Be advised that the NPS has issued alerts for this park.
Limited Restroom Availability
Restrooms are available at the Independence Visitor Center at 6th & Market Streets, the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets, and the Benjamin Franklin Museum (museum entrance requires a fee) in Franklin Court.
Congress Hall Temporary Closure
Congress Hall is closed May 19 through June 6, 2025, for necessary preservation work. Regular programming will still occur on Independence Square during the project; however, it may be adapted to a different space.
Current Closed Areas in the Park
1. The Signers Garden at 5th and Chestnut Streets. 2. The south portion of the lawn next to the Liberty Bell Center.
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were both deba...
Eighteenth Century Garden. The garden lies along the street between two sets of row houses and extends back to a brick-paved alleyway that runs along the rear of the houses. The entrance is through eight-foot-tall iron gates set in a high brick wall that stretches along the right hand third of the garden's width. The rest of the width is enclosed by an iron rail fence set on top of a two-foot-tall brick wall. From the gate a wide brick walk goes all the way to the alley, where there is another gate. On the right, between the walk and the brick side wall of the garden is a row of small ornamental trees with an ivy ground cover. As you enter the gate, a smaller brick walk leads to the left, through another ivy-covered area with a row of closely planted trees that have been trimmed underneath to form a flat surface about head-height. Past the trees the path turns to gravel and enters a section with geometrical beds laid out in four quadrants. Each bed is edged with small trimmed shrubs and has different plantings in the middle. The four corners have small trees while the others have a variety of flowering plants. A small sign near the intersection of the two main walks reads, "Eighteenth Century Garden. The re-created garden you see here incorporates many features of formal gardens in the 1700s. Neat pathways, geometric flowerbeds, small orchards, and gazebos are characteristic of early Philadelphia gardens. Volunteers from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society plant and maintain this area." Behind the geometrical garden area is a square gazebo with open sides and a peaked roof. Running along behind it is a walk covered by an arbor with vines growing on it. Between the arbor and the back wall along the alley is a grassy lawn. Near the intersection of the walk under the arbor and the main walk is a small plaque that reads, "Here in this lovely garden the chords of memory bind us close to the wise and good men who created our nation. Dedicated by Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson, June 10, 1966." End of Description.
The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were both signed in this room. No one knows the specific seating arrangement of the Second Continental Congress or the Constitutional Convention. Today you see the tables arranged in two rows separated by a center aisle with the northern colonies/states on the north side of the room and the southern colonies/states on the south side of the room.
The B. Free Franklin Post Office branch is a limited services branch of the United States Postal Service. If you choose to mail a postcard or letter from this location, the postal employees will hand cancel your stamp using Postmaster Benjamin Franklin's cancellation - "B. Free Franklin."
B. Free Franklin Post Office. This site may be entered from either Market Street or from the courtyard. From the street, the door is just to the left of the passageway with three marble steps in front. The entrance from the courtyard is located on the east side of the passageway from Market Street, which is to the left as you exit the passage. Sometimes this door is locked, in which case you may enter from the street. A six foot brick wall separates the entrance from the passage or carriageway which runs down the middle of the court. The plain wooden door has a low wooden platform in front forming a simple porch. As you face the door, the brick wall is on the left. A wooden bench sits along the right side of the porch facing the wall. A sign over the door reads, "B. Free Franklin Post Office." To the right of the door are two multipaned windows with wooden shutters. In front of the windows a stair descends to a cellar entrance below the main door. A wood rail fence with a gate at the right end encloses the stairwell. In front of the building is a small courtyard paved with brick. At the far end of the courtyard is a square garden planted with flowers. The east side is bounded by the wall of the next building. The south side is bounded by a solid wooden fence. End of Description.
Explore the life and achievements of this multifaceted founding father in a museum situated near the site of his home in Franklin Court.
Benjamin Franklin Museum. The museum is a one-story building that stretches along the southeast side of Franklin Court, facing the outline of Franklin's “ghost” house. The wide building is faced with brick. Attached to the front is an extension made of square glass panels that extends about two-thirds of the width of the building. A roof extends past each end along the brick providing a covering for the entrances, which are located at either end of the glass section. Another entrance is on the side towards the north end. The lobby is a long aisleway that stretches along the front of the building with plenty of light streaming in through the glass walls. Near the middle of the building opposite the glass wall is the information desk where you may purchase tickets for the museum. South of the desk, to your right if you stand with the glass wall on your left, is a set of stairs and an elevator which go down to the exhibits which are located in the lower lobby of the museum. There you may request an audio described tour of the exhibits. To the left of the elevator is another set of stairs that serve as an exit from the exhibit area. Farther to the south, near the entrance on the south end, is the gift shop. On the glass wall across from the elevator is a niche with a large glass panel providing a clear view out onto the Franklin "ghost" house in the courtyard with a graphic panel giving some of the history of the court. End of Description.
Explore the symmetrical planting beds and take in the scent of the boxwood hedges in this restful garden. The garden will soon be renovated to display the Bicentennial Bell.
Known as the Father of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, William White lived here while he ministered to the congregrations at Christ Church and St. Peter's Church. He died in this home in 1836.
Carpenters' Hall, home to the Carpenters' Company trade guild, served as the meeting place of the First Continental Congress. In 1774, delegates met in the newly completed building in response to the British Parliament's passage of the "Intolerable Acts" against the colony of Massachusetts.
