Activity Overview
The Independence Visitor Center is located in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The National Park Service recommends it as your first stop when visiting the park and its popular historic attractions since it provides all the information you need in order to plan your visit, and is also the only place where you can pick up free timed tickets to tour Independence Hall. The visitor center also contains two theaters where you can watch free films related to American history while you wait to begin your tour.
Things to Do
- Head to the ticket desk in order to get your free timed tickets to tour Independence Hall, the historic site where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were created.
- View Independence, a fascinating film that focuses on the founding of the United States from the point of view of important figures of the era such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin.
- Take your child to watch Choosing Sides, which tells the story of the Revolutionary War from the point of view of four teenagers.
Independence Visitor Center Insider Tips
- If you want to make sure you'll get to visit Independence Hall, plan to arrive by 8:30 a.m., when the doors open, in order to ensure you get some of the limited tickets.
- Don't forget to stop by the Independence Store, the official gift shop of the Greater Philadelphia region, which provides all kinds of great souvenirs and gifts.
- When you get hungry, stop by Café Independence in the visitor center in order to pick up a sandwich or snack.
