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."
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.
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."
Thomas Jefferson resided here while drafting the Declaration of Independence. Demolished in 1883, the house was reconstructed by the National Park Service in 1975.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