Carpenters' Hall. This building is reached by way of a wide walkway that leads south from Chestnut Street to Carpenters' Hall. Brick pillars support an iron gate at the entrance from the street. A bronze plaque on the left pillar Identifies Carpenters' Hall as a National Historic Landmark. The walkway is paved with brick, except for a long strip down the middle which has cobbles edged with rectangular paving stones and a low stone curb. The area directly in front of the front of the building is paved with rectangular paving stones. The two-story brick building is symmetrical and shaped like a cross with short arms. Five wide stone steps go up to the main entrance with its double wooden doors, an arched fan light above them and a triangular pediment supported by half columns on either side. Bushes are planted on either side of the steps. A sign indicates the location of the accessible entrance around the left side to the rear door. An intercom is located to the right of that door. Please push the button at lower right on the intercom for admittance. The front entrance has a multipaned window with wooden shutters on either side. Above it along the second floor are three arched windows with a set of decorative newel posts below each one. Three flag poles extend out from below the middle window. As you stand in front, each side wing has a single window visible on each floor. Each of the side wings has a chimney extending above the shingled roof. Above the peak of the roof in front, an octagonal cupola is visible sitting in the center of the building. The cupola's dome is green and a weathervane sits at the very top. On the left side of the paving in front of the building is a small planting area with two graphic panels in front. A solid wooden fence painted white runs down each side of the building, which is surrounded by the brick paving. End of Description for Carpenters' Hall. Two waysides are described next. Carpenters' Hall Wayside 1 At the upper left of the left graphic panel is a quote from the By-laws of the Carpenters' Company which reads, "for the purpose of obtaining instruction in the science of architecture and assisting such of their members as should by accident be in need of support, or the widows and minor children of members." Down the left side text reads, "Carpenters' Hall, completed in 1774, was the meeting place of a group of Philadelphia master builders known as the Carpenters' Company. The Carpenters banded together to establish architectural standards, to set prices for work, and to aid members' families in times of need. "A visitor to Philadelphia in the 1700s would have seen many buildings designed and constructed by members of the Carpenters' Company, including the Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), Old City Hall, The Pennsylvania Hospital, Benjamin Franklin's mansion, and their own Carpenters' Hall. "The Carpenters aided the leaders of the American Revolution by offering them the use of Carpenters' Hall. It was here that the First Continental Congress gathered to air their grievances against Great Britain. "Carpenters' Hall is a part of Independence National Historical Park, but is still owned and operated by the Carpenters' Company. Visitors are welcome during scheduled hours." To the right of the text is an image of the floor plan of Carpenters' Hall in 1786. It shows an outline of a building in the shape of a cross with each arm being 30 feet across and extending out 10 feet. The two arms each has a fireplace along its outer wall. The arm at the bottom shows a set of stairs outside leading up to an entrance in the middle and an inside set of stairs filling the right part. Below the floorplan is an excerpt from the Rules of the Carpenters' Company which reads, "Drawing designs, making out bills of scantling, collecting materials, and sticking up stuff are to be charged by the Carpenter in proportion to the trouble. To take the dimensions of floors of joists in brick buildings add nine inches, and in stone twelve inches, more than the clear of the walls on the side the joists bear on." Down the right side of the panel are examples of architectural details from the 1786 Rule Book of the Carpenters' Company which gave prices for house-carpenters' work. At top is an arched dormer window, three panes across and four tall. The arch at the top has pointed arched panes. The window is bordered by two half columns supporting a triangular pediment over the top. The middle drawing is a fan sash over a door. The semicircle is filled with panes in a decorative scalloped design. The drawing at the bottom shows a wooden gate with a wide board across the bottom and a narrower board across the top. Between the boards are narrow railings that extend above the upper board and end in points. End of Description for Wayside 1 Wayside 2 First Continental Congress. At the upper left of the right graphic panel is a quote from Patrick Henry, Carpenters' Hall, 1774, which reads, "The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, New Yorkers, New Englanders are no more. I am not a Virginian but an American." Text on the left side of the panel reads, "In 1774 the American colonies felt threatened. Their grievances against Great Britain were being ignored. Was it finally time for resistance, or was reconciliation still possible? "The First Continental Congress met here in Carpenters' Hall in the autumn of 1774 to choose a course of action. Led by John and Sam Adams, and inspired by the fiery speeches of Patrick Henry, representatives of the Colonies united to defend American rights. They appealed to the King and to the British people to repeal unjust laws and taxes. They condemned the closing of the port of Boston, and pledged not to trade with Britain. "Before adjourning, the Congress resolved that another congress be held the following May if their grievances were not redressed. By the time this Second Continental Congress convened, blood had already been shed at Lexington and Concord." On the right side of the panel is a color illustration of several men outside a brick building. In the left foreground are three men. The one in the middle has brown hair, the other two wear white wigs. Behind them and to the right are steps leading up to the entrance. One man is descending as another waits at the bottom, leaning on a walking stick. The caption reads, "Artist's conception of Virginia delegate Patrick Henry (center) conferring with Massachusetts delegates John Adams and Samuel Adams outside Carpenters' Hall. In a letter to his wife Abigail, John Adams wrote, "There is in Congress a collection of the greatest men upon this continent in point of abilities, virtues, and fortunes."" End of Description for Wayside 2
Birthplace of the American Episcopal Church, Christ Church is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful 18th century structures in America.
Christ Church. This brick church stretches east to west with the entrance near the southwest corner. At the west end is a square tower holding a vestibule in front of the sanctuary and topped by a hexagonal belfry and a conical spire with a brass weathervane. Along the south side are three sets of double doors, one in the side of the tower, which is the entrance, and one on either end of the sanctuary. The main body of the church is lined with two rows of large multipaned windows with arched tops. The lower row has four windows between the doors and one at the far end. The upper row has seven windows that are slightly shorter than those on the lower level. Along the top of the side wall is a cream-colored balustrade between brick pillars with finials shaped like spinning tops. The peaked roof is made of green metal. The church is surrounded by a low brick wall topped with an iron rail fence. The street along the south side of the church is made of gray stones about the same size and shape as bricks. On the other side of the street to the south is a green park. From the park a flagstone path crosses the street and brick sidewalk leading to the iron gates facing the entrance doors in the tower. From the gate three marble steps go up to the brick sidewalk which stretches about 25 feet to the doors. End of Description.
See the final resting place of some of our nation's most prominent founders, including five signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Christ Church Burial Ground. The cemetery sits on the corner of the street and is enclosed by a six-foot tall brick wall, punctuated by brick pillars with round concrete finials on top. Signs on the corner pillar identify this as Christ Church Burial Ground, established 1719. A graphic panel reads, "Benjamin Franklin's Burial Place." A few feet down from the corner on the north side there is an opening in the brick wall filled by a fence section made of copper rails, some copper color, others weathered to bluish green. Two graves lie parallel to the fence topped with white marble slabs and surrounded by brick paving. Engraved on the slab closest to the fence are the words, "Benjamin and Deborah Franklin, 1790." These slabs are sometimes adorned with pennies tossed by visitors. Other names are engraved on white marbles stones surrounding the two gravestones. Large metal plaques are placed on the pillars on either end of the fenced opening. The one on the left has an embossed profile of Franklin at the top. Feel free to touch. Below the profile raised text reads, "The last resting place of Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790." Below that are three quotes. The first from Washington reads, "Venerated for benevolence, admired for talents, esteemed for patriotism, beloved for philanthropy." Below that a quote from Mirabeau reads, "The sage whom two worlds claimed as their own." The quote at the bottom is from Turgot and reads, "He tore from the skies the lightning and from tyrants the sceptre." The plaque on the right has a chronology of Benjamin Franklin from his birth at Boston, January 17, 1706, to his death at Philadelphia, April 17, 1790.On the left side of that pillar another plaque reads, "Benjamin Franklin, signer of the Constitution of the United States." A small plaque on the fence itself reads, "Christ Church Burial Ground, 1719. Christ Church is located on Second Street above Market, three blocks east and one half block south" with an arrow pointing left. The entrance to the cemetery is half way along the wall to the left through a heavy wooden gate. Admission is charged. End of Description.
