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Mission:
The National Liberty Museum works to defuse violence and bigotry by celebrating
America's heritage of freedom and tolerance. Using the stories of more than 1000
heroes of liberty and democracy worldwide, our galleries seek to inspire visitors
on an individual level. A resource for more than 2,000 children every month, the
Museum's Education Department features interactive diversity and conflict-resolution
training. |
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Location:
321 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA - the heart of the city's historic area. |
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Highlights:
Includes over 100 original paintings, bronzes, and glass sculptures to represent
the fragile nature of liberty. The National Liberty Museum is the first institution
in the world to correlate freedom with glass for the purpose of protecting our society
from violence. |
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Description:
Approximately 30,000 square feet of exhibit space. Contains eight galleries, including
a meeting hall, gift shop and education center/resource room. |
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Exhibit Areas Include:
- Let Freedom Ring celebrates the rewards and responsibilities of living in a free society.
- Heroes from Around the World pays tribute to heroes and heroines from our ancestral homelands.
- From Conflict to Harmony is dedicated to helping people rise above hatred, prejudice and violence
- Coming to America explores the diverse ethnic roots brought together to create the United States.
- Education Center includes inspirational sculptures, Chihuly glass and other exhibits which
introduce students to the Museum's themes.
- Voyage to Liberty Through Faith traces the roots of our democracy to the Bible.
- Heroes of September 11 pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attack on America.
- Exceptional Americans honors outstanding citizens with disabilities
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Featured Programs:
- Young Heroes Award - This annual award recognizes young people who work for positive change
in their communities through art and creative writing, leadership, volunteer work, political/civic
involvement or peer mediation.
- Anti-Violence Coalition - Formed to examine the many faces of violence, this coalition meets
regularly for panel discussions such as "Kids and Violence," "In God We Trust: Faith Based
Initiatives Vs. the Constitution" and "The Philadelphia Experience: The Reality of Gun Violence
in the City of Brotherly Love."
- Spirit of Liberty Award : Bestowed annually at the Spirit of Liberty gala, this honor recognizes
individuals who have supported humanitarian initiatives, promoted the responsibilities of a free
society and celebrated the diversity of the American experience.
- "Glass Now" Auction: This yearly event highlights the Museum's efforts to represent the
fragile qualities of freedom with original glass art.
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Museum Hours:
Winter: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Summer: open 7 days a week 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Call for evening hours and schedule on holidays. |
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Admission:
- $7 adults; $6 seniors; $5 students and teachers.
- Children ages 5-17 with an adult $2.00.
- Children under 5 years no charge.
- "Family Admission" $15, includes two adults and their children.
- Museum members are admitted free.
- Call for group tour information.
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Opened to the Public:
Wednesday, January 12, 2000 |
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Hero Highlights:
The stories of more than 1000 heroes inspire Museum visitors to create peace and
tolerance in their own lives. One interactive exhibit introduces visitors to 200
American heroes of the 20th Century... "Heroes from Around the World" houses
inspiring men and women from our ancestral homeland... and the young people whose
heroism is positively impacting communities today are celebrated in
"From Conflict to Harmony." |
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Some highlights from this impressive group of men and women:
American Heroes of the 20th Century State-of-the-art touch screen computers provide biographical highlights
of 200 diverse Americans. Several of the most recognized names include:
Oprah Winfrey, the popular talk show host who created her "Angel Network" to help those in need.
Jonas Salk, the scientific genius who gave the polio vaccine to the world.
Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play major league baseball.
Lee Iacocca, the son of Italian immigrants who personified the American Dream by becoming a leader
in the automobile industry.
Cesar Chavez, who created the first farm workers' union for Hispanic immigrants.
Itzhak Perlman, the extraordinary violinist who survived polio and became an advocate for involving
the disabled in the world of music.
Also includes an entire display on the 18 American Nobel Peace Prize Winners, from Theodore Roosevelt in 1906
to Jody Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines in 1997. |
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"Heroes from Around the World"
This gallery includes full-size dioramas of 15 extraordinary heroes from our ancestral homelands, plus a Wall of Honor
featuring 26 additional heroes from Latin America, Asia and developing nations. Some of the notable figures in this
gallery include:
- Pope John XXIII of Italy who advocated understanding among people of all faiths.
- Winston Churchill of Great Britain who inspired his country to hold out against the Nazis.
- Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin who established peace between Egypt and Israel.
- Miep Geis of the Netherlands who hid Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis.
- Mother Teresa of Macedonia who dedicated her life to the poor, sick and dying throughout the world.
- Nelson Mandela of South Africa who spent 26 years in prison and emerged as a national leader.
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Conflict Resolution Highlights:
Museum educators use unique techniques and exhibits to defuse violence and bigotry - before it starts - with children:
- The Trauma Room - A life-size photo takes visitors inside the emergency room and shows the reality of violence.
Includes actual x-rays from a gun shot victim and a display of bullets strong enough to pass through steel.
- Shredder - The machine that devours unkind words. Teasing is the precursor to physical acts of violence and if left
unchecked, hatred can grow stronger and stronger. We invite our visitors to "shred it and forget it" and replace the
unkind words they've spoken or heard with messages of hope.
- Jellybean People - The clearest message about prejudice our visitors will ever see. Two life-size children made of
multicolored jellybeans show that people are all the same inside, regardless of the color of their skin.
- Young Heroes Conflict Resolution Award - This massive green pyramid illustrates the three sides to every conflict:
"your side," "my side," and "our side," the compromise we make to avoid confrontation.
- Kids Vote - Voting machines ask children to take a stand on issues such as handgun laws and the death penalty.
Although Americans can't vote until age 18, here children commit to cast their ballots as soon as they are eligible.
- Bridge of Forgiveness - Intentionally uneven, this bridge illustrates the difficult challenge of forgiving others
- and accepting others' forgiven
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Art Highlights from the Museum's permanent collection:
- Flame of Liberty - This 20-foot red glass chandelier serves as a stunning reminder of the eternal quest
for freedom. Created for the Museum by world renowned artist Dale Chihuly, this extraordinary symbol of
liberty spans two floors.
- Jellybean People - Two life-size children made entirely of jellybeans by artist Sandy Skoglund illustrate
that people are all the same inside, regardless of the color of their skin.
- The Peace Portal - A dynamic 9-foot tall "room" canopied by an illuminated colored glass roof and held aloft
by four organic iron legs, the Portal is lit from within by a complex system including fiber optics.
- The Conflict Resolution Award - Czech husband-wife team, Stanislav Libensky´ and Jaroslava Brychtova´ created
this massive six-foot green glass pyramid. It depicts the three sides of every conflict: your side, my side, and the
best of all outcomes, "our side."
- Bigots Hiding Under the Flag - This daring representation of the American flag shows the boldness bigots display when
they claim the rights granted to them under the Bill of Rights, but withhold these rights from others. Created by
artist Czeslow Zuber.
- Wings of Liberty - A dramatic structure made of glass and stone by Philadelphia artist Ray King. It reminds us that
any goal is attainable when it is rooted in a noble purpose.
- Climb of the Courageous - This 12-foot bronze sculpture by artist Tolla Inbar illustrates how people can rise above
hatred and bigotry through courage and determination.
- The Golden Egg of Opportunity - Christopher Ries created this flawless sculpture, made from the purest glass. The Egg
symbolizes the hopes and dreams that brought our ancestors to this country.
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Key Principals:
- Museum President: Robert L. Byers
- Founder and Chairman: Irvin J. Borowsky
- Executive Director: Gwen Borowsky
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