Become an Independence Junior Ranger
There are three ways to become a Junior Ranger at Independence National Historical Park. Ready for the challenge...and the fun?
5-120 Minutes Year-round
National Historical Park · PA
Things to do in Independence
The National Park Service lists 10 things to do at Independence National Historical Park. 9 have no extra fee, 9 need no reservation, and 2 allow pets. Each listing links to the full NPS page. Data is from the NPS snapshot of Oct 28, 2026.
Updated · NPS Data API
Find the Perfect Souvenir
Browse the shelves in the America's National Park Stores in the East Wing and Old City Hall for that perfect gift - for yourself or others. Participating in the NPS passport program? You can add to your stamp collection here!
5-20 Minutes Year-round
Get the B. Free Franklin Cancellation
Get the same cancellation on your stamp that Franklin used when he was postmaster. There's cool and then there's "B. Free Franklin" cool.
5-15 Minutes Year-round
Hear the Centennial Bell Ring
Do you hear that? Look up! Listen to the Centennial Bell ring each hour at the clocktower of Independence Hall.
1-5 Minutes Pets allowed
Listen for the Sound of Sticky Ink
Discover the pivotal role that the printed word played in the American Revolution and the founding of the nation as rangers demonstrate printing—18th-century style.
10-20 Minutes Year-round
Play the Virtual Glass Armonica
Of all his inventions, the one Benjamin Franklin enjoyed most was the glass armonica. Give it a try at the Benjamin Franklin Museum, where you can explore Franklin's life and legacy through his character traits (fee applies).
30-60 Minutes Year-round Fee applies
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Stand in Abraham Lincoln's Place
President-elect Abraham Lincoln made a stop at Independence Hall in 1861 as he journeyed to Washington D.C. for his inauguration. Today, a plaque outside Independence Hall indicates where Lincoln stood when he raised the flag that day.
15-20 Minutes Year-round
Take a "Bell-fie"
Come see the international symbol of freedom in all its glory. Learn about the Liberty Bell's legacy as a symbol of protest and celebration, from its humble beginnings as the State House bell to its use as a rallying cry to end slavery and an inspiration to…
15-55 Minutes Year-round
Tour Independence Hall
Take a ranger-led tour of the birthplace of the United States. Hear stories of conflict, compromise, and the complicated business of making a nation.
20-35 Minutes Year-round Reservation required
Walk in Ona Judge's Footsteps
Find the footsteps in the ground at the President’s House Site. They represent Martha Washington's enslaved maid's flight to freedom. Look for Oney Judge’s name, and the names of eight other enslaved servants, on the wall nearby.
5-15 Minutes Year-round Pets allowed
Before you go
Check current alerts and closures, entrance fees and operating hours for Independence. Programs and tours can change with the season or be cancelled on short notice — confirm on the NPS page before you plan around one.
Things to do at nearby parks
- Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site (PA)
- Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail (MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, VA, DC)
- Valley Forge National Historical Park (PA)
- Morristown National Historical Park (NJ)
- Appalachian National Scenic Trail (CT, GA, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV)
- Statue Of Liberty National Monument (NY)
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Sources
- National Park Service Data API — things to do, snapshot of Oct 28, 2026. Descriptions are short excerpts; photos are NPS photos shown from nps.gov with their credit.
- Independence National Historical Park — things to do on nps.gov