PHILADELPHIA -- May 7, 2001 – Scottish-born Ruth Fletcher works at City Tavern, the oldest tavern in Philadelphia. She moved to the city in search of her lost love, but upon coming to America, she decided, "liberty makes a better husband." If you saw Ruth behind the bar at City Tavern or met her strolling the streets of historic Philadelphia, she would tell you all about life in colonial Philadelphia, where she lived in the mid 1700s. Ruth is just one of the more than 100 colonial personalities represented by Historic Philadelphia Inc.’s (HPI) re-enactors. They can be found throughout the region, telling visitors about the life and times of 18^th-century America.

To kick off the summer tourist season, city and tourism officials today inducted nearly 100 re-enactors as "Liberty Ambassadors" for the region. Waving flags of freedom, they were sworn in by Mayor John F. Street at a ceremony at Independence National Historical Park. They will now scour the region to greet the more than 10 million visitors expected this summer. Their charge will be to make history accessible to visitors and enrich travelers’ experiences in the region.

"We work to make history a living thing for tourists. They want to connect with the people of Philadelphia who walked on these very streets more than 200 years ago," said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

As the nation’s cradle of liberty, Philadelphia and its countryside have many attractions for visitors to see. The Liberty Ambassadors throughout the region will take part in colonial plays sponsored by HPI, including A Call To Arms, in which General George Washington and Ben Franklin induct children into the Continental Army. Re-enactors are also stationed at Brandywine Battlefield and Valley Forge National Historical Parks, among other sites. To ensure that the experience is authentic for visitors, HPI hires trained actors and historians. Some of the other colonials that visitors will meet include:

• Cophy "Cuff" Douglas, Tailor – A resident of #117 Elfreth’s Alley, Cuff Douglas is one of Philadelphia’s most talented tailors. He was born in Trinidad in 1758 as a slave who learned the trade of tailor, which led him to America. When pirates overtook his ship, he joined them and was freed upon arrival to the New World.
• Cyndi Jensen, Actress – A gifted English thespian, Cyndi now calls Philadelphia home. She can often be seen rehearsing new work along the city streets. As she struggles to find her place in America, she looks for work anywhere she can.
• Lieutenant Dietrich Aschensleben, Continental Soldier – Formerly of the Partisan Corps and a veteran of the French and Indian Wars, the Lieutenant is new to Philadelphia. He came here to fight for liberty and to train the local boys in light cavalry techniques and personal combat. A native of Saxony, he comes to Philadelphia via Williamsburg.

"We receive hundreds of resumes to take on the roles of these colonial characters," said Peter Criswell, Executive Director of HPI. "They take their jobs very seriously and are not just actors, but historians, who have studied the life and times of their characters.

By officially inducting them as ambassadors of the region, we’re recognizing their talent and entrusting them with the history of the region."

This year marks the 225^th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, making this summer an even richer time to visit. Official readings of the Declaration by colonial re-enactors outside Independence Hall will take place on July 4^th and July 8^th (the actual date the Declaration was first read). Activities will also take place in Valley Forge and Brandywine Valley, sites of famous Revolutionary War battles.

For HPI’s summer schedule, log onto http//historicphiladelphia.org.

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia and a complete listing of historic events taking place this summer, visit www.gophila.com or call (877) GO-PHILA.

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