City Tavern was a popular gathering spot from 1774 to about 1800. Travelers took meals and lodging here while businessmen and politicians dined and conducted their business. Weekly balls took place on the second floor. John Adams described the place as "the most genteel tavern in America."
City Tavern. The Tavern is a plain brick building that is three stories high and a half-basement visible below. The building has five multipaned windows across the front with the door in the middle on the first floor. A chimney sits at each side of the building. A roof extension forms a small peak in front with a round window in its center. There is a small porch with iron railings in front of the door. On the right side nine steps go up to it. On that side, between the steps and the building another narrower set of steps leads down to a basement entry. On the left side of the porch is a small lift to provide an accessible entrance. The plain wooden door has an arched fan light above it and is topped by a triangular pediment supported on either side by pilasters, shallow rectangular columns attached to the wall. On the wall at the right front corner of the building is a stone plaque that reads, "City Tavern, Built 1773, Demolished 1854, Rebuilt in 1975 by the National Park Service." Above it is a small sign hanging from an iron bracket which reads, "Established 1773, City Tavern, Now serving fine food and drink." Along the edge of the sidewalk in front of the building are six iron posts connected by a crosspiece to each other and connected to the building by six iron beams that slope up to attach between the first and second floors. Depending on the season, there may or may not be a canvas cover to form an awning over the entrance and the sidewalk. End of Description.
Thomas Jefferson resided here while drafting the Declaration of Independence. Demolished in 1883, the house was reconstructed by the National Park Service in 1975.
Declaration House. This brick house sits on the corner of the street. Three stories high, it is a narrow rectangle with the long side facing Seventh Street. The paneled door is near the right end of this side with a single window between it and the end of the house. Left of the door there are three windows. The door has a triangular pediment over it, projecting out slightly from the wall. The windows on the first two floors are multipaned with wood paneled shutters. The third-floor windows are smaller with no shutters. All the windows have a stone lintel above them with a keystone accent. Above the third floor, two more of the smaller-size windows are in the gable of the peaked roof. Under each first-floor window there is a small angled cellar access panel. Entrance is not through the main door, but through a door to the left on the back end of the house. This end of the house is only two windows deep with a dormer window sitting on the roof above. Here, there is a courtyard garden paved with brick with plantings around the perimeter. Along the street the courtyard is enclosed by a low brick wall with an iron rail fence on top. The entry to the house is through an iron gate along this low brick wall. On the concrete wall across the courtyard from the gate raised lettering reads, "On this site stood the house where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence." The right end of the house, facing Market Street, is similar -- two windows deep, but with no door. Two larger cellar access panels are below the first-floor windows on this side. To the right is a small triangular garden enclosed by an iron rail fence. On the right side of the garden large panels on a concrete wall display the well-known opening of the Declaration of Independence which reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. July 4, 1776." End of Description.
Dolley Payne Todd lived here from 1791 to 1794. Learn about her life in Philadelphia during the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, as well as her later experiences as First Lady Dolley Madison.
Dolley Todd House. This three-story brick house sits on the corner. The paneled door is in the middle of the wall facing 4th Street to the west. It has a simple triangular pediment above it and two shallow marble steps in front. On either side of the door is a multipaned window with paneled shutters. Three similar windows extend across the second floor. The third floor also has three windows, but they are smaller and do not have shutters. In the gable of the peaked roof above there are two more of these smaller windows. The bricks are laid in an alternating pattern, one being laid with the long edge out, the next with the short end exposed. The short ends are black in color, giving the wall an almost checkerboard appearance. A two-story wing extends out to the left of the house with a kitchen garden to the left of that. A white board fence encloses the garden. End of Description.
Committee rooms in Congress Hall that hold large portraits of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette of France
Two small committee rooms to the left and right at the end of the hall way on the second floor of Congress Hall, before the step up to the Senate Chambers. Both rooms contain large tables with chairs surrounding them. The tables have books, quill pens, and candle sticks. The West Committee room has four bookcases on the wall across from the large portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette of France. These bookcases are covered with green cloth on the fronts. The portrait of Marie Antoinette in the West Committee Room is on the right side of the room as you face into the room from the hallway. The portrait is almost 12 feet tall and surrounded by a large gold frame. The painting has a woman in a blue dress with a white skirt seating in a red velvet couch at a table with a red tablecloth. The tables has fruit and flowers. The woman wears a slouchy hat that matches her dress. Despite looking young, her grey hair is in an elaborate style with white feathers sticking from the blue and white cap she wears. She holds a book in one hand and holds the other on the table. Her feet are up on a puff, while she sits infront of a window with green drapes. In the East Commmittee room the portrait of King Louis XVI is on the wall to your left. The painting has the same dimensions with the same frame as the other portrait. Standing in regal robes, the man is between a red velvet chair and a green brocade couch. On the red chair is a bejewled crown. The man stands with his hand on a cane. His robes are covered with golden fleur de lis, and ermine fur. Around his neck he has a lace cravat and a gold jeweled chain and pendant. His grey hair is curled and worn in a low pony tail at the nape of his neck. Behind him is a marble coloumn and green curtains.
Proposed by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the First Bank of the United States opened in 1797. Chartering the Bank was a major Congressional move toward a firm financial foundation for the new nation. Arguments over the federal role in banking ignited the first debates over strict versus expansive interpretations of the Constitution. This building served the nation until 1811, when the Bank's charter was not renewed. Not open to the public.
First Bank of the United States. This two-story building, which is closed to the public, is made of brick on three sides and a stone façade in front. Six fluted columns with ornately carved tops support a roof extension that forms a portico or porch in front of the centrally located wooden door. The porch, which extends about half the width of the building, is reached by a set of seven steps across the front and along its sides. Three multipaned windows flank the door on the first floor with a total of seven along the upper floor. The triangular pediment on the peak of the roof over the porch is carved with an eagle perched on a shield with stars and stripes and a cornucopia full of produce. Carved along the front below the pediment are the words "Founded A. D. MDCCXCV." Along the front of the roof on either side of the pediment is a balustrade, or ornamental parapet, made of small columns topped by a horizontal railing. The wide sidewalk in front is made of red brick and extends back along on either side, passing through iron gates supported by large square pillars. An arched header over the gate has a gold-painted eagle in the middle, wings outstretched and holding arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. End of Description.
