Philadelphia’s Independence Hall is perhaps one of the most famous buildings in the United States and stands as an enduring symbol of American liberty and free government; however, before and after it served as the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and hosted the Constitutional Convention, the building served as the Pennsylvania State House and an important political and social building. Today, the historic structure is open to the public and offers tours that highlight the role Independence Hall played in Pennsylvania’s history and the founding of the United States of America.
History
The Pennsylvania Colony grew rapidly in the early 1700s and soon needed a proper state house to carry out government functions. Although funds were appropriated for the construction of a state house in 1729, a disagreement on the location and design of the building led to a three year delay. Thus, it wasn’t until 1732 that construction began on Pennsylvania’s new Provincial State House. Edmund Woolley designed the building and worked closely with Andrew Hamilton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly.
The building process took over three years and it wasn’t until the autumn of 1735 that the Assembly met in the new building (despite it not being fully complete). Various construction projects continued until 1748, which included the building of wings on either side of the main building to store and safeguard state papers and documents. By 1750, it was decided to build a tower with a staircase and belfry, which was completed in 1753- the now-famous “Liberty Bell” was hung in the belfry that same year. Additionally, a clock was installed to “strike on the Bell” and mark time for the Assembly and the citizens of Philadelphia (this is the center tower that is recognized on the building today).
When construction of the State House was complete, it measured 107 feet in length with breezeways (also described as “arcades” or “piazzas”) on either side, which connected to two identical wings (both 50 feet in length). Additionally, mirrored fire places led to chimneys on either side of the building, which were dwarfed by a stunning center cupola. The first floor had two chambers on either side of a center hall (both approximately 40 feet square), which were used by the Supreme Court (western chamber) and the Assembly (eastern chamber). The upper floor was comprised of a committee room for the Assembly, a long gallery for banquets and larger gatherings, and chambers for the Provincial Council and Governor’s advisory body to meet. Truly, the new State House was an imposing structure.
Over the next 20 years, the Pennsylvania State House was used by the Assembly, Supreme Court, and other governmental bodies. As the colonies barreled towards war in the 1760s and early 1770s, leading politicians and social leaders were chosen to represent each colony in a congress to determine a way ahead. Because Philadelphia was the leading center of the American Colonies at the time, it was chosen as the meeting place for this congress. On September 5, 1774, those representatives met in Philadelphia’s Carpenter’s Hall- the First Continental Congress had convened.
Just over one month later, this congress adjourned and the fate of the American colonies hung in the balance. Tensions grew over the fall and winter of 1774-1775 and on April 19, 1775, fighting at Lexington & Concord marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.
The Second Continental Congress convened in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House on May 10, 1775. John Hancock served as the President of Congress and led the impassioned group of men who assembled there. In June 1775, George Washington of Virginia was chosen as the Commander-in-Chief of the American Army (not yet truly assembled, although thousands of militia gathered outside Boston). It was in that very Assembly Room that Washington accepted his role and solemnly walked out, unsure of the fate that awaited him. Congress remained in session until August 1, 1775, when they adjourned- a decisive way ahead had yet to be determined.
The Second Continental Congress re-convened on September 1, 1775, and debates over the course of the colonies were re-ignited (King George III’s August proclamation that the colonies were in “open and avowed rebellion” likely emboldened the radicals). This debate continued for months and on June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia offered a resolution to declare independence from Great Britain.
Richard Henry Lee’s resolution sparked fierce debate and the convention soon postponed it; however, a “Committee of Five” was established to draft a declaration. This committee included Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston. On July 2, 1776, congress voted in favor of independence (Lee’s resolution). Interestingly, John Adams believed that “the Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable epocha, in the history of America…it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival.” Time has proven Adams somewhat incorrect, because most Americans celebrate July 4th- the day that congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence. This declaration, largely authored by Thomas Jefferson, was officially engrossed and signed by a majority of the delegates on August 2, 1776 (a few signed it later).
