32K Donation Keeps Philly Landmarks Open During Government Shutdown

32K Donation Keeps Philly Landmarks Open During Goverment Shutdown

VISIT PHILADELPHIA is contributing around $32,000 to the National Park Service to cover the expenses needed to continue to keep Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center open for three days. Travel and leisure is an essential part of Philadelphia’s overall economy. In 2017, 43.3 million people paid a visit to the Philadelphia area, spending a total of $11.5 billion—or $31.5 million per day—in economic impact. (Source: Econsult Solutions, Inc.)

The days between Christmas and New Year’s Day are a hectic time of the year for INHP. The Independence Visitor Center is run separately from the INHP and anticipates somewhere between 70,000 and 100,000 guests around Christmas and New Year’s Day. An estimated 25,000 visitors frequently visit Independence Hall as well as the Liberty Bell Center around the extended weekend (Friday thru Sunday) before New Year celebrations. Because the partial federal government shutdown started on December 22, 2018, guests were not able to tour Independence Hall or the Liberty Bell Center. City and tourism representatives felt it was worthwhile to keep the essential sites open.

Other historical sites and attractions around Independence Mall will not be affected by the partial federal government shutdown and are going to stay open throughout the holiday weekend and beyond:

• Independence Visitor Center
• African American Museum in Philadelphia
• Betsy Ross House
• Christ Church
• Franklin Square
• Independence Seaport Museum
• Museum of the American Revolution
• National Constitution Center
• National Liberty Museum
• National Museum of American Jewish History

Follow the hashtag #OpeninPHL on Twitter for information from Philadelphia destinations. Go to www.visitphilly.com for more details.