Fund to Conserve Executive Director, Andrea Cochrane Tracey, and several colleagues from the Department of State’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operati
ons Office of Cultural Heritage worked efficiently with Crozier art handlers and National Park Services colleagues at Independence National Historical Park the week of June 22, 2026 to install the exhibit Marks of Friendship: 250 Years of U.S. Diplomatic Treasures Abroad at its final and most prominent stop: the newly restored First Bank of the United States which is part of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, PA.
On the evening of June 30, 2026, over 156 invited guests enjoyed their first glance at the new restored building and the exhibitions. In addition to the Marks of Friendship exhibit, attendees enjoyed Drexel University’s exhibit, America’s National Anniversaries: Philadelphia on the World Stage, which displays souvenirs and artifacts from the 1876 Bicentennial and 1926 Sesquicentennial (both world’s fairs) and 1976 Bicentennial celebrated in Philadelphia.
Ambassador Glyn Davies (ret), the Office of Cultural Heritage’s Senior Advisor to the Fund to Conserve participated as speaker along with Leo Salom, President and CEO of TD Bank U.S; Steven D. Sims, Superintendent of Independence National Historical Park; Dr. Rosalind Remer, Senior Vice Provost for Libraries, Collections & Archives; and Lee Woolley, Vice Chair, Independence Historical Trust emceed the remarks.