Benjamin Franklin's house that once stood here. Franklin's grandchildren demolished the house in 1812 to allow for commercial development. Today, only the foundations of the large and elegant house remain, outlined with modern steel "ghost" structure. The courtyard is now home to the Benjamin Franklin Museum, the Franklin Court Printing Office, the "Fragments of Franklin Court" exhibit and the B. Free Franklin Post Office.
See how an 18th century printing office operated and learn about the significance of the printed word in the founding of the nation.
Franklin Court Printing Office. The Printing Office is located at the far west end of the building at the north end of Franklin Court. A wing extends out from the building to separate it from the paved area in front of the adjoining site, Fragments of Franklin Court. A low wooden platform forms a small porch in front of the door, which is located on the right side of the narrow building. Along the left side of the porch is a wooden bench. Along the right side is a solid wooden fence. A sign above the door reads, "Printing Office and Bindery." This door is used as an exit from the Printing Office. The brick pavement in front here is very uneven and can be a tripping hazard. There is a stone circle in the paving just to the left of the porch which reads, "Benjamin Franklin Bache Privy Pit, 1787, 322 Market Street." To the left of the door are two multipaned windows with wooden shutters. In front of the windows a stair descends to a cellar entrance below the main door. A wood rail fence with a gate at the left end encloses the stairwell. Entrance to the Print Office is through a door in the wing to the right of the wooden fence. That door is at the left end of the wing and has a curved fanlight above the wood paneled door. In front of that door is another stone circle. This one reads, "Henry Frogley, Water Well, circa 1702, 320 Market Street." To the left of the entrance along the wall beside the wooden fence is a cellar access with two wooden doors at an angle against the base of the wall. To the right of the entrance is another door. The courtyard in front of the building is paved with brick surrounding a rectangular planting area. To the left of the building is an outer brick wall enclosing Franklin Court. Several benches line the wall. End of Description.
Named after Benjamin Franklin, this tree connects to Philadelphia's history of scientific discovery.
At the southeast corner of Congress Hall, the rear of the building that faces Independence Square. About ten feet from the rear wall of the building is a small tree about 10 feet tall with small bunches of green leaves. The tree has a trunk about 6 inches wide with many long thing branches growing straight upwards and then forming bunches of five to eight long leaves at their ends. When in bloom, the flowers are large, white and bulb shaped with yellow centers. The tree is about 6 feet in diameter.
This home in Germantown, now restored to its 18th century appearance, twice sheltered George Washington. It is the site of cabinet meetings in November 1793.
The House of Representatives met in this space when Philadelphia served as the United States Capital in the 1790s.
A large room on the first floor of Congress Hall. When you enter there is a center aisle between three rows of long dark tables and dark leather chairs create a horseshoe shape that takes up most of the room. These desks and chairs are on risers, with each row a step above the other. Each long set of desks has drawers built in, with slanted writing surfaces. At the top edge of the long desks are rectangular cut outs of about 9 inches wide that allow for pens and ink stands to be set into them. The carpet is patterned and covers the whole floor. At the center front of the room is a platform with a large leather chair and a desk. In front of the podium are two small desks with leather chairs. The desks have grey pewter ink wells and two candle sticks. A large balcony is above the room to the right as you walk into the room. The room takes up most of the first floor of the building, and has large arched windows with drapes on the upper parts and blinds. There are six fire places, three on each of the long walls of the room. The wall to the left as you walk in is bowed with a set of three windows. There are two black and white engravings showing battles of the American Revolution on the wall behind the speaker's platform. To the left part of the room, past the rows of chairs is an open area. There is a set of double doors that lead to the building's stair well.
Independence Hall is the birthplace of the United States. In 1776, the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence here. Eleven years later, in the same room, delegates to the Constitutional Convention created and signed an enduring framework of government - the United States Constitution.
Independence Hall. This plain rectangular building sits in the middle of the block on the south side of Chestnut Street. Of modest size compared to the modern skyscrapers behind it, it extends about one-quarter the length of the block and has two stories. Centered on the south side, away from the street is a large square bell tower, almost a third the width of the entire building. Topped by a cupola and spire, it is taller than the building is long. The north façade along the street has a simple entrance in the center of the building, with tall narrow double doors made of paneled wood and reached by five wraparound steps with no handrails to a small porch. At the door there is one more step up into the building. The façade features rectangular multipaned windows, four on either side of the entrance and nine across the upper floor. Each has a stone keystone accent above it. Another stone accent made of a horizontal rectangle is placed between each upper window and the window or door below it. A column of stone blocks also forms the corners of the building. A set of four tall chimneys sits at either end of the peaked roof with a white balustrade, a row of small columns topped by a rail. From this side the top of the bell tower can be seen. A clock face sits on each side of the upper square tower, which is capped by an octagonal cupola, a narrow steeple, and a brass weathervane. Extending out to each side of the building is a brick arcade with arched openings that connects to the East and West Wings. Between the door and the street is a statue of George Washington on a square stone pillar. He stands with his right hand resting on a book on a small table and his left hand on the hilt of a sword. The tour entrance for the building is on the south side, which faces Independence Square, an open park. The area surrounding Independence Hall is secure and is entered through a security checkpoint next to Old City Hall, to your left as you face the building from Chestnut Street. The south façade is dominated by the square bell tower (the top of which is also seen from the north side) which is attached to the central third of the main structure. The paneled wooden door has attached columns on either side supporting a carved lintel across the top with a small roof. There are three steps up to the door with a long ramp leading up on the right side. The open area in front of this side is covered with rectangular pavers. Above the door is a large three-part window with an arched window in the middle with a stone arch above it flanked by two tall narrow windows with straight lintels and roofs above them. The tower narrows above the roofline of the main structure with a circular window on the lower level. The level above has a bow window with a carved face in the keystone accent above it. The next level up is smaller and made of wood with a clockface on each side. The whole structure is then topped by an octagonal cupola, a narrow steeple, and a brass weathervane. End of Description.
Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia preserves the buildings, stories, and memory of the people who struggled and continue to struggle to create a nation based on the ideals of liberty and equality.
In 1732, the Pennsylvania Assembly declared that the State House Yard would be, "a public greene and walk forever." Since then, throngs of people have gathered in the square to protest against infringements on human rights, and to celebrate the freedoms enjoyed in America.
The Museum Store offers a variety of souvenirs, including miniature Liberty Bells, postcards, magnets, and Park Ranger-recommended books. Many fine gift items are available as well.
