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Readying Philly’s historic sites for America’s big birthday | Morning Newsletter

And, it looks like Sirianni’s staying.

Signage outside the Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery near Independence Hall and Old City Hall (right, rear) in Independence National Historical Park in early January is one of the Philadelphia region's most visited areas, but the luster has faded in its grounds and buildings.
Signage outside the Second Bank of the United States Portrait Gallery near Independence Hall and Old City Hall (right, rear) in Independence National Historical Park in early January is one of the Philadelphia region's most visited areas, but the luster has faded in its grounds and buildings.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
    by Tommy Rowan
    Published 

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

Happy Tuesdee. The snow is gone, and the rains are coming. But today is looking like a cloudy bridge day with temps in the low 40s. Enjoy the dryness while it lasts.

Our lead story today focuses on Philadelphia’s plans to spruce up its historic sites in anticipation of America’s 250th birthday bash in 2026. And we’ll also cover the ever-clearer job status of Eagles coach Nick Sirianni.

Let’s dive in.

— Tommy Rowan (@tommyrowan, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Facelifting Philly’s history

America, Philly’s (getting) ready for our close-up.

The city will be a major focus for America’s 250th birthday party in July 2026, hosting not only a slate of Semiquincentennial events, but other major events that will boost visitors to the city.

And the crown jewel of this celebration will be Independence National Historical Park, the sprawling, 46-building monument to our nation’s history that spans 54 acres in the heart of Old City.

But those jewels could use a good tune-up and some TLC.

As the date approaches, the rush is on to make significant updates.

Important context: Independence National Historical Park contains some of the nation’s most historic sites, including Independence Hall, Congress Hall, the Liberty Bell, Declaration House, Franklin Court, Second Bank with its portrait gallery, and even the Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site. The sites draw a collective 2.5 million visitors a year.

Check out reporter Frank Kummer’s story for the full run-down of rehab projects.

Looks like Nick Sirianni is staying put

All signs point to Nick Sirianni remaining as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

For starters, Sirianni met with team owner Jeffrey Lurie on Friday to lay out his plan for the 2024 season, and he’s still employed. Besides that significant fact, there have been other indications in the last few days that hint at Sirianni’s return, including:

🦅 The coach will be at a news conference alongside general manager Howie Roseman on Wednesday, the team announced Tuesday.

🦅 He fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai on Sunday, according to a league source.

🦅 And he is planning more staff shake-ups, which are expected to impact offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.

🦅 And senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia, who wasn’t under contract beyond this season, is also “exploring other opportunities,” according to an NFL source.

Check out Eagles writer EJ Smith’s story for the full update on Sirianni’s job status.

What you should know today

  1. A 67-year-old man is set to be released from prison after serving 50 years of a life sentence. He was convicted in a 1974 bar robbery that left a man dead.

  2. Former President Donald Trump’s will be the keynote speaker at the National Rifle Association’s Presidential Forum on Friday, Feb. 9, in Harrisburg. It’s the first of many expected campaign stops for Trump in Pennsylvania this year. He came here often in both 2020 and 2016.

  3. Penn faculty and staffers railed Monday against a mega-donor’s campaign to exert influence over the curriculum, and urged school administrators to stand up for academic freedom.

  4. A resident of Society Hill Towers is in custody in connection with a deadly shooting inside one of the iconic high-rise buildings.

  5. Ryne Sandberg, the Hall of Fame second baseman and former Phillies manager, announced on Monday that he has been diagnosed with cancer.

  6. Worldwide, there are nearly a quarter million Jewish survivors of the Holocaust, and of those, around 1,500 live in the Philadelphia area, according to a new report.

  7. Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died Monday after battling prostate cancer. He was 62.

🧠 Trivia time

Which Delco diner was immortalized in David O. Russell’s 2012 hit movie Silver Linings Playbook, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Montco’s own Bradley Cooper?

A) Stargate Diner

B) Empire Diner

C) Llanerch Diner

D) The Dining Car

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re...

👋 Reading: Reporter Mike Klein’s looks at why Fishtown’s Dan “the meat man” Tocci Jr. is finally retiring at age 87.

👀Watching: Montco’s Joey Graziadei made his debut as The Bachelor, and the opening episode of ABC’s hit reality show started and ended with Philly women getting roses.

🛒Shopping: Restaurant critic Craig LaBan tests whether Zahav’s supermarket hummus is as good as the original.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: American comedian, writer, and actress.

FIAT NYE

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Karthik Bala who correctly guessed Monday’s answer: Num Ansom Chrouk.

Photo of the day

👋🏼 Thanks for starting your morning with The Inquirer, and have a great day.