As the Revolutionary War raged, the Continental Congress continued to meet in the State House. When the war came to Philadelphia in the fall of 1777, congress fled the city. In late September 1777, congress briefly met in Lancaster, Pennsylvania before settling at the Court House in the town of York from September 30, 1777 – June 27, 1778. During the British occupation of Philadelphia, the State House was used as a barracks for British soldiers; however, it was used as a hospital for wounded American soldiers after the Battle of Germantown. The Second Continental Congress didn’t return to the Pennsylvania State House until July 21, 1778.
Another important event that took place in the State House was the adoption of the Articles of Confederation on July 9, 1778 (eight states signed it on that date). The Articles of Confederation provided a loose framework for government, although it left many issues unsolved. During the final years of the war, many soldiers continued to go unpaid for their service. On June 20, 1783, angry militiamen marched on Philadelphia and surrounded the State House to demand their back pay. This near-mutinous act forced the Confederation Congress to leave Philadelphia and meet at Nassau Hall on the campus of today’s Princeton University. When the war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, the State House reverted to state control.
The United States, under the Articles of Confederation, experienced a tumultuous few years after the war (inflation and social unrest gripped a majority of the states). It was clear that the newly formed nation needed a better form of government and after some smart work by men such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, a convention was called for. On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention convened at the Pennsylvania State House- in the very same room that the Declaration of Independence was adopted just over 10 years before. George Washington was chosen as the presiding officer and the 55 delegates of the convention met in the State House over the following four months.
From May to September 1787, the Constitutional Convention consisted of intense debate and compromise. The delegates, who hailed from the cities and farms of New England all the way to the slave-run plantations of the deep south, had a remarkably difficult time agreeing on the big and small details of the new government. In the end, the United States Constitution that the convention produced was far from perfect and the delegates knew it. Yet, the nation needed a more structured government with a stronger central power, which is exactly what these men produced.
On September 17, 1787, the delegates signed the final draft of the United States Constitution. At the close of the Constitutional Convention, the 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin famously stated: “I have often … in the course of the session … looked at that sun behind the President without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now at length I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting sun.” Franklin was referring to a small golden sun design, which adorned the top of the presiding officer’s chair, in which Washington had sat during the convention. Another fun story involving Franklin emerged from the final day of the convention. As he left the State House, he was asked by a curious citizen what type of government they had established. Franklin supposedly replied, “a republic…if you can keep it.”
After a stint in New York City, the new Federal Government moved to Philadelphia and took up residence in the new City Hall (where Congress would meet) and the County Courthouse, located on either side of the Pennsylvania State House (the Residence Act of July 1790 made Philadelphia the temporary capital for ten years, before it would move to a new location along the Potomac River). When the Federal Government left Philadelphia in 1800, the government buildings were again used by the state of Pennsylvania, while the State House (Independence Hall) essentially fell out of use, largely because the state capital moved to Lancaster and then Harrisburg. Thankfully, Philadelphia’s City Councils purchased the State House and saved it from demolition in 1818. By the late 1820s, rooms within the Old State House were used by the United States Circuit and District Courts (this would go on until 1854).
When the Marquis de Lafayette visited Philadelphia in September 1824 (as part of his United States tour), the city planned an intricate welcoming celebration with the Old State House at the center of the festivities. This included a decorated Assembly Room, which was dubbed the “Hall of Independence.” Lafayette’s visit sparked a renewed interest in the founding of the United States and over the next few decades, Independence Hall was restored and preserved. In 1943, the buildings on Independence Square were officially declared as the “Independence Hall National Historic Site.” Today, Independence Hall and the surrounding buildings are open to the public and persevere as a symbol of freedom.
Interesting Facts
- Approximately 80-90% of Independence Hall’s exterior brick dates back to the 18th-century and the interior structure is almost entirely original (although it all has been touched up and repaired over the years)
- The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence took place on July 8, 1776, outside of Independence Hall (on the south side)
- The only original piece of furniture inside of Independence Hall is the chair that George Washington sat in during the Constitutional Convention (known by its sun on the back). Additionally, the silver inkstand on the Speaker’s desk was present during the signing of the Declaration of Independence
- The Library Company of Philadelphia stored its books in the upper floor of the west wing of Independence Hall form 1739 until 1773, when they were moved to nearby Carpenter’s Hall
- In 1865, the body of late President Abraham Lincoln laid in state within the Assembly Room of Independence Hall
Our Visit & Recommendations
Independence Hall (520 Chestnut Street) is the centerpiece of the Independence National Historical Park and one of the most popular attractions in Philadelphia (for a historic walking tour of Philadelphia, check out our post here!). Any visit to this amazing piece of history is sure to be an awe-inspiring and educational experience. We visited on a particularly stunning late-summer weekend and were able to spend some time inside Independence Hall.
