Category Archives: National Historic Park

The Most Revolutionary Stroll in America: Independence National Historic Park

Posted on by
Reply

“We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal…”

Imagine a place where the ideas that formed a nation were not only spoken — they were voted on, debated, perfected, and signed. That’s Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — often called “America’s most historic square mile.”

Photo by S. Resendez

The park wasn’t always a unified place you could stroll through. It began as a scattering of historic sites tied to the birth of the United States–Independence Hall (then the Pennsylvania State House), Carpenters’ Hall, the Liberty Bell, and other landmarks. In 1948, this cluster of landmarks was officially authorized as a historic park. The NationalPark Service began administration in 1950, with the park formally established in 1956. Over decades it expanded to protect more of Old City and Society Hill’s historic streets — now about 55 acres of vital American history. This park is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site because it isn’t just local history — it’s world history.

What makes this park unique is not just the buildings, but the ideas forged inside them — the concepts of liberty, democracy, and constitutional governance that influenced nations around the globe.

“Must-see” areas of the park to add to your itinerary:

Independence Visitor Center–Start here. It’s the gateway — with free maps, park info, and orientation films that set the stage.

 Independence Hall — Where history was literally made: The Declaration of Independence was debated here, in the Assembly Room, in 1776, and the Constitution later in 1787. The same space saw debates on the Articles of Confederation, and the very chair where George Washington sat during the Constitutional Convention — the “Rising Sun” chair — still stands. This building testifies to how 13 colonies decided to become a single nation — a dramatic leap in human governance that shaped the modern world. Note: Tickets for guided tours are free but required during peak months, so plan ahead.

Photo by S. Resendez

Liberty Bell Center — Icon of Freedom: Across from Independence Hall stands the Liberty Bell, a globally recognized symbol of liberty and justice. Cast in 1752, its famous crack came early and remains its defining feature.

Presidents’ House Site: Near the Bell you’ll see the remains of the home where George Washington and John Adams lived while Philadelphia was the national capital (1790–1800). Recent exhibits explored the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked there, underscoring the era’s contradictions between freedom and slavery. This is history that cannot be changed regardless of how some people would prefer to do so.

  • Photo by S. Resendez

Franklin Court & Benjamin Franklin Museum: Honor Benjamin Franklin — inventor, diplomat, founding father. His house site and museum are nearby, with exhibits on his life and contributions.

The park today spans over 50 acres and ~20 blocks, from historic squares and buildings to restored streetscapes. The Independence Visitor and the Liberty Bell Center are open daily 9:00 am–5:00 pm. The President’s House Site is open daily 7:00 am–10:00 pm. Different halls and different buildings may have different hours or may be closed so check ahead before your visit.

Admission to most park sites is free. Entrance to Independence Hall is by both guided and self-guided tours. Check here for current hours. Guided tours require tickets that can be reserved through Recreation.gov. There is a $1 per ticket handling fee. Interagency passes do not apply to these fees. The Benjamin Franklin Museum charges an interpretive fee and the National Constitution Center, a partner of the park, charges an admission fee. Other museums and halls may have different fees and schedules so make sure you check before your visit.

MILE MARKER: Did you know that The Declaration wasn’t signed all at once? Despite the iconic painting, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t signed in one dramatic moment. Most delegates signed weeks later, and some weren’t even in town on July 4. So Independence Day is more of a publication date than a signature party.

HIKE IT!: No hiking trails here but you will walk! This park consists of 55 acres of buildings, halls, exhibits, and squares. You’ll definitely get some steps in!

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve: Where Glaciers, Culture, and Wildlife Collide

Posted on by
2
Photo by S. Resendez

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is more than a stunning wilderness—it’s a living story of ice, culture, and resilience. Once completely covered by massive glaciers, this area is still reshaping itself, revealing dramatic fjords and thriving ecosystems. Home to Tlingit heritage sites, soaring mountains, and wildlife from bears to humpback whales, Glacier Bay invites you to explore its past while experiencing its raw, untamed beauty.

Photo by S. Resendez

The time when the gradual shifting of glaciers began is now referred to as “The Little Ice Age”. It lasted for approximately 550 years and in addition to the extreme cold, there were periods of extreme climate fluctuation that made it difficult for any human beings to survive and thrive. Food scarcity and famine, disease and unrest, plagued the native populations and for at least the last 100 years into the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the Tlingit people were forced to gradually move off their ancestral lands.

But the shifting of the glaciers also brought out the mysteries of the land and suddenly, a new ecosystem was created which brought attention to the area in and around what we now call Glacier Bay. In 1925, when Glacier Bay became a National Monument, the land in and around Glacier Bay was the ancestral home to the four clans of the Huna (Hoonah) Łingít. In its attempt to preserve and conserve the natural beauty at Glacier Bay, the National Park Service (NPS) fostered new federal laws that severely impacted the lives of the indigenous people. Where they were once free to hunt, fish, and forage the land, new restrictions now curtailed, if not outright prohibited, the Huna Łingít’s ability to live freely on land that was once an integral part of their everyday lives.