The Liberty Bell bears a timeless message: "PROCLAIM LIBERTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND UNTO ALL THE INHABITANTS THEREOF" Abolitionists, women's suffrage advocates and Civil Rights leaders took inspiration from the inscription on this bell. Exhibits show how the Liberty Bell's message continues to ring out to the United States and the world today.
The Liberty Bell Center. This long narrow modern building stretches along North Sixth Street just to the south of the President's House Site. The side opposite the street is filled with a green mall or park crisscrossed by brick sidewalks. The side of the building is mostly glass, tall narrow panes framed in aluminum with thick brick pillars spaced at intervals down the wall. Steel beams sitting on top of the brick support an open metal grid roof extending out from the side of the building. Above the grid work is a stretch of windows just under the low peaked roof of the main structure. The entrance is at the north end of the building. The line to enter stretches along the sidewalk on the east side. At the south end is a two-story rectangular wing. On the east side of that wing, is a small alcove where there is a push button panel that provides recorded information on the history of the Liberty Bell. As you enter the building, you first pass through a security check point. Then the long room stretches out in front of you. The flooring is brick and slopes up slightly. The right wall is gray stone and follows a serpentine, curving out into the room then back to the right several times. Down the left side of the room is a series of large graphic panels, artifacts in cases, and a video that shows on a loop. Natural lighting is provided by the glass wall on the left. The Liberty Bell itself is at the far end of the building. The flooring changes at that point to flat stone paving. The bell is mounted in the center of a chamber surrounded by a knee-high metal and leather strap barrier. Past the bell, the back wall is floor-to-ceiling glass with a view of independence Hall. End of Description.
Visit the lobby exhibit to see a changing selection of rare items from the collection of the American Philosophical Society.
Library of the American Philosophical Society. This is a two-story brick building. The central entrance has double wood paneled doors with an ornate arched fanlight above and fluted columns attached to the wall on either side. A sign on the door indicates that that entrance to the library is to the right, around on the side of the building. Above the doorway is an arched niche with a statue of Benjamin Franklin. Carved text on a stone below the statue reads, " B. Franklin. Repllica of the statue by Lazzarini. Presented to the Library Company 1792 by William Bingham." The doorway is above street level and is reached by curved stone steps with iron railings that sweep up on each side. Near the corners of the building on either side of the steps is a carved stone plaque. The one on the left reads, "This building authorized by an act of Congress of 1952 is on the site occupied from 1789 to 1884 by the Hall of the Library Company of Philadelphia whose façade it reproduces. Cornerstone laid April 25, 1958." The plaque on the other corner reads, "Library of the American Philosophical Society held at Philadelphia for promoting useful knowledge. Begun by Benjamin Franklin 1743. Reorganized under its present name 1769." The central portion of the façade is decorated with four square pilasters, attached pillars that project slightly from the wall. They support the triangular pediment at roof level which has an arched window in the middle. The door sits between the middle two pilasters. Between the outer two pilasters there is a large multipaned window on both floors. The first floor windows are arched. At either end of the building, outside the pilasters there is another set of windows top and bottom, all of these being rectangular with a single stone keystone above. Across the roof line is a balustrade made of carved columns with a horizontal rail on top. The entrance to the library is not through the door on the front facade, but on the right side in the middle of the building. The street along the right side is small and made of cobbles, large stones in the middle with smaller stones on either side. From this side the building is seen to be in the shape of an "H" with the center section slightly recessed from the front and rear wings. The side door has a wide set of steps up to the small covered portico supported by smooth columns with carved scrollwork at the tops. End of Description.
Fighting broke out in the House of Representatives in 1798.
An political cartoon of a fight in Congress Hall. The hand drawn image is in black and white and depicts the House of Representatives in a comical, exaggerated way. Drawn onlookers are waving hats, shouting and pointing. A dog wanders in the front. A man in a chair on a platform smiles and looks on as two men fight, almost looking like they are dancing. Both with frazzled hair and exaggerated expressions, the one on the left holds a pair of fire tongs in the air, about to strike his opponent. The other holds a cane, tilting backwards at his opponent's advance. The audience on both sides looks on, animated. The comic depicts the setting as well: the floor's carpeting a mix of squiggly lines and circles. The windows darkened in the background. Tables have papers and quills and books.
How many varieties of magnolia trees will you find? Don't miss this colorful garden in the spring.
Magnolia Garden. This garden is enclosed along the street by a tall iron rail fence and by brick walls on the other sides. The entrance is through an iron gate near the left end. Through the gate the brick paving ends at a set of three stone steps which go up to a wide flagstone walk. The garden is rectangular, stretching off to the right. Four paved walks border a grassy rectangle in the center. At the right end of the lawn, the paved area opens up to surround a circular pool with a stone curb around it and a fountain in the middle. Outside the paved walks the garden is edged with plantings of small trees and ornamental shrubs with annuals planted as accents. Iron benches painted white are placed along the walks and near the pool. There is another fountain opposite the entrance at the end of the walk. It consists of a brick arch framing a stone insert set into the wall. Text carved on the stone reads, "Magnolia Tribute Garden contributed by The Garden Club of America in honor of the Founders of our nation, 1959. National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior." Below the text is a small marble bowl fed by water through a hole in the stone. The water then overflows and falls into a square basin below. As you enter the garden a small sign to the right reads, "Magnolia Garden. George Washington, who lived in Philadelphia during his Presidency, retained a lively interest in horticulture. His letters reveal that magnolias were among the trees he hoped to grow. Although the magnolias in this garden are a different variety from that mentioned by Washington, he would have enjoyed their delicate pink flowers each spring. The Garden Clubs of America furnished funds form this garden which is now maintained by the National Park Service." End of Description.
Designed by architect William Strickland, this 1834 Greek Revival masterpiece served as a place where businessmen exchanged everything from ships' cargos to real estate and stocks. Today, this building houses an exhibit in the lobby and serves as headquarters for Independence National Historical Park.
Merchants' Exchange Building. This three-story building is made of light gray stone. The first floor is slightly recessed with the upper stories supported around the perimeter by plain round columns interspersed with rectangular pillars. The first floor entrance is recessed even deeper with curved windows on either side of the glass doors. The second and third floors are also recessed across the middle half of the building with the roof there supported by fluted columns with ornately carved tops. A triangular pediment sits on top of this section. Multipaned windows of varying widths line all three floors, with those on the third floor being slightly shorter. The back wall of the building projects outward in a semicircle. Similar to the front façade, the second and third floors are recessed forming a wrap-around portico with more of the fluted columns supporting the roof. The first floor has tall narrow sets of double doors evenly spaced around the curve. The top two-thirds of the doors are filled with multi-paned windows. On either side of the semi-circular section is a set of stairs that go up to doors on the second floor. At the top of the stairs, on the side away from the building, is a large statue of a lion. The lion on one side has its head alert. The other one droops its head in rest. A round tower or cupola sits on the roof near the back of the building, with more multipaned windows circling it between ornate columns. It is topped by a small green dome and a weathervane. End of Description.
