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![\"Independence](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/NHMALL_independence_hall_07052025-1024x683.jpg\")
Independence Hall, the sight of many important moments in early-American history, on July 4th, 2025. (Nate Harrington\/WHYY)<\/p>\n They\u2019re just buildings
\nIndependence Hall, the sight of many important moments in early-American history, on July 4th, 2025. (Nate Harrington\/WHYY)<\/p>\n
However, the historical significance of Philadelphia\u2019s Old City didn\u2019t immediately resonate with citizens.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was still being used for other stuff by the Philadelphia government,\u201d Hopely said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t take on a purely historical role until the 20th century.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
Many of the early-colonial monuments considered historically rich and worth preserving today were demolished to make way for structures such as the Jayne Building<\/a>, an eight-story skyscraper that was one of the tallest at the time of its construction, and the Drexel Building<\/a>, which was built where the Library Company of Philadelphia\u2019s original location was.\n<\/p>\n How Independence National Historical Park came to be<\/p>\n More than a century and half after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the building that hosted this revolutionary moment was being overshadowed by the grandeur and stature of the newer buildings.\n <\/p>\n After World War II, there was a resurgence in interest in the American Revolution, Hopley said. It was then that Congress authorized the establishment of Independence National Historical Park. The city bought up existing buildings or the lots, most notably the site of Benjamin Franklin\u2019s home. The history fever was also spurred by the nation\u2019s upcoming bicentennial.\n<\/p>\n There were some, such as Judge Edwin Lewis, who wanted a full return to colonial-era Philadelphia by demolishing three city blocks. Others, such as architect Charles Peterson, wanted to highlight the colonial history while keeping portions of the newer construction<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n The problem was new buildings \u201cwere crowding out these historic sites that had, you know, potential to enliven tourism and link in with the bicentennial, which was coming,\u201d Ammon said. \u201cSo, it was perceived that they needed to go.\u201d\n<\/p>\n By 1969, 143 buildings \u2014 mostly \u201ccommercial and industrial buildings,\u201d according to Ammon \u2014 were demolished to make way for the park\u2019s mall and new construction, which included a pavilion that held the Liberty Bell. \u201cWhat we lost was a more accurate, material representation of how this city actually developed,\u201d Ammon said. \u201cIf we hadn\u2019t torn down all those buildings, there would be structures and sites to help us tell more stories about the history of Philadelphia.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/map_philadelphia_250_history_07052025-1024x476.jpg\")
The three city blocks to the right of Independence Mall show buildings crowding the area. Just under two decades later, most of these buildings would be demolished to make way for the Mall. (Map Collection, Free Library of Philadelphia)\n<\/p>\n