The Story Behind the Creation of Independence National Historical Park

Excerpted from Independence: The Creation of a National Park

On June 28, 1948, President Harry S Truman signed Public Law 795 creating Independence National Historical Park.

Under the leadership of Judge Edwin O. Lewis, the Independence Hall Association was at the forefront of the vision to create this national park commemorating the founding of a nation in Philadelphia.

To honor the hard work and vision of Judge Lewis, William Lingelbach, Frances Wister, David Knickerbacker Boyd, and the other founding members of the IHA, we're publishing their story for all to read.

The two chapters excerpted from Independence relate the fascinating and sometimes acrimonious turn of events that ultimately gave life to a National Park. The chapter titles are "Dreams for a Park" and "The Beginnings of the Park".

Click on this picture to advance to the first page:

Reprinted electronically with the kind permission of the publisher. Chapters 2 and 3 of Independence: The Creation of a National Park by Constance M. Greiff. Copyright ©1987 University of Pennsylvania Press.