But when control of the project was relinquished to the newly formed National Center for the American Revolution, the organization's leadership made it clear that it had no interest in partnering with the National Park Service or anyone else. It bickered incessantly with the service and did end runs around the partnership agreement, at one point embarrassing the Native American Oneida Nation. This is the bitter root of the problems between the organization and the park service, which were allowed to fester until as late as last fall.
After six years or so, the center walked away from the park service partnership and, later, proposed relocating across the Schuylkill to a difficult-to-access site within the park's historical footprint, with no solid evidence that it could succeed there.
Having done so, the organization promised anyone and everyone whatever they wanted to hear to achieve the approval of Lower Providence Township's zoning committee and supervisors. Now, those promises have produced nothing more than a huge township legal bill.
If all the parties involved think it's wise to move every major regional attraction to Philadelphia because of a perceived critical mass of visitors, I beg to disagree. The strength of this region as a destination is that it's so rich in diverse attractions; visitors can't travel more than a few miles in any direction without tripping over one of them.
Among them are the James Michener Art Museum in Bucks County, the Wharton Esherick Studio in Chester County, and the Barnes Foundation in Montgomery County - well, at least for a little while more before it, too, is moved to Philadelphia.
