MUSEUM OF THE ISSUE
Independence Seaport Museum: "Home Port Philadelphia" by Donald A. Wambold, Jr.
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he new Independence Seaport Museum commemorates not only the birthplace of our nation and navy, but also one of the leading cities of naval architecture, construction and commerce for nearly two centuries. It is appropriately located at historic Penn 's Landing in Philadelphia, where William Penn landed in 1683 and the first Continental Navy ship, the Alfred, was commissioned on 3 December 1775. Independ e nce Seaport Museum opened on 2 July 1995. It originated from the Philadelphia Maritime Museum. Seeking to expand its role promoting the hi story and culture of this historic city, the Museum leased the existing Port of Hi story building on the waterfront and expanded the standing structure with an addition for their library and education center for a total area of over 100,000 square feet. The building is of a unique contemporary architecture, with a multi-level terraced roof from which visitors have a panoramic view of the scenic waterfront. The Museum includes a 530-seat acoustical auditorium available for lectures and concerts, as well as "Workshop on the Water" programs featuring classes in traditional boat construction. In addition, educational programs designed to complement school curricula are offered. The library is an extensive research facility , with a comprehensive collection of over 12,000 photographs. The Museum's holdings include Admiral Dewey 's 1898 flagship, the protected cruiser Olympia, and the World War II submarine memorial Becuna. The elegant 96-foot motor la un ch Principia is also an acquisition of the Museum and is available for charter for
SEA HISTORY 85, SUMMER 1998
dinners and longer cruises. Yard also built the Coast Guard Cutter Independence Seaport Museum's per- Taney (WPG-32) , the last warship surmanent exhibits, "Home Port Philadel- vivor of the Pearl Harbor attack, presphia" and "Divers of the Deep," include ently preserved at Baltimore. Many other numerous interactive educational and ships were constructed here: battleships, entertaining displays. There are also gal- aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers , amleries for temporary exhibits on the first phibious ships, and small auxiliaries. and second floors. The actual bridge from the destroyer From the ticket booth the adventure USS Lawrence (DDG-4) is displayed, begins in "Bound for Philadelphia" as depicting the dangers on the open sea as visitors walk up the Delaware River on well as a general quarters drill, through an inlaid floor map, amidst the sounds of an audio and video presentation. 1ivertraffic. Upon reachingPenn's Land"Of Wood, Iron and Steel" explores ing the patron walks under a three-story the development of the Delaware Valreplica of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, ley 's shipbuilding industry, until its dethe first bridge built across the Delaware cline after World War II, through numerin 1926-four of the 14 longest suspen- ous displays and interactive demonstrasion bridges in North America cross the tions. The 846-acre Hog Island shipyard, Delaware River, as does the third long- built during World War I under the Emerest cantilever bridge. gency Shipping Act of 1916, employed Upon arriving at the p01t, visitors enter 34,000 workers, including the first female "Come to Ame1ica" and share the experi- shipbuilders. The famous Philadelphia ence, through audio and video media, of sandwich, the "Hoagie," was invented by immigrants from the late 1800s as they these shipyard workers and was initially traveled in cramped conditions on board termed the Hoggie. Visitors can observe a ships and arrived at Philadelphia's immi- ship launching in a two-story ship way gration center, to face the challenges of a and try their skill at welding and riveting new life, but one full of opportunities. in a simulated interactive exhibit. Then, in "Ship via Philadelphia," they "The Great Outdoors" depicts exexplore the exciting life of commerce and trade from the Visitors enter the Museum through a three-story model of 1700s through the present. the Benjamin Franklin Bridge (below). The Workshop on In "Protecting the Nation" the Water provides opportunities to watch or participate in visitors enter the gate of the boat-building projects (left). Federal Street Navy Yard. The Phil adelphia Navy Yard has along history as the mainstay of the fleet. The first United States Navy ship, the 44-gun frigate United States , was launched in 1797 at Humphreys 's leased Navy Yard. The Philadelphia Navy
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