About the Independence Park Institute

The Independence Park Institute (IPI) offers education programs that connect participants of all ages to the resources and stories of Independence National Historical Park.

The educational goals of the Independence Park Institute include: providing hands-on, interactive school programs for learners of all ages providing trip planning resources for teachers and group leaders conducting professional development workshops for teachers creating standards-based education materials that teachers can use to make their students’ experience more relevant and meaningful while at the park

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IPI School Programs Menu

Please scroll down for more information about our education facilities and about the partner organizations that support the Independence Park Institute (IPI).

The Independence Park Institute (IPI) will be housed in two facilities in Independence National Historical Park: the Independence Living History Center and 325 Walnut Street.

The IPI Education Center at the Independence Living History Center is located on 3rd Street between Walnut and Chestnut Streets. Its three learning labs will give students the opportunity to experience hands-on, interactive programs about archeology, 18th century life, and Benjamin Franklin. Over 20,000 school children per year will be able to participate in the education programs at this facility when it is fully operational. The Independence Living History Center is a multi-use facility that will house the IPI Education Center, as well as provide live theater productions from Historic Philadelphia Incorporated’s “Once Upon a Nation” and a public archeology lab that will process and catalog artifacts from the excavations at the National Constitution Center site.

The IPI Education Center at 325 Walnut Street will have three learning labs in which education programs will occur. These learning labs will give students the opportunity to experience hands-on, interactive programs in which they can role play as delegates to the Continental Congress, explore symbols of freedom, or learn about Philadelphia’s connections and significant contributions to anti-slavery efforts in the 18th and 19th centuries. Over 30,000 school children per year will be able to participate in IPI education programs at this facility when it is fully operational.

Our Partners in the Independence Park Institute (IPI)

	Our partners play a critical role in providing and managing the funding that supports the Independence Park Institute (IPI). Eastern National is the primary fiduciary agent for IPI funding, and supports the IPI by seeking new funding sources and providing support for current and future education initiatives. In turn, Independence National Historical Park bears the primary responsibility for the overall development and management of all park education programs and facilities, known collectively as the Independence Park Institute.
	The William Penn Foundation’s generous support has made it possible to staff and operate the IPI during its initial program development phase. The Independence Park Institute Endowment, established through Eastern National and funded by the William Penn Foundation, will provide an ongoing source of financial support for IPI education programming and staffing. We hope that the principal core of this endowment will grow through the continued financial support of our partners in education.
	In order to become fiscally self-sustaining, the Independence Park Institute will charge program fees for pre-booked education programs at the IPI Education Centers. When both facilities are renovated and operational, over 50,000 students per year will be able to take advantage of exciting, hands-on history experiences in the IPI learning labs. All funds generated through program fees will be used to directly support ongoing education program needs. The park also plans to utilize volunteers and student interns to support IPI program goals.