National Park Service Takeover Independence Mall (Philadelphia)

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.