Independence Hall is Rotting, Leaking

$4 million renovation planned

The crown jewel of Philadelphia needs an expensive makeover.

 Water is leaking into the rotting clock tower at Independence Hall, and that leak could cost millions to fix.
 
"The tower needs a lot of work, but this isn't something sudden that has just come upon us," said Jane Cowley, of Independence National Park.
 
Thousands of people visit Independence Hall every day. The tower was built in 1828, but over the years, rain and snow have caused the steel in the building to rust, which has rotted the wood from the inside out. Other building materials are showing disturbing signs of age as well, and the park service has installed a number of the devices to monitor the cracks in the walls, giving them better insight as to what's happening with the building and how to fix it.
 
Charles Tonetti's life work is keeping the historic building standing. He's helping draw up the $4 million, year-long renovation plan that will begin in 2011.
 
"There will be no impact for the visitor," Cowley said, "Except they get to see a really cool scaffolding around Independence Hall tower."
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