301PineStreet Project.
„I would donate the house to the Government if the Park Service would declare it a national historic site and restore it as they see fit and maintain it in the normal manner that they restore and maintain historical sites . We want no more , but we want no less."
Edward J. Piszek,
philanthropist, Polish community activist,
presentation before the United States Senate Committee,
January 26, 1972
In Philadelphia, at 301 Pine St, there is a house where Tadeusz Kościuszko lived during his second stay in America. It is now home to the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Memorial, part of the Independence National Historical Park (INHP). The national park itself is a place annually (before the pandemic) visited by 5 million people from around the world, a place dedicated not only to the history of the USA, but also to modern Western democracy. So many people can get to know places and people associated with the creators of the first constitution of the world. And, at the same time, the constitution of a country that could not have been created at that time had it not been for the brilliant engineer of the Continental Army, thanks to whose delaying maneuvers and fortifications at Saratoga, the army was not defeated, but even won, which, according to commanders such as General Horatio Gates, enabled it to continue its successes culminating in the creation of the American State.
The same engineer, returning in 1797, was greeted with 13 cannon salvos, and the crowd in the port, having learned that Kosciuszko had arrived, unhitched the horses from the hero's carriage and dragged it himself, cheering.
However, 200 years after his death, the place where guests from all over the world and all cultures visiting Philadelphia could meet the figure and wisdom of the great Pole is available only from April to October, on Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 16. At the same time, all fascilities of Independence National Historical Park are open all year round, every day from 9am to 5pm!
The point is to keep this place open and accessible to visitors to a greater extent than before.
Why is it important?
Visitors to Independence National Historical Park, commemorating the founding site of the United States, visit Independence Hall - the place where the US Constitution was signed, or Liberty Bell - a bell commemorating the founding of the US, which broke at the first strike - as legend has it, it will not make a sound until Freedom reigns over the world . Unfortunately, students (a must see for school trips) and tourists (from all over the world) visiting this place usually encounter closed doors when they want to visit the memorial site of one of the founders of the American state. And there they would know about his friendship with people of all colors, nationalities, status, sexes. About his mutual respect for them. They would also find out where this man came from, the world of what values shaped him, what the Knights' School in Warsaw was and what ideas it instilled in its young adepts.
In our opinion, taking care of Kościuszko's memory is a matter of our honor - Polish, American, human.
Five million visitors!
What has been done?
At the beginning of 2016, moved by the situation of the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial in Philadelphia, and in the face of the approaching 200th anniversary of the hero's death, a letter was sent to the Polish Embassy in Washington pointing out the bizarre opening hours of this place. Hours practically making it impossible to get acquainted with Kościuszko's heritage presented there. And Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia is the sancta sanctorum not only of the United States, but also of the whole democratic world. The Ambassador in office at the time became interested in the case and sent a letter to the Superintendent of the Park. The response was that the restrictions were due to financial and staffing difficulties. Later, letter had also been forwarded to the Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia. This organization made efforts to include Polish volunteers in the work at the Kościuszko Museum. Mrs Marie Hejnosz dealt with the case on behalf of the Society. From her came an informetion about the danger to the operation of the Museum related to the plans of budget cuts of the then new US administration. At the same time, Ms Hejnosz's achievements, obtaining all the necessary approvals for the group of volunteers who started helping at the Museum, as well as her personal involvement in it, gave hope. Closure of the museum was postponed. There were plans to make the space available also on Fridays. That was until the pandemic.
Time passed, 2017 passed, the anniversary of Tadeusz Kościuszko's death passed. Lectures and meetings were organized in the United States on this occasion. In Poland, it somehow passed without much publicity (how wonderfully the 100th anniversary was once celebrated!). Accessibility to the Museum has remained as before.
Unfortunately, none of the Polish institutions I turned to over the years, which I will mention here: the Embassy in Washington, the Polish Institute in the USA, the Polish History Museum (where a permanent exhibition about Kościuszko is to be built one day) or the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, as well as American: the Kościuszko Foundation, the US Ambassador to the Republic of Poland or even the Cincinati Society (of which Kościuszko was an honorary member - anointed by Washington), and finally the President and First Lady of the Republic of Poland, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, were not interested enough in the matter to change anything. I made contact with Mrs. Cynthia MacLeod, managing INHP - she explained the difficulties in financing the facility, especially recently, but did not exclude the possibility of cooperation, but as she put it with a "reliable partner". I was not such as an individual. I was unable to convince any institution to get involved.
If anyone expressed support and willingness to help, it was individual people from the world of culture and science - they gave me strength to continue.
What is there to do?
Give the efforts an institutional form - hence the 301PineStreet Foundation. My experience so far shows that you don't talk to individuals.
Gather support from individuals.
Put pressure on the institutions that decide about the fate of the museum. In Poland and the USA. The media is power!
? administration can't do it, can't we (the People) I do not believe that such a physically small and ideologically great place cannot be maintained by two powerful nations - for which Kościuszko fought. If
esemble Kościuszko, to be proud of him, but also to draw from the wisdom of him and our ancestors.R
How to do it?
This website is dedicated to these activities and will keep you informed about the Foundation's projects
To solicit and gather support for this goal.
Get media patrons.
Lobby, lobby, lobby.
How can you help?
I've bounced off so many doors over the years. It's very demotivating. And yet, for the reasons mentioned above, I cannot agree to forget about the man who to this day teaches us what freedom, equality and fraternity are.
Your support is welcome.
Financial - please, the action plans mentioned above will cost.
Above all, however, please express your support for the Idea. Give me/us wings. We will be able to say to others: look how many of us there are - how can you refuse our request - there is strength in many!
If you want, you can become an honorary member of the foundation and your name will be visible on the list of supporters of the idea. Write us.
Send a letter
If you can help in any way, please - help.
Write to: 301PineStreet@gmail.com
Now you can lobby yourself!
You can send a letter protesting the unavailability of the museum to the Independence National Historical Park superintendent - Ms Cynhia MacLeod.
Write to: cynthia_macleod@nps.gov
Pisz na: cynthia_macleod@nps.gov