At a Glance: The Independence Visitor Center (IVCC)

Feb. 12, 2008 - PRLog -- Start at the Center! Conveniently located in the heart of Independence Mall at 6th and Market, the Independence Visitor Center serves as the official Visitor Center to Independence National Historical Park, the City of Philadelphia and the surrounding areas of Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties, as well as the Southern New Jersey Delaware River waterfront.

Why Stop? Independence Visitor Center is truly the gateway for the region’s thriving tourism industry. From where to go, what to see, and how to get there, the Visitor Center has you covered. Looking for the region’s top historical landmarks? No problem, we’ll give you a list and directions. Looking for a little culture? We’ll tell you where to find it in virtually every corner of town. Need something that you’ll enjoy as much as the kids? We’ll give you more than a couple of options. Just ask us. We’re here to show you the best of what the region has to offer.

When to Visit? The Independence Visitor Center offers visitor-friendly seasonal operating hours, 7 days a week, 362 days a year:

Memorial Day – Labor Day   8:30 am – 7:00 pm
July 4th Holiday Week  8:30 am – 9:00 pm
September     8:30 am – 6:00 pm
October – February  8:30 am – 5:00 pm
March – Memorial Day   8:30 am – 6:00 pm
The Independence Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day.

What Does It Cost? Our doors are open to the public and all information is offered free of charge. Along with free trip planning assistance, the Visitor Center offers one-stop-shopping for every visitor’s need, and free wireless Internet access. Official guide books, easy-to-use touch screen information kiosks, event listings, and over 600,000 brochures and maps in the building are all free!

What Else Is There? The Visitor Center’s best kept secret is the expert concierge staff. With decades of experience in the tourism industry, the concierge staff can tell you exactly how to spend your time whether you’re in town for four hours or four days. After speaking with our concierge, visitors can also buy tickets for top attractions, browse through our Independence Store, grab a bite to eat at our Café, and find enough information to fill an entire trip from start to stop.

Need More Info? For more information, stop in to visit us at 6th & Market streets, or call 800-537-7676, or visit us on the web at www.independencevisitorcenter.com.

About the Independence Visitor Center: The Independence Visitor Center Corporation is a Pennsylvania non-profit, 501(c)3 organization which operates in cooperation with the efforts of the National Park Service, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The $38 million Independence Visitor Center opened in 2001 and was funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Delaware River Port Authority, the Annenberg Foundation, the Connelly Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

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About IVCC:

11/01: Independence Visitor Center opened

362: The Independence Visitor Center serves regional residents and visitors 362 days per year; seven days a week, opening at 8:30 am.

10,000,000+: Over 10 million have visited the world-class center since its opening in 2001.

600,000: Visitors to Independence Visitor Center have access to over 600,000 brochures and maps.

$0: Price of access to the Visitor Center, and expert advice from the concierge staff.

Website: www.independencevisitorcenter.com