Lights of Liberty brings history to life
The Delaware County Times, Saturday, July 5, 2003 

Another Philadelphia attraction that brings history to life in a dramatic way is the Lights of Liberty show, a nighttime spectacular that tells the story of the American Revolution.

Launching its fifth-anniversary season, Lights of Liberty Show is a breathtaking sound-and-light spectacular that brings the nation?s most historic square mile to life. This one-of-a-kind nighttime participatory experience takes place throughout Philadelphia's Independence Historical National Park and presents America's brave struggle for independence in an entertaining yet thought-provoking way.

The Lights of Liberty Show has received the Themed Entertainment Association Award (THEA) for its excellence.

Wearing headsets with 3-D sound, visitors immerse themselves in the drama of the American Revolution as it happened, where it happened. In this multi-million dollar production, they see, hear and vicariously live through America's history. They feel a part of history with spine-tingling special effects, like swirling smoke and flashes from imaginary musket blasts and the sound of horses? hoofs on cobblestone streets.

Visitors listen as some of America's most prestigious actors and journalists voice the narrative. A children's version is voiced by Whoopi Goldberg.

There are five dramatic acts that take guests through Independence National Historical Park, home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. The audience walks to five different sites within the park where they see and hear the images and sounds that depict the dramatic events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The 60-minute show experience begins and ends at the Liberty Center at Sixth and Chestnut streets, housed in the historic Public Ledger Building, where tickets are purchased and 3-D headsets, to be worn throughout the show are distributed.

After a show preview video is shown in the center, costumed "Liberty Leaders" greet a group of 50 guests to begin their journey back in time. The group is led past the Liberty Bell and along a show route where full-color, five-story images are projected onto some of America's most historic buildings such as Independence Hall, Carpenter's Hall, the Second Bank of the United States and Franklin Court, the site where Benjamin Franklin's home once stood.

Meanwhile, the story unfolds through synchronized digital headsets with 3-D sound that creates a realistic "you are there" experience.