INDEPENDENCE HISTORICAL TRUST

IN 2023, THE ORGANIZATION CLOSED OUT OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR AND SUPPORTED INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN CELEBRATING THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY. DURING THAT YEAR, THE TRUST ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES: 1.) FUNDRAISING: COMPLETED A MULTI-YEAR DESIGN PHASE FOR EXHIBITS AT THE FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED STATES THAT WILL INTERPRET THE FIVE PILLARS OF THE EARLY ECONOMY OF OUR NATION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE CITIZENS. THE EXHIBITS ARE NOW READY TO GO TO FABRICATION ONCE FUNDS HAVE BEEN RAISED. THIS YEAR, THE TRUST BROKE GROUND ON TWO CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THE REHABILITATION OF THE FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE BICENTENNIAL BELL AT THE BENJAMIN RUSH GARDEN. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THE PROJECTS WILL BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR NATION IN 2026. 2.) COMMUNITY OUTREACH: WITH A GOAL TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE ORGANIZATION, THE PROGRAMS REACHED OVER 2,000 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND WERE OFFERED TO ALL AGE GROUPS AND EVEN SOME DOGS. OVER THE SUMMER OF 2023, THE TRUST, ALONG WITH INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK WELCOMED 40 DOGS INTO THE COUNTRY-WIDE BARK RANGER PROGRAM WHICH HELPS DOG OWNERS, AND THEIR PETS CONNECT TO THEIR NATIONAL PARK. 3.) EDUCATION: SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S MISSION TO EDUCATE, THE TRUST SUPPORTED MULTIPLE IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS IN 2023. 60 SCHOOLS WITH OVER 4,000 STUDENTS ATTENDED THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE A DAY CALLED HISTORYFEST WHICH BROUGHT TOGETHER MULTIPLE PARTNERS IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES FIELD AND LOCAL STUDENTS FOR A DAY OF LEARNING AND FUN IN THE NATIONAL PARK. 4.) TWILIGHT TOURS: THE TRUST OFFERED FREE, EVENING WALKING TOURS ON THE HISTORY OF THE NATIONAL PARK. OVER 1,500 ATTENDANTS FROM 43 DIFFERENT STATES AND 33 FOREIGN COUNTRIES ATTENDED THE PROGRAM.