Visitors can explore changing exhibits in the galleries of this park partner. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743 to "promote useful knowledge," the American Philosophical Society's members included notable founders of the republic - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton and Madison - as well as doctors, artisans and tradesmen.
Museum of the American Philosophical Society in Philosophical Hall. This brick building has two stories and a half basement. The building is symmetrical, each side having a central door flanked by two windows and five windows across the upper floor. In addition there are two dormer windows on the roof. The paneled doors have an arched fanlight on top and are framed by a wooden arch sitting on square pilasters, columns projecting from the walls. On the side facing the 5th Street, the entrance is level with the sidewalk. To the left of this entrance a small bronze plaque identifies this as a Registered National Historic Landmark. To the right, a larger plaque reads, "The American Philosophical Society founded by Benjamin Franklin, 1743. Outgrowth of The Junto, 1727. Reorganized 1769. The first learned society in the British Plantations in America. This building was erected 1786-1789." On the side facing the Square behind Independence Hall, there are five marble steps with iron railings leading up to the door. Above the arch over the door a sign reads, "Museum." To the left of the steps a small sign reads, "Philosophical Hall. Built 1786-89, Philosophical Hall is the home of the American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in America. Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, the society pursued "Useful knowledge." One of the society's early members, artist Charles Willson Peale, operated a museum here displaying natural and man-made curiosities, complete with a noisy outdoor menagerie featuring baboons, panthers, bears, elk, and a bald eagle. The American Philosophical Society still owns and occupies the building." End of Description.
The Museum of the American Revolution brings to life the events, people, and ideals of our nation's founding. Through Revolutionary-era artifacts, immersive environments, theater experiences, and recreated historical moments, visitors can experience the dynamic story of the American Revolution from its origins to ultimate victory and its continuing relevance. This park partner site charges a fee at entrance.
Museum of the American Revolution. This four-story tall brick building sits on the corner of Chestnut and Third Streets with a rectangular stone-paved plaza on the corner itself. At the front corner of the plaza is a stone platform in the shape of a quarter circle with five Revolutionary-era cannon sitting on top. Engraving across the front of the platform reads, "Museum of the American Revolution." As you stand at the corner, the entrance to the museum is on the left side of the plaza. Two long low benches sit in the middle. There is a smaller entrance in the wall of the wing on the far side of the plaza. Lettering over that door reads, "John M. Templeton, Jr. Education Canter." The main entrance to the left consists of multipaned glass doors set in a bay enclosure with a bronze-colored metal roof. Above the entrance brick frames a solid stone arch-shape with 13 bronze stars on its face. Above that carved letters on a stone ledge reads, "Museum of the American Revolution." An American flag hangs from an opening in the wall above the ledge. On the wing on the other side of the plaza, to the right of the smaller entrance is a stone inset with a quote from the Declaration of independence, July 4, 1776, which reads, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." The side wing stretches along Third Street and has three sets of multipaned glass doors along it which open onto a brick-paved walkway which is higher than the sidewalk along the street, which slopes downward. The walkway and the sidewalk are separated by a low stone wall with two sets of steps spaced along its length. End of Description.
Experience the U.S. Constitution through more than 100 interactive and multimedia exhibits. And don't miss the photo op with 39 life-size bronze statues in Signers' Hall.
National Constitution Center. This modern concrete building is set well back from the street with an expanse of grassy lawn in front. A wide brick-paved walk leads down the left side of the lawn to the entrance. At the right end of the façade a separate triangular structure supports a flat roof overhang covering the wide plaza in front of the entrance. On the wall of that structure metal lettering displays the preamble to the Constitution, " We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." The middle front of the building is glass, split by a balcony extending out over the glass entrance doors, which are set well back from the benches that sit at the edge of the lawn. On the left side of the building a wing with an angled side extends out along the brick sidewalk, reaching a point at the street corner. The triangular area between the wing and the sidewalk is terraced with sitting areas and plantings. End of Description.
Home to the War Department in the 1790s, the museum highlights the history of the Continental Army, Navy and Marines. The building was constructed by members of the Carpenters' Company and today houses a memorial that pays tribute to the members of the U.S. Marine Corps who lost their lives during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
New Hall Military Museum. This two-story brick building sits on the right, or west, side of a walkway that leads south from Chestnut Street to Carpenters' Hall. The wide walkway is paved with brick, except for a long strip down the middle which has cobbles edged with rectangular paving stones and a low stone curb. It is a long narrow rectangular building with four doors along its front. Multipaned windows with wooden shutters flank a couple of the doors. The upper floor has seven such windows across the front and two on each end. Each door has a low stone step across the front and then a taller stone step into the building. There are two doors near the right end of the building with the entrance through the second door from right. A couple of small signs hang on the building identifying it as the Military Museum at New Hall. A bronze plaque is set near the ground to the left of the entrance and reads, "New Hall. Built 1791 by the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia - location of War Department Offices 1791-1792. Reconstructed 1959." The two doors on the left are flanked by windows. Below each window is a cellar access, slanted wooden doors set on a gray stone base. End of Description.
Finished in 1791, this building served as City Hall for Philadelphia. When Philadelphia was the nation's temporary capital, the city lent its courtroom out to the Supreme Court of the United States. While meeting here, the Supreme Court struggled to define its role in the new government.
Old City Hall. This two-story brick building sits on the corner facing north. Its façade is similar to that of Congress Hall which is located at the far corner to the right. The entrance doors are paneled wood and are placed in the center of the front. A stone arch surrounds the doors with a fanlight filling the space above the doors. Four wide marble steps go up to the doors with one more step up into the building. There are iron shoe scrapers on either side of the broad top step. A small bronze plaque to the left of the doors reads "Old City Hall. U.S. Supreme Court met here, 1791 - 1800." An accessible entrance is located on the right side of the building. Those doors, also with an arched fanlight above them, are three steps up on the left and front, but have a ramp leading up on the right. On either side of the front doors are two large multipaned windows with arched tops and a stone keystone accent at the top. Above on the second floor there are five rectangular windows across the front, each also with a stone keystone accent. This window pattern continues around the building, with each side having five windows. In front a modest triangular pediment sits over the middle three windows with a small arched window in its middle. Three tall chimneys sit on each side of the roof. An open-sided octagonal cupola topped by a brass weathervane is in the middle of the roof. End of Description.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court met in this room during the colonial and early national periods, but the room hosted other courts and even a museum later in its history.
