Greatest Treasures
  35. Judge Lewis's Testimony
  36. Congress's Philadelphia Luncheon
  37. "Nothing But a Cheap Modern Hamburger Stand"
  38. A Park Is Born
  39. Land Acquisition
  40. Independence National Historical Park Advisory Commission
  41. Necessary Research
  42. Peterson's Ambitious Plans
  43. The Independence Hall Bell Ringers Association
  44. Custody of Independence Hall
Reprinted electronically with the kind permission of the publisher. Chapters 2 and 3 of Independence: The Creation of a National Park by Constance M. Greiff. Copyright ©1987 University of Pennsylvania Press.
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