[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE KOSCIUSZKO HOUSE IN HISTORIC PHILADELPHIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT A. BORSKI

                            of pennslyvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. BORSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize an important milestone in 
Polish-American history, the 25th anniversary of the opening of the 
Kosciuszko House in historic Philadelphia. The house, at 3rd and Pine 
Streets, serves as a National Historic Site and a National Memorial to 
American Revolutionary War hero and Polish freedom fighter, General 
Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
  In the mid-1960s, Edward Pinkowski, a Philadelphia historian, after 
hours of research, discovered that the house was Kosciuszko's home 
during the Revolutionary War. In October 1967, the Pennsylvania 
Historical Commission officially recognized the residence of Kosciuszko 
by placing a marker on the building and designating it as a historic 
site. Between 1967 and 1970, Polish American Congress Eastern 
Pennsylvania District President Henry Wyszynski, coordinated a national 
campaign among Polish American Congress state divisions to designate 
the Kosciuszko House as a National Memorial. In 1970, philanthropist 
Edward Piszek joined the effort by purchasing the building and 
successfully helping to persuade the 91st Congress to introduce 
legislation establishing the Thaddeus Kosciuszko Home as a National 
Historic Site.
  In October 1972, after a long, well-organized national campaign, a 
federal law was passed for the nation to accept the house from Mr. 
Piszek as a gift. At that time, the government appropriated $592,000 to 
develop the site as a National Memorial Site to be administered by the 
National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
  After three years of historical restoration work was completed, the 
adjoining house was purchased by Mr. Piszek and donated to the U.S. 
Government to provide space to accommodate tourist.
  On February 4, 1976--the 230th anniversary of Thaddeus Kosciuszko's 
birth--the Kosciuszko House was open to the public and became an 
official site of the United States National Park Service.
  Mr. Speaker, since its opening 25 years ago, the Kosciuszko House has 
been open to thousands of people who have gained a valuable insight 
into the role this Polish freedom fighter played in America's fight for 
freedom. It stands along with Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell as 
a stirring symbol of Philadelphia's honored role as the birthplace of 
America.
  Since 1967, the Polish American Congress has sponsored a tribute 
ceremony to honor Kosciuszko on the first Saturday of February so all 
people can pay tribute to this Revolutionary War hero.
  This year, on the 25th anniversary of the Kosciuszko House and the 
255th anniversary of Kosciuszko's birth, I am proud to recognize the 
dedication of proud Polish Americans whose efforts led to the 
preservation of this important historic treasure as a National Historic 
Site.

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