In 2026, the United States will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its independence.
To mark the occasion and ensure Philadelphia is at the center of the celebration, we are undertaking an ambitious project to design and construct a modern monument: The National Light.
The National Light monument will host the country’s most important conversations. This ground breaking space will be a platform to bring citizens together to reflect on the past, present and inspire the future of the country. This unique venue will host events, debates, speeches and performances that engage citizens across the nation.
Visitors to The National Light will be able to join a national conversation by recording their contributions throughout the grounds.
The National Light Dome serves as the focal point of the larger, publicly accessible site.
The National Light grounds will feature pathways activated with educational exhibits, quiet areas for passive reflection and stages for public engagements.
Feature Stages & Theaters (x2)
Citizen Engagement Stations (x12)
The National Light will be a space to express and capture diverse points of view. At the Citizen Engagement Stations across the site, visitors will be prompted to record their thoughts. Their voice will then be transformed into light and sounds visualizations that will play within the National Light Dome, along with their original audio. This call and response technique will draw visitors into the experience, and drive active participation. Screens at the Citizen Engagement Stations will present timeless and timely questions encouraging visitors to join the conversation. People can also join the conversation by submitting through their phone.
The National Light will pulse with the national conversation, representing the the collective input of all citizens.
At a time when the country feels consumed by differences, The National Light will act as a national town hall for public discourse to re-declare our common interests as one nation, indivisible, and mutually pledged to each other to form a more perfect union. The grounds of the site offer a tremendous opportunity for a new, shared public space in Philadelphia. Throughout the grounds, (2) theater areas will be identified for diverse programming such as:
● Hosting public events and concerts
● Speeches, debates and thought leadership
● Performances and re-enactments
Profiles In Courage & Citizen Bravery
Stories of Americans who’ve risked their careers for what they believed was necessary to protect our country. I.e. Washington's speech at Newburgh shortly after we won the war against Britain where he convinced an angry mob of colonial officers who wanted to march to Philadelphia, arrest the Congress and install Washington as king.
Youth Performing Art Productions
Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech
President Reagan's Challenger Launch Address to the Nation
The Musical of 1776
The National Light will be a lens to the future of our country and citizens. The experience will utilize the latest technologies to inspire and invent a new model for social expression, bringing people together to share their ideas.
The National Light will:
● Make our government more relevant through public discourse.
● Host celebrities, scholars and influencers to engage in conversations about issues holding the nation’s attention.
● Gauge the national mood regarding current topics discussed in society.
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Preliminary conversations with The Pew Charitable Trust and The University of Pennsylvania History Department are underway to define how these esteemed institutions can lead the research and development of content for The National Light.
The National Light will provide a uniquely modern space for students and ordinary citizens to engage with history and civics. Students will experience analog and digital interactions that bring the past, present and future together by layering historical stories with their own contributions. Educational programming will be a cornerstone of The National Light experience and will include opportunities to:
● Make your voice heard on a monumental scale.
● Learn about patriotic sacrifices that moved the country forward via an immersive audio experience within the dome.
● Be inspired by past and present leaders at the Central Reflecting Pool.
● Connect with the nation at large by seeing all states and territories represented on site.
Whether you are onsite or across the country, anyone can contribute to The National Light experience. Users will have the choice to participate in person or using our digital platform via the web or mobile devices. These nationwide inputs will also drive dynamic visual and audio effects onsite, and establish an everlasting digital archive of the hopes, perspectives and opinions of the American people.
The web platform offers the opportunity to:
● Ensure accessibility to all users, regardless of physical proximity or access.
● Create a growing national archive of America thoughts and ideals.
● Access an evolving catalogue of information for users to explore and connect with.
● Create ongoing engagement with visitors before, during and after the experience.
Leveraging the latest technologies to engage audiences of all ages, The National Light is a powerful technology platform that supports a robust experience feature set, including individual immersive interactions and large scale events. This platform also has the capability to continually expand its offering over time, as functional and programmatic needs evolve.
To date, we’ve tested and proven out design and technical methodologies to verify our proposed physical and digital approaches for the following:
● A sophisticated sound environment
● Custom audio visual software
● A digital platform for web & mobile
● Connected spaces for film, live broadcast and public speaking
The core experience of the National Light is designed to leverage the latest hardware and software technologies. Visitor's voices will be transformed into sound and light through voice input and software transformations.
The National Light team is comprised of a set of experienced partners whose expertise spans across marketing, operations, experience design, engineering and construction.
ESI Design has defined the field of experience design for over 40 years. We transform places into experiences by artfully blending audience, story, technology, and media into physical spaces.
Our studio has talent across a wide range of disciplines—creative technologists, systems designers, storytellers, architects, and graphic designers, and project managers who take our designs from concept to implementation.
Pennoni Partners for what's possible. As a multidisciplinary firm, Pennoni has the ability to approach engineering challenges from a wider spectrum of angles than most. From land development to energy management, our expertise runs deep and our passion for problem-solving runs even deeper.
Ally Management Partners is a Philadelphiabased, client-curated service with a combined 50 years of experience managing commercial real estate projects.
Ballard Spahr provides strategic legal services and business solutions of the highest quality, delivered with uncommon efficiency.They bring industry knowledge augmented by tenacity, initiative, and a drive for results— creating an outsized advantage for clients in litigation, transactions, and regulatory compliance.
Set in a cultural hub of Philadelphia, River Field is favorably placed in close proximity to other prominent cultural sites such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Barnes Foundation, The Rodin Museum, The Franklin Institute, and the future Calder Gardens.
It also neighbors the nearby Schuylkill River Trail and Paine's Park.
The Site is a total of 6.5 acres, with a flat, buildable area of just under 5 acres, excluding easements.
Please note, the use of this site has not been formalized.After an extensive site assessment of over 15 sites, it was determined that River Field was a prime location in terms of location & access.
Teams are ready to mobilize and move quickly over the next 3 years to achieve The National Light ambitions.
We will work with you to ensure your contributions are allocated to the project channels you want to support. Contributions to The National Light are tax deductible and can be multi-year pledges. We are honored to have you join this initiative.
General Operating Capital Expenditures Endowment
● Marketing and Operating Expenses
● Fundraising Initiatives
● Personnel Onboarding and Training
● Owner’s Representative Services
● Research and Development for Programming
● Architecture and Construction
● Technology and Media Production
● Hardware Procurement
● Fabrication and Engineering
● Site Operations and Maintenance
● Staffing
● Future Content Development
● Website Hosting and Maintenance
Target: $10,000,000
Target: $50,000,000
Target: $10,000,000
Celebratesthepast, Examinesthepresent, Andilluminatesthefuture.