Fully Renovated Historical Society of Pennsylvania Reopens To Public
By John Ostapkovich
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Historical Society of Pennsylvania is celebrating its new, $5.7-million look.
Dozens of people (including a class from Camden Catholic High School) entered the renovated HSP building at 13th and Locust today when the gates were unlocked at 12:30pm.
What greeted them were more creature comforts such as lockers and a lunchroom, better lighting, and an electronic message board in the lobby.
Acting president Page Talbott says that to mark the milestone, the HSP pulled out some of its treasures, "including the only known pictures of William and Hannah Penn painted during their lifetime, the first map of Philadelphia by Thomas Holmes, the printer's proof of the Declaration of Independence, (and) James Wilson's draft of the Constitution."
That and more will be on display during HSP hours, only through Friday, October 25th.
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Talbott says the upgrade also includes better security and movable shelving, which extends by a decade the date when the HSP runs out of storage room.
