History Independence Mall (Philadelphia)

1 history

1.1 conception
1.2 national park service takeover
1.3 renovation

history
conception

independence hall, newly demolished first block of independence mall, 1952.

the groundwork park area surrounding independence hall laid when historic sites act of 1935 adopted. before independence hall officially named national historic site in 1943, architect roy f. larson developed original concept site known independence mall in 1937. concept called 5-block mall extending chestnut callowhill streets, , incorporating approaches benjamin franklin bridge. , backed independence hall association , president, judge edwin o. lewis. in 1947, national park being assembled around independence hall, lewis advocated federal government purchase 3 blocks north of historic building park. national park service (nps) interested in purchasing first block. plan rejected, lewis took idea of three-block mall pennsylvania general assembly, convincing legislators build state park , monument pennsylvanians had died in world war ii, concept never realized.

independence mall state park created in 1950s intention land turned on nps. funded 40-year state bonds, construction joint venture between pennsylvania , city of philadelphia, , overseen edmund bacon, director of philadelphia city planning commission. couple hundred 18th-, 19th-, , 20th-century buildings purchased , demolished project. among these surviving walls of president s house – white house of george washington , john adams during decade (1790–1800) philadelphia served temporary national capital. building not demolished free quaker meetinghouse @ southwest corner of 5th & arch streets. relocated 30 feet west, 5th street widened. important note original approved design(s) mall created without involvement national park service.

the first block closest independence mall completed in 1954. design first block developed wheelwright, stevenson , langren, philadelphia landscape architecture firm. design, block featured central lawn surrounded terraces, walkways , formal allée of trees. next block featured central fountain , square reflecting pool. surrounded terraces , 2 brick arcades mimic first block.

the northernmost block designed dan kiley, landscape architect influential in modernist style. 1963 plan designed based on philadelphia s original five-city-square layout. each square represented fountains placed in scale center city map. surrounding fountains regularly spaced array of 700 honey locust trees planted 12 -6 18 on-center within brick paved plaza. trees failed due tight spacing , urban environment; many removed, degrading overall design intent.

national park service takeover

independence mall, circa 1959. first block (foreground) completed. 1 third of second block completed, market filbert streets, , named judge lewis quadrangle. other two-thirds, filbert arch streets, become underground parking garage, plaza above. buildings on third block have not yet been demolished.

concurrent construction activities through act of congress on june 28, 1947, independence national historic park (inhp) created. when formally established , first opened public on july 4, 1956, national park did not include portion of mall. in 1972, mall donated nps , boundary inhp redefined. in 1974, ownership , operation of entire mall officially transferred nps.

prior 1976, liberty bell housed within independence hall. in preparation bicentennial celebration, national historical park advisory committee made proposal have liberty bell relocated outside of independence hall building not able accommodate millions of visitors expected. initial plan of 1972 relocate liberty bell south third street , chestnut, 2 blocks east, met resistance residents of city. alternate plan suggested in 1973 construct smaller pavilion north of independence hall between race , arch streets, plan met resistance. mayor frank rizzo suggested pavilion placed in block north of famous building. later idea prevailed , plans drafted construct new glass , steel pavilion @ north end of first block of independence mall near market street. designed romaldo giurgola in 1974, ground breaking construction occurred in 1975. later same year, liberty bell pavilion complete. bell relocated part of new years celebration , pavilion first opened public on january 1, 1976 @ 12:01 am. official home of liberty bell until october 9, 2003.

in 1997, independence mall state park renamed , known independence national historical park.

renovation

independence mall.

a new master plan independence national historical park developed landscape architecture firm olin partnership (now known olin). extensive redesign proposed removal of previous structures, except free quaker meetinghouse. proposed focus of proposed buildings along 6th street @ western edge of park smaller pocket parks along 5th street east. smaller parks along eastern edge, of raised above central lawn, provide more intimate gathering , sitting areas extensive trees , other landscaping. several straight brick pathways carved each of lawn areas within each block including 2 lateral cuts through first block corresponding ranstead street , ludlow street east of park. there meandering curved path connected southeast corner @ 5th , chestnut streets national constitution center @ north end of park.