In partnership with the National Park Service, the Independence Visitor Center has on exhibit a set of original Birch prints depicting Philadelphia in the 1800s. To publicize Philadelphia's prosperity and sophistication, artist William Russell Birch and his son, Thomas Birch, prepared sets of engraved city scenes and sold them by subscription in 1799-1800. In Birch's time, Philadelphia was America's financial and political center. Art, science, and philanthropy also flourished here with the creation of America's first hospital, medical school, art academy, fire insurance company, lending library, and scientific society.

Although time has changed it, the Philadelphia that Birch knew remains for us to rediscover. The set of 24 prints captures Philadelphia's handsome public buildings, vibrant streets and bustling ports. Some of the scenes portrayed still exist; others have become part of the urban landscape and some have disappeared.

The Birch prints will be on view to the public now through the spring of 2004, during Visitor Center operation hours in the changing exhibit area across from the National Park Service information desk.