Independence National Historical Park represents the founding ideals of the nation and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. During the Civil Rights Era, activists used these symbols of freedom to showcase the fight for African American rights on a national stage.
Independence National Historical Park represents the founding ideals of the nation and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. During the Civil Rights Era, activists used these symbols of freedom to showcase the fight for African American rights on a national stage.
Presidents George Washington and John Adams lived at this site while Philadelphia was the temporary capital of the U.S. in the 1790s. Washington's large household included family members as well as indentured and enslaved servants. Adams, never a slaveholder, employed a small staff of servants. Although the house was demolished in 1832, the foundations still remain visible in the exhibit.
The President's House Site. This area sits on the corner of the street directly across Market Street from the Independence Visitor Center. The site is covered with paving stones in various shapes and sizes. The house no longer exists, but partial brick walls without a roof have been erected to show the basic outline of the house. In front, facing the street, is the entrance outlined by two white columns topped with a peaked lintel. Two white and gray marble steps go up to the doorway with plain black metal railings on either side. To the left of the door a tall window is outlined in white. Two similar windows sit on the wall to the right of the door. Inside, to the left as you enter, the partial wall is lined with graphic panels. Along the right hand wall are white and gray marble fireplaces with wide brick chimneys. Mounted above each fireplace is a large video monitor. In the middle of the space is a short, T-shaped wall with a flat top which can be used for seating. In the back right corner is a five-sided alcove that represents what would have been a bay with windows on three sides. To the left of that is a room-sized glass enclosure which covers the remains of the foundation and walls now several feet below the current street level. Along the back left wall is another fireplace with another video monitor above it. Outside the reconstructed walls to the left of the glass enclosure and continuing back towards the south, white marble outlines show where more rooms and outbuildings used to stand. Past the glass enclosure is a gray granite wall engraved with the names of the nine enslaved men and women brought to Philadelphia by George Washington. The names on the wall are Austin, Paris, Hercules, Christopher Sheels, Richmond, Giles, Oney Judge, Moll and Joe. To the left of the engraved names is another video monitor. Embedded in the sidewalk on the other side of the wall is a set of woman's footprints headed north. Past the gray wall is another set of fireplaces, set side by side, these made of plain brick. End of Description.
In June, this garden is at its finest but it's a reprieve from the bustling city streets at any time of the year.
Rose Garden. This garden is bounded on its north side along Walnut Street by a low brick wall topped by an iron rail fence. Near the right end is an iron gate between two tall brick pillars. From here the park extends all the way through the center of the block to Locust Street on the south, where there is a similar wall and gate. From the gate a ten-foot-wide brick path leads south with a grassy lawn on the left and a tree-planted border along a brick wall on the right. Some of the trees are gingkoes and, depending on the season, there may be golf-ball-size fruit under foot. As you enter the gate, a small sign on the left reads, "Rose Garden. Thomas Jefferson wrote that of all the countries in the world, America was where "the noblest gardens may be made without expense." To commemorate the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, the Daughters of the American Revolution have donated funds to plant the rose beds just ahead. The National Park Service maintains the Rose Garden and adjacent grounds." About halfway down the length of the block the path enters the garden proper by going up a set of five steps. Just to the left at that point is a broad section of cobblestone stretching off to the left. A small sign reads, "Original Cobblestone. In front of you lies a remnant of a cobblestone street (also called "pebblestone") constructed about 1800. Although William Penn, founder of Philadelphia, carefully planned the placement of city streets as early as 1681, it was not until 1762 that the city assumed responsibility for paving." Once up the steps and past another small area of lawn, the brick paving opens out into a wider area with beds of roses planted to the left and at either end. A smaller walk winds through the rose bed on the left and passes a square pillar which at one point had a sun dial on it. Two areas paved with flagstone open off the brick walk in the central art of the garden. The one to the right is sunken, down three steps, with benches along the south side near another rose bed. The paved area on the left is raised three steps and also has benches around its perimeter. The brick paving winds to the left between those two areas and continues south past more lawn to the entrance on Locust Street. End of Description.
The Schuylkill River Valley National Heritage Area celebrates the Schuylkill River region for its cultural, historical and industrial significance. It was along the banks of this river and its tributaries that the American, Industrial, and Environmental Revolutions were born. From the Continental Congress to Washington's encampment at Valley Forge, the region played a key role in the American Revolution and more.
Chartered by Congress in 1816 and designed by noted architect William Strickland, the Second Bank of the United States is a marvel of Greek Revival architecture. Today it houses a permanent collection of over 150 portraits of the founders by such noted artists as Charles Willson Peale and Thomas Sully.
Second Bank of the United States. This stone building sits high above the sidewalk. In front of the building and along each side of the covered portico or porch is an elevated marble walk about three feet high with a protective metal railing across the front. This walk may be reached by a set of six steps from the brick walks that run down both sides of the building. From the elevated walk a set of a dozen steps leads up to the covered portico. Eight fluted columns with plain rounded tops support the roof over the portico which extends across the entire front of the building. The triangular pediment on top is plain stone with no carvings. There is a tall rectangular doorway in the middle with two other doorways, no longer in use, on either side. On the second floor above them are three window frames, also no longer in use. The wide brick walks that run along the sides of the building are separated from the front sidewalk by heavy decorative iron fences and gates. The accessible entrance is halfway down the side of the building on the right side. There a long brick-paved ramp runs along the side of the building toward the front to a door on the lower level. End of Description.
At the end of the hallway on the second floor there is a large room with 32 chairs and desks in semi circles and a larger desk and chair in the middle center. There is an elaborate carpet on the floor, the walls are painted and the windows trimmed with colorful curtains. Each desk has an inkwell.
A large platform with several steps leading up to a large brown chair and desk. In front of the platform are two smaller desks and chairs, with candlesticks and inkwells.
The tower you see today dates to 1828 when the city hired architect William Strickland to restore the original steeple. Strickland deviated from the original design, incorporating a clock and additional ornamentation.
Looking out from the second floor of Congress Hall
At the northern most end of the hallway on the second floor of Congress Hall there is a landing. To your left and right, two stairwells lead downstairs. At the end of the hallway at this landing there is a large window with a small white iron balcony outside. The window is about 8 feet tall and made of several panes of glass. The window looks out on to a busy city intersection. There are trees, other buildings, people crossing roads. The buildings viewed from this window are all modern but very different in styles. One building to the left is made of brick and wood and looks like it is old, but is a modern bank. The glass of the Liberty Bell Center is visiable through the trees to the right. .
