America 250: Watch history come to life on Independence Mall

Updated 3 hours ago
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- It was a party 250 years in the making, as thousands returned to where it all began for a uniquely American day of celebrations.

Watch the video above to see it all unfold.

The Independence Visitor Center partnered up with Visit Philadelphia, Shop Rite, and others to provide a day full of family activities. This included the free distribution of thousands of cupcakes, which were used to form the shape of the American Flag.

A performance from the Philly Fife and Drum company accompanied the festivities outside and inside.

Free admission at the National Constitution Center allowed guests to feel transported into a Revolutionary encampment. Members of the Pennsylvania State Regiment of Rifles provided close-up lessons in weaponry, uniforms, and accessories.



Historic Philadelphia, Inc. deployed their History Makers across Old City. They interacted with visitors through their first-person interpretations of American figures such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.

They also presented a live reading of a portion of The Declaration of Independence behind Independence Hall at the John Barry Statue. In fact, such readings occur there throughout the summer on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 3:45pm.

Watch the video above as Action News Community Journalists Matteo and Nick Iadonisi capture a snapshot of the city on the nation's semiquincentennial.

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