Independence Hall is open daily from 9AM – 5PM and offers guided tours every 15 minutes. Tickets have to be reserved online at recreation.gov for a cost of $1.00 (a handling fee) and if you wish to tour the building, be sure to reserve your tickets well in advance (this can be done up to four months in advance). For more information on tickets, tour times, and dates, please visit the Independence Hall NPS website. Of note, dogs (other than service animals) are not allowed inside any of the park buildings, so if you decide to bring the pup along, be sure to book separate tour times so everyone can tour Independence Hall.
Generally, you are required to be outside Independence Hall approximately 30 minutes prior to your tour time, to ensure you are able to get through security and be ready to go (if you are running late, don’t panic- they enter the building exactly on time and will let you join up until the last minute). As I waited on the south side of the building (the side with the John Barry statue), I admired the remarkable brickwork and architecture of Independence Hall. My favorite feature is the pale green clock that adorns the four sides of the tower- to me, it has that quintessential colonial look.
As the building’s clock rang out ten successive bellowing “bongs” to mark the time of 10AM, my excitement grew- only 15 more minutes until I entered the hallowed halls! Before I knew it, our tour group of ~10 people headed into Independence Hall.
As we entered the main hall, which separated the two main chambers on the first floor, I was struck by the light blue interior near the door. After passing through the massive center hall, the tour began in the western chamber, which was used by the Supreme Court in Pennsylvania’s early years. This space is furnished as it would have looked in the mid-18th century when it operated as a court and I must say- the yellow walls really pop and are nicely accented by the forest green tablecloths in the space.
After a brief stop in the Supreme Court chamber, along with a history of early government in Pennsylvania, we were directed to cross the hall to the Assembly Room. As you walk from the western chamber, which housed the Supreme Court, you will notice that the Assembly Room is much more closed off and has a door. This is because its proceedings were oftentimes secret and privacy was needed.
That first view of this historic space is an unforgettable one! Although the room has been changed and renovated over the years (only the presiding officer’s chair is original), it is expertly furnished to look as it did in the 18th-century. In this room, the Declaration of Independence was presented, adopted, and signed. As if that weren’t enough history, the Constitutional Convention met here from May 25 – September 17, 1787 and signed the United States Constitution in this space. As the park ranger discussed these famous events, my mind began to wander and I imagined the delegates actually sitting in their chairs, milling about, and debating the future of America and the world. To think, influential leaders such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Roger Sherman, James Wilson, and so many others used this very room to hash out two of the most extraordinary and enduring documents in the history of the world- simply astonishing!
After the tour concluded, we were thankfully able to stick around for a few minutes to take pictures and look about. I stayed back for a bit and after everyone had left, I had the space all to myself- what a neat feeling to stand in that space in silence! Because the guided tour only includes the first floor (Supreme Court Chamber and the Assembly Room), we were soon directed to head out the northern door of Independence Hall. Be sure to walk about the grounds and see the many monuments, tablets, and other historic sites around Independence Hall. Of course, there are many other historic buildings nearby. Congress Hall is next door and offers free tours every 20 minutes, which you do not need to reserve. Additionally, Carpenter’s Hall and the First and Second National Banks are but a short walk away.
Legacy
Independence Hall has proudly stood along Chestnut Street for over 285 years and thanks to the efforts made by patriotic citizens, the historic building was saved from destruction, thoughtfully restored, and opened to the public. Due to its historical importance, Independence Hall was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Today, the renowned building attracts visitors from across the United States and countries around the world. If you ever get the opportunity to visit, I highly encourage you and the family to tour Independence Hall and explore Independence National Historical Park. By visiting these historic sites, we are preserving our cherished history and ensuring many generations to follow will be able to experience that history.
2 thoughts on “Independence Hall (Philadelphia, PA)”