This 18th Century Hall Served as Capitol, Supreme Court, and Birthplace of American Liberty

Independence Hall, Pennsylvania

Independence Hall started as a simple meeting spot but ended up as the birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.

George Washington, Ben Franklin, and John Adams walked these floors and shaped a nation.

Here’s how this humble room helped America became America.

The 1732 Vision That Birthed American Democracy

Independence Hall began as the Pennsylvania State House in 1732. Andrew Hamilton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly, led this ambitious project to house the colonial government.

Master builder Edmund Woolley designed the Georgian-style brick building with its distinctive central tower. Construction took 21 years to complete, finishing in 1753. The 105-foot main building featured two 50-foot wings connected by covered walkways.

This design housed all three branches of Pennsylvania’s colonial government under one roof.

Hamilton and Woolley Break Ground in 1732

On August 8, 1733, Andrew Hamilton presented his plans for the State House to the Provincial Assembly. Three days later, they granted him full authority over the project.

Hamilton selected land on Chestnut Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets, then on Philadelphia’s western outskirts. This strategic location pulled the city’s development westward.

Edmund Woolley, an English-born master carpenter, created the detailed architectural plans. His 1735 receipt shows a £5 payment for “drawing drafts” of both floors.

Ground broke in late 1732 as Philadelphia rapidly grew into the American colonies’ largest city with over 10,000 residents.

Royal Government Meets From 1735 to 1775

The Pennsylvania Assembly began meeting in the unfinished building by 1735, while construction continued around them. They governed as loyal British subjects under royal authority.

Workers completed the tower in 1753 and installed the State House bell. Cast in London, this bell (later renamed the Liberty Bell) rang out for official proclamations.

Governor John Penn conducted colonial business from the building’s chambers. The provincial council met regularly to enforce British policies across Pennsylvania.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania convened in the court chamber beginning in 1743. Judges appointed by the Crown heard cases ranging from property disputes to capital crimes.

By 1775, tensions with Britain transformed this royal government building into a hotbed of revolutionary sentiment as delegates from thirteen colonies gathered inside.

Jefferson’s Words Proclaimed July 4, 1776

On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted for independence in the Assembly Room. John Adams predicted this date would be celebrated “with pomp and parade” by future generations.

wo days later, on July 4, delegates approved Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence. This document proclaimed “all men are created equal” and entitled to “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Colonel John Nixon read the Declaration aloud for the first time on July 8 in Independence Square. The State House bell rang as crowds cheered America’s break from Britain.

On August 2, 56 brave men formally signed the Declaration. John Hancock made his famous oversized signature so “King George could read it without his spectacles.”

Washington Accepts Command June 15, 1775

The Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington as Commander-in-Chief on June 15, 1775. The 43-year-old Virginia planter accepted this crucial role in the Assembly Room.

Washington stood tall in his blue and buff uniform. He humbly stated he felt “unequal to the Command” but would serve with “every power in my possession.”

The delegates had chosen Washington for his military experience from the French and Indian War. His selection also helped unite northern and southern colonies against Britain.

From this same room, Congress created the Continental Navy on October 13, 1775. They established the Marine Corps less than a month later on November 10.

Even while preparing for war, Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III as a final peace attempt. His rejection sealed the path toward declaring independence.

Congress Flees Philadelphia December 12, 1776

British forces threatened Philadelphia in December 1776 after victories in New York. Congress evacuated the State House on December 12, taking the Declaration and other vital documents.

Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, carefully wrapped the original Declaration. He transported it first to Baltimore, where Congress reconvened on December 20.

The evacuation occurred during the American army’s darkest days. Washington’s forces had dwindled to fewer than 3,000 men as they retreated across New Jersey.

Congress later moved to Lancaster for one day, then settled in York, Pennsylvania for nine months. They conducted wartime business from a courthouse there until June 27, 1778.

The State House stood empty during this period, its future uncertain as the revolution hung in the balance and General Howe targeted Philadelphia.

Redcoats Occupy Assembly Room 1777-1778

British forces under General William Howe captured Philadelphia on September 26, 1777. They seized the State House after defeating Washington at Brandywine on September 11.

During their nine-month occupation ending June 18, 1778, British troops converted the first floor into barracks. Redcoat soldiers slept where independence had been declared just months earlier.

The British turned the second-floor Long Gallery into a hospital ward for wounded American prisoners. Men who fought for freedom suffered in captivity where that freedom was proclaimed.

Pennsylvania militiamen stormed the Supreme Court chamber during the occupation. They tore down King George III’s coat of arms in a symbolic act of defiance.

The occupation damaged both the building and its contents. Soldiers broke furniture, destroyed woodwork, and converted sacred spaces of liberty into tools of oppression.

55 Delegates Draft Constitution Summer 1787

A decade after independence, delegates from twelve states gathered at the State House on May 25, 1787. Their mission: replace the failing Articles of Confederation with a stronger government.

For four sweltering months, 55 delegates debated behind closed doors and sealed windows. James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” kept detailed notes that preserved these historic discussions.

