PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For the first time in decades, the historic First Bank of America in Old City will reopen to the public on July 1, just ahead of America's 250th birthday.
3rd and Chestnut Streets will be closed for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.
Originally chartered in 1791 under President George Washington and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the First Bank of the United States played a central role in establishing the nation’s early financial system.
It's been closed to the public for about 50 years. Now, after a $43 million rehabilitation project, the bank is ready to reopen to the public.
Jonathan Burton is with Independence Historical Trust, a non-profit philanthropic partner to Independence National Historical Park since 1972.
"We cleaned up the dome, the oculus, and the second-floor rotunda. It's absolutely gorgeous on the inside,” Burton said.
"So the trust we raised the first $4 or $5 million or so which paid for all of the soft costs we essentially got the entire project shovel ready which then we like to say unlocked a $39 million federal grant through the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy restoration fund which is intended for deferred minutes inside national parks so that did all of the preservation work and that project started November 2023 is when we broke ground.”
Admission to the First Bank of the United States will be free. It will be open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Park rangers will be available to talk about the landmark. The site will also feature objects from the U.S. Department of State and Drexel University’s Atwater Kent Collection.
