Independence Mall (Philadelphia)
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Independence Mall | |
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 Independence Mall in 2012, looking south from the National Constitution Center. | |
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area code | Area code 215 |
Independence Mall is a three-block section of Independence National Historical Park (INHP) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It lies directly north of Independence Hall, and is bounded by Chestnut, Race, 5th and 6th Streets. The south block is called the First Block, the middle block is called the Second Block, and the north block is called the Third Block.[citation needed]
Buildings and structures on the Mall include the National Constitution Center (3rd block); the Independence Visitor Center and the Free Quaker Meetinghouse (2nd Block); and the President's House Memorial and the Liberty Bell Center (1st Block). A multi-level underground parking garage lies beneath much of the Second Block, and a small open-air café opened on the east side of the block in 2008.[1] Public restrooms and the "Peoples' Plaza" (First Amendment Area) are located on the First Block.
Buildings surrounding the Mall include Congress Hall, Independence Hall, and Old City Hall to the south; the Philadelphia Bourse, the National Museum of American Jewish History, Christ Church Burial Ground, and the Philadelphia Mint to the east; the approach to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to the north; and WHYY-TV, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, the James A. Byrne Federal Courthouse, and the Rohm & Haas Building to the west.
History
Conception
Independence Mall was the idea of architect Roy F. Larson,[2] and was strongly backed by the Independence Hall Association and its president, Judge Edwin O. Lewis. In 1947, as a national park was being assembled around Independence Hall, Lewis advocated that the federal government purchase the three blocks north of the historic building for the park. The National Park Service (NPS) was only interested in purchasing the First Block. His plan rejected, Lewis took the idea of a three-block mall to the Pennsylvania General Assembly, convincing legislators to build it as a state park and a monument to Pennsylvanians who had died in World War II.
Independence Mall State Park was created in the 1950s with the intention that the land would eventually be turned over to the NPS, and become part of Independence National Historical Park. Funded by 40-year state bonds, its construction was a joint venture between Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia, and was overseen by Edmund Bacon, director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. A couple hundred 18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century buildings were purchased and demolished for the project. Among these were the surviving walls of the President's House – the "White House" of George Washington and John Adams during the decade (1790-1800) that Philadelphia served as the temporary national capital. The only building not demolished was the Free Quaker Meetinghouse at the southwest corner of 5th & Arch Streets. It was relocated 30 feet to the west, so that 5th Street could be widened.
The First Block was landscaped with a 100-foot wide center lawn from the Chestnut Street sidewalk to the Market Street sidewalk. To the east and west of this were rows of oak trees and terraced plazas, providing benches and shade.[citation needed]
National Park Service Takeover
When Independence Mall was originally constructed, only the first block containing the Liberty Bell Pavilion was operated by the NPS. In 1972, the northern two blocks were donated to the NPS and the boundary for the Independence National Historical Park was redefined.[3] In 1973, all operations and maintenance of the three blocks of Independence Mall were officially placed under the care of the NPS.
Prior to 1976, the Liberty Bell was housed within Independence Mall. In preparation for the Bicentennial celebration, the National Historical Park Advisory Committee made a proposal to have the Liberty Bell relocated outside of Independence Hall as the building was not able to accommodate the millions of visitors expected. The initial plan of 1972 to relocate the Liberty Bell to South Third Street and Chestnut, two blocks east, was met with resistance from residents of the city. An alternate plan was suggested in 1973 to construct a smaller pavilion north of Independence Hall between Race and Arch Streets, but that plan was also met with resistance. Mayor Frank Rizzo then suggested that the pavilion be placed in the block immediately north of the famous building. It was this later idea that prevailed and the plans were drafted to construct the new glass and steel pavilion at the north end of the first block of Independence Mall near Market Street. Designed by Romaldo Giurgola in 1974, ground breaking for construction occurred early in 1975. Later the same year, the Liberty Bell Pavilion would be complete. The bell was relocated as part of the New Years Even celebration and the Pavillion first opened to the public on January 1, 1976 at 12:01 am.[4] This would be the official home of the Liberty Bell until October 9, 2003.[5]
Renovation
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An extensive redesign of the Mall was undertaken in the 1990s and 2000s. All the structures except the Free Quaker Meetinghouse were demolished. The major buildings constructed were the National Constitution Center (2003) on the Third Block, the Independence Visitor Center (2001) on the Second Block, and the Liberty Bell Center (2003) on the First Block.
Current Layout
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Today, Independence Mall still consists of the original three blocks from the early 1945 concept. However, due to the redevelopment, several new features and buildings have been added to the overall design. With Independence Hall to the south, the first block north, between Chestnut and Market streets, is home to the Liberty Bell Center and President's House memorial. At the north end of this block is a large granite First Amendment area, also known People's Plaza, where citizens are encouraged to exercise their First Amendment Rights.[6]
The second block, between Market and Arch Streets, contains the Independence Visitor's Center, the Free Quaker Meeting House and a small cafe.
The third and final block, between Race and Arch Streets, is home to the National Constitution Center.
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Independence Mall in 2002, during reconstruction. -
Independence Visitor Center, opened 2001. -
National Constitution Center, opened 2003. -
Liberty Bell Center, opened 2003. -
President's House Memorial, opened 2010. -
People's Plaza.
See Also
References
- ^ Inga Saffron, "Changing skyline: Adding coffee to the culture," The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 4, 2008.
- ^ Larson's original plan was a for a 5-block mall, extending from Chestnut to Callowhill Streets, and incorporating the approaches to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Roy F. Larson map (1937) from Bryn Mawr College.
- ^ "A Short History of Independence Hall Mall". Revisit Products Blog. Retrieved June 23, 2015.
- ^ Greiff, Constance M. (1987). Independence: The Creation of a National Park. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 208-214. ISBN 978-0812280470. Greiff, pp. 208–14.
- ^ Medina, Regina (2005-11-15). "Historic Changes to Independence Mall". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
- ^ "People's Plaza". UShistory.org. Retrieved 2015-06-24.
'People's Plaza features the First Amendment, and provides electricity and other needs for groups to use the space for public assembly.'
External Links
