Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia

LOCATION

The Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia is located on the corner of Market and 6^th streets. The entrance to a parking garage underneath the building is at 41 North 6th Street.

OPERATING HOURS

• Open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM
• National Park Service information desk is open until 5 PM
• Open 9 AM to 4 PM on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
• Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas

Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Independence National Historical Park.

National Park Service information desk at Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia

AMENITIES

Independence Visitor Center is run by the non-profit Independence Visitor Center Corporation and serves as both a Philadelphia and Independence National Historical Park visitor center.

• Information desk where you can ask questions and pick up a park brochure
• Get tickets for the Dolley Todd House, Bishop White House, and other Philadelphia-area tours and attractions
• Exhibit area
• Café and Pub
• Souvenir store
• Movie theater
• Philadelphia tourism information
• Restrooms
• WiFi access

Philadelphia visitor information and ticket desk at Independence Visitor Center

FOOD AND DRINK

Independence Hall has a snack bar on the lower level where you can get typical fast food items such as hot dogs, sandwiches, deserts, water, and soft drinks. There is also outdoor seating on the upper-level outdoor terrace of the Visitor Center building. Visitors are welcome to relax, eat their snacks, and and take photos from the terrace.

Independence Café at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia

EXHIBIT AREA

Independence Visitor Center has a small exhibit area with information on the history of Philadelphia and the historical attractions in the area. There is also a table-top map of Independence National Historical Park. There is nothing really worth seeing, so stop in only if you are waiting for a friend to use the restroom.

Exhibit area at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia

PARK FILMS

There are two movie theaters inside Independence Visitor Center that show two pretty worthless films. As with the exhibit area, stop in if you have nothing better to do or just need a place to sit and rest while enjoying the air-conditioning on a hot summer day. One theater shows three short National Park films (10 minutes in total):  a recap of the attractions at Independence National Historical Park; the history of Independence Hall; and a film that compares the park today to how it was in the past by using old and new photographs. The second theater shows a film that is nothing more than shots of museums, restaurants, and other attractions in Philadelphia all set to pop music. This film is also around ten minutes long. Both films are played on a loop and run continuously throughout the day.

One of two movie theaters at Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia

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