Press and public viewing gallery for the House of Representatives in Congress Hall.
To the right side of the room if facing how you entered the room, a large balcony hangs over the right 1/8 side of the room from the ceiling. It spans the whole width of the building. Behind dozens of white balusters with a brown rail on top, several rows of brown benches run across the width of the space. Two large structural columns run from the floor of the house to the ceiling of the room, supporting the balcony and continuing up to the ceiling. There are modern electric lights illuminating the celling.
One of five parks within William Penn's "Greene Countrie Towne," Washington Square was originally known as Southeast Square. Used as a burial ground and a gathering place, the square today is a beautifully landscaped park. Within the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the American Revolution.
The West Wing of Independence Hall contains some of the nation's "Great Essentials" - original printed copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the United States. Also on display is the Syng inkstand, believed to be the silver inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence.
West Wing. This small two-story brick building sits in between Independence Hall, to which it is connected by a brick arcade with arched openings and Congress Hall on the west. On the north façade, facing Chestnut Street, there are two doors, one on either end with four multipaned windows between them. The second floor has six, slightly smaller windows. All of the windows have a stone keystone accent on top. The south façade has a single door at the right side, which is the entrance for the exhibits inside. The windows on this side do not have a keystone. There is a cellar access in the middle of the south wall with double wooden doors at an angle below the windows. The shingled roof is hipped, each of the four sides sloping down to the walls. Two chimneys extend up from the south side. End of Description.
William Still worked tirelessly to assist freedom seekers who liberated themselves. While living in a home near this marker, Still wrote and published his book The Underground Railroad, which details the stories of people who Still worked with and assisted on their journey to freedom. This book still influences the way we understand the Underground Railroad today.
The Pennsylvania Historic Marker highlighting the residence of William Still at 244 S. 12th Street sits between two buildings in the middle of a row. To the right of marker, the site of Still’s home, is a wide two-story modern stone and concrete flat-roofed building. The first floor consists of a set of double metal doors on the left end of the building with a stretch of five small rectangular windows that sit high above the sidewalk, just to the right of the metal doors. Directly above the metal doors, on the second floor is a steel and wooden balcony. A single plain metal and glass door opens on to the balcony. To the right of the balcony is another stretch of five rectangular windows that are larger than the first-floor windows. This stretch of windows butts up against a very large window that wraps around the corner of the second floor. The roof line above the wrap-around window is raised a few feet higher. To the left of the marker, are a set of 19th-century three-story brick twin houses that one might think look much like the original William Still house. The brick houses are identical to each other, each with a single dormer window on the roof. Each house has two blue shuttered windows on the third and second floors that stretch across the front of the homes. The windows on the third floor are smaller than the windows on the second floor. The blue shuttered windows on the first floor are pushed together to make room for the entry doors. The wood-paneled doors sit side by side in between the two sets of windows. The doors are both painted green, and each have an arch fan light above them. Four marble steps lead up to each door. Both sets of steps have a single iron railing on the left and right sides. On either side of the steps, under each of the first-floor windows, are small basement windows, each covered with protective iron bars. The exterior of the basement level of the house is clad in white marble. The Pennsylvania historic marker is cast in iron and painted blue and sits on top of a blue 10-foot pole. Each side of the marker has identical lettering, painted yellow, and reads, “William Still 1821-1902. While living here, he was an Underground Railroad agent who helped slaves escape and kept records so relatives could find them later. A wealthy coal merchant, Still also helped found the first Black YMCA.” Underneath the inscription are the words, “Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1991.” The seal of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is stamped on top of the marker.
The Independence Visitor Center is located at 6th and Market Streets. Pick up a park map, plan your visit, and watch films in the Independence Visitor Center. Ask knowledgeable park rangers about programs, walking tours and special events. City concierge staff will gladly assist you with information about lodgings and restaurants.
Take a ranger-led tour of the birthplace of the United States. Hear stories of conflict, compromise, and the complicated business of making a nation.
Become an Independence Junior Ranger
There are three ways to become a Junior Ranger at Independence National Historical Park. Ready for the challenge...and the fun?
Play the Virtual Glass Armonica
Of all his inventions, the one Benjamin Franklin enjoyed most was the glass armonica. Give it a try at the Benjamin Franklin Museum, where you can explore Franklin's life and legacy through his character traits (fee applies).
Hear the Centennial Bell Ring
Do you hear that? Look up! Listen to the Centennial Bell ring each hour at the clocktower of Independence Hall.
Take a "Bell-fie"
Come see the international symbol of freedom in all its glory. Learn about the Liberty Bell's legacy as a symbol of protest and celebration, from its humble beginnings as the State House bell to its use as a rallying cry to end slavery and an inspiration to the modern civil rights movement. And don't forget to get that photo!
Listen for the Sound of Sticky Ink
Discover the pivotal role that the printed word played in the American Revolution and the founding of the nation as rangers demonstrate printing—18th-century style.
Find the Perfect Souvenir
Browse the shelves in the Independence Square Museum Store for that perfect gift - for yourself or others. Participating in the NPS passport program? You can add to your stamp collection here!
Stand in Abraham Lincoln's Place
President-elect Abraham Lincoln made a stop at Independence Hall in 1861 as he journeyed to Washington D.C. for his inauguration. Today, a plaque outside Independence Hall indicates where Lincoln stood when he raised the flag that day.
Get the B. Free Franklin Cancellation
Get the same cancellation on your stamp that Franklin used when he was postmaster. There's cool and then there's "B. Free Franklin" cool.
Walk in Ona Judge's Footsteps
Find the footsteps in the ground at the President’s House Site. They represent Martha Washington's enslaved maid's flight to freedom. Look for Oney Judge’s name, and the names of eight other enslaved servants, on the wall nearby.
Tours
Count: 5
Founding of a Republic, 1776 - 1800
Visit key historical sites to discover the challenges our Founding Fathers faced in creating a new, republican, government.
In Franklin's Footsteps
Get to know the real Ben Franklin as you explore the streets and sites of his Philadelphia neighborhood.
In Pursuit of Liberty
Find out how the words in the Declaration of Independence have inspired generations of activists and civil rights leaders.
The British Occupation of Philadelphia
Hear stories of the officers, soldiers, and civilians during the British Occupation of Philadelphia from September 1777 to June 1778. Which side would you choose?
The Road to Revolution, 1763-1776
Explore the events that led up to the American Revolution, and see exactly where they happened.