The Convention nearly collapsed during the Great Compromise debate. Large states wanted representation by population; small states demanded equality.

Roger Sherman’s two-house legislature solution saved the proceedings. On September 17, 1787, 39 delegates signed the completed Constitution.

This remarkable document created America’s system of checks and balances, federalism, and separated powers. Benjamin Franklin, at 81 the eldest delegate, supported the Constitution despite reservations.

Franklin Sees Hope in Washington’s Chair 1787

George Washington presided over the Constitutional Convention from a mahogany chair crafted by Philadelphia cabinetmaker John Folwell in 1779. His leadership from this seat helped forge compromises.

The chair features a half-sun carved on its crest rail, topped by Liberty symbols. Additional carvings include cornucopias and grain sheaves representing Pennsylvania’s agricultural bounty.

As delegates signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787, Benjamin Franklin pointed to the chair’s sun decoration. He had wondered throughout the convention whether it depicted a rising or setting sun.

Franklin delivered his famous prophecy: “I have the happiness to know it is a rising and not a setting sun.” His words predicted America’s bright future under the new Constitution.

This “Rising Sun Chair” remains one of just four physical objects definitely known to exist from the Constitutional Convention. It sits today in its original position in the Assembly Room.

Supreme Court Meets 1791-1800 After Capital Moves

After the Constitution’s ratification, Philadelphia served as the temporary national capital from 1790 to 1800. The State House hosted multiple federal government functions during this decade.

The U.S. Supreme Court met in the old Pennsylvania Supreme Court chamber from 1791-1800. Chief Justice John Jay and his colleagues established crucial early precedents in this room.

Pennsylvania moved its capital to Lancaster in 1799, ending the building’s role as a state government center. The state sold the property to the City of Philadelphia in 1818 for $70,000.

Charles Willson Peale established his museum in the building from 1802-1828. His natural history collection included mastodon bones displayed alongside portraits of Revolutionary leaders.

When the Marquis de Lafayette visited in 1824, officials first called the Assembly Room “the Hall of Independence.” This new name gradually extended to the entire building.

1828 Strickland Steeple Creates Iconic Silhouette

The original wooden steeple, removed in 1781 due to rot, left Independence Hall incomplete for decades. In 1828, architect William Strickland designed a new steeple based on the original.

Strickland’s 168-foot-tall steeple created the iconic silhouette we recognize today. This addition allowed the building to reclaim its place as Philadelphia’s most distinctive landmark.

The Liberty Bell moved to a new location within the tower. In 1876, the larger Centennial Bell replaced it, ringing for America’s 100th birthday celebration.

The Centennial Exhibition of 1876 transformed the first floor into a “National Museum.” This event cemented the building’s role as a patriotic shrine during America’s first centennial.

In 1898, the “Mills wings” attached to the main building were removed. Workers replaced them with replicas of the original wings, restoring the building’s authentic colonial appearance.

1948 Restoration Returns Hall to Revolutionary Glory

A comprehensive 1948 restoration returned Independence Hall to its 1776 appearance. Teams of historians, architects, and craftspeople researched every detail of the original building.

Workers carefully inserted steel supports to stabilize the aging structure. They restored original paint colors, repaired woodwork, and recreated missing architectural elements.

Congress established Independence National Historical Park that same year through Public Law 795. This federal protection ensured the building’s future as America’s most significant historic site.

Lincoln’s Body Lies in State April 1865

President-elect Abraham Lincoln visited Independence Hall on February 22, 1861. With civil war looming, he addressed a crowd from the Assembly Room before his inauguration.

Lincoln declared he would “rather be assassinated” than abandon the principles established in the Declaration of Independence.

Just four years later, on April 22-23, 1865, Lincoln’s body returned to Independence Hall. Following his assassination at Ford’s Theatre, his remains lay in state in the Assembly Room.

More than 85,000 mourners filed past Lincoln’s casket over two days. The line stretched for blocks as citizens waited hours to pay final respects in America’s sacred birthplace.

Exploring Independence Hall Today

Step into the Assembly Room and stand where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. The room appears just as it did in 1787, with period furnishings arranged for the Constitutional Convention.

Examine George Washington’s “Rising Sun” chair at the front of the room. This authentic artifact remains in the same position where Washington presided over the creation of our government.

View the original Syng inkstand in the adjacent West Wing, where delegates dipped their quills in this silver standish to sign both the Declaration and Constitution.

Don’t forget to visit the Supreme Court Chamber with its judges’ bench and prisoner’s dock.

Visiting Independence Hall

Find Independence Hall at 520 Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets in Philadelphia.

Enter through security screening on 5th Street between Chestnut and Walnut.

Visit daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Free guided tours depart every 20 minutes from 10:00 am to 4:20 pm. Take self-guided tours from 9:00-9:50 am without tickets.

Reserve timed tickets from March through December at recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Tickets cost $1 per person (processing fee only). No tickets needed in January and February except holiday weekends.

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