Photo by S. Resendez

In December of 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act that created Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. After becoming a national park, the National Park Service and Hoonah Indian Association, began working together to reestablish and reinvigorate traditional and cultural activities. There remains a concerted effort to collect and preserve oral history amongst the Hoonah. And on the shores of Bartlett Cove, a cooperative venture led to the first tribal house to honor the Glacier Bay since Łingít villages were destroyed by the moving glacier 250 years ago. The Huna Ancestor’s House is open to park visitors and provides opportunities to learn about Huna Łingít history, culture, and their ancestral way of life.

Accessibility: Bartlett Cove has a few short trails, a public dock, campground, Glacier Bay Lodge with the Park Visitor Center on the second level, and the Visitor Information Station. These paths are not paved, and may have exposed roots and rocks. The Tlingit Trail provides a wheelchair accessible gravel path between the public dock parking area and the front of the Huna Tribal House. While navigable by many new wheelchairs, not all trails meet ADA standards. There is also a beautiful wooden boardwalk that provides access to a viewing deck overlooking a serene pond. This 1/2-mile section of the Forest Trail is accessible and easy to negotiate. For more detailed information about accessibility, visit the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve website.

MILE MARKER: When Captain George Vancouver sailed by in 1794, he didn’t discover Glacier Bay as we know it — because it was completely covered by ice. A single glacier more than 100 miles long and 4,000 feet thick filled the entire bay. By the late 1800s, the ice had already retreated over 30 miles, revealing the stunning fjords and waterways we see today.

HIKE IT!:Several hiking trails are available to hike during your visit to Glacier Bay. You can view, or print, Bartlett Cove Trails Map for a simple visual of the shorter hiking trails. You can also visit the hiking page at the Glacier Bay NPS site. The best known hike at Glacier Bay would probably be the Forest Trail. It’s a 1 mile loop trail that’s rated as easy. The terrain is mostly flat and trail surface varies between dirt, gravel and boardwalk. There are benches and viewing platforms so factor in time to have a seat and enjoy nature. There is also a ranger led guided walk along this trail every afternoon.

Hiking Forest Trail GBNP Photo by S. Resendez

Harpers Ferry: The Spark That Lit the Civil War

Posted on by
Reply
View of the Shenandoah River from the Murphy-Chambers Farm Overlook. Photo courtesy of NPS/Autumn Cook

Near the area where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet, a group of nineteen men, led by Captain John Brown, invaded the arsenal at Harpers Ferry. The group then took several of the residents of the surrounding neighborhood as prisoners, while emancipating several slaves, and held off United States troops, under the command of Colonel Robert E. Lee, for almost 30 hours, before finally being captured, wounded, or killed. Captain John Brown was captured, tried, convicted, and executed for high treason and inciting slaves to insurrection. While this endeavor appears to have been a failure, the actions of the Captain and the men who accompanied him helped to launch the United States into the Civil War.

Captain John Brown Photo by S. Resendez

Because Harpers Ferry was chosen by George Washington to be the location of the 2nd national armory in the US at that time, Harpers Ferry was a prime spot for a faction to seize control. Between 1861 and 1865, the town of Harpers Ferry changed hands eight times. Strategically located at the confluence of two rivers and two railway lines, the arsenal at Harpers Ferry and its strategic location made it a hotbed of invasion and occupation that continued throughout the Civil War. In October of 1867, after the Civil War, Storer College was founded. It became the first higher education institution in West Virginia open to African Americans.

From 1909-1968, John Brown Fort stood on the site of Storer College on Camp Hill in Harpers Ferry. In this circa 1915 photograph, Storer College students, faculty members, and their families pose in front of the fort during an evening choral session. Year: 1915. Image Credit: Historic Photo Collection, Harpers Ferry NHP.

African American families continue to maintain their deep connections to the area in and around Harpers Ferry and today, more than 250 years after the first family settled the area, Jefferson County still boasts the longest established African American community in the state of Virginia.

In 1944, Harpers Ferry National Monument was authorized by Congress and in 1963, the park was renamed Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Today, Harpers Ferry is not only a significant historical site, it also boasts a wide and varied ecosystem that encompasses a deciduous forest, flood plains, mountains, rivers, streams, wetlands, marshes, and swamps. “The park is home to approximately 14 amphibian,18 reptile, 36 mammal, 30 spider, 43 fish, 174 bird, and 276 insect species.”

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is open year round with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1. The Visitor Center is located at 171 Shoreline Drive, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 and is open daily from 9a to 5p. Shuttle buses run every day the park is open, every 10-15 minutes. Park museums/exhibits and restrooms in the historic Lower Town are open daily from 9 a to 5 p. Hours change seasonally so make sure you visit the website or call for the most up to date information.

Accessibility: The park has two wheelchairs available that may be borrowed by visitors upon request. The park’s shuttle buses are equipped for those with physical limitations. The buses kneel and have lifts to accommodate those who are unable to utilize the stairs. For more details on accessibility for physical, hearing loss, low vision/blindness, please check the website.

MILE MARKER:  Harpers Ferry is an anchor point on the Lewis & Clark National Historical Trail. It served as the starting point for the Corps of Discovery’s journey westward on the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1803.

HIKE IT!: There are several trails with varying levels of length and difficulty ranging from 1 mile to 6.5 miles long. Be sure to check out the hiking page of the Harpers Ferry NPS website for detailed information on the hikes and the Appalachian Trail!

Loudoun Heights Trail in the fall Photo courtesy NPS / Volunteer Devin Taggart