Omar Bennett
Independence Hall in Philadelphia is a historic civic building and the birthplace of America. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both debated, drafted, and signed inside this building. The Assembly Room is the heart of Independence Hall, and it is where the Founding Fathers of the United States signed the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The building was constructed in 1732 and initially called the Pennsylvania State House. It served as the first capitol of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Construction Year | 1732 or 1753 |
| Building Name | Independence Hall, Pennsylvania State House |
| Events | Signing of the Declaration of Independence, Signing of the U.S. Constitution, Appointment of George Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, Adoption of the Articles of Confederation, Appointment of Benjamin Franklin as Postmaster General |
| Artifacts | Syng Inkstand, Liberty Bell, Original Paintings of Founding Fathers, "Rising Sun" Chair |
| Current Status | Designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park |
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What You'll Learn
Independence Hall is in Philadelphia
Independence Hall, a historic civic building in Philadelphia, is the birthplace of America. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated, drafted, and signed inside this building. The building, which is the centrepiece of Independence National Historical Park, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979.
The Assembly Room is the heart of Independence Hall and the room where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. The Assembly Room then became a shrine to the founding of the nation, showcasing the Liberty Bell and original oil paintings of the Founding Fathers. The room has also served as a reception area for visitors meeting with Pennsylvania's governor, a place to host celebrations and dinners, and, during the Revolutionary War, when the British were occupying Philadelphia, this room was used to house wounded American prisoners of war.
The history of Independence Hall goes back to 1732, the same year that George Washington was born. In 1732, Philadelphia was only 50 years old but was already the largest city in the American Colonies and the capital city of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s colonial government chose a plot of land west of 5th Street on Chestnut Street for the construction of a new State House. The building was completed in 1753 and initially called the Pennsylvania State House.
From May 25 to September 17, 1787, Independence Hall hosted the Constitutional Convention, where the U.S. Constitution was debated, drafted, and ratified. The Founding Fathers finally reached a consensus and signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
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The Assembly Room is where the Constitution was signed
The Assembly Room is the heart of Independence Hall, a historic civic building in Philadelphia. It is the room where the Constitution was signed, along with the Declaration of Independence.
The Assembly Room was once the principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress, a body of representatives from each of the thirteen British North American colonies. On June 14, 1775, delegates of the Continental Congress gathered in the Assembly Room to establish the Continental Army and appoint George Washington as its commander-in-chief. The Congress also appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General of what later became the United States Post Office Department.
On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was unanimously approved in Independence Hall and read aloud to the public in the area now known as Independence Square. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed in the Assembly Room, with the Constitution being signed on September 17, 1787.
The Assembly Room later became a shrine to the founding of the nation, displaying the Liberty Bell and original paintings of the Founding Fathers. President-elect Abraham Lincoln visited the Assembly Room before his inauguration and praised the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence. After his assassination, Lincoln's body lay in repose in the Assembly Room for two days, with upwards of 85,000 mourners passing by the casket.
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The Syng inkstand was used to sign the Constitution
The Syng inkstand is believed to have been used to sign the United States Constitution. The inkstand was originally the property of the State of Pennsylvania and was moved to the state capital in Harrisburg after the Constitutional Convention ended in 1787. It was returned to Philadelphia in 1876, on the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and became famous. It was displayed in Independence Hall on a desk in front of George Washington's chair.
The Syng inkstand is now on display in a special case in Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, along with copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The inkstand has a long history associated with Independence Hall. It is believed to have been used not just for the signing of the Constitution but also for the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The Constitutional Convention, which drafted and signed the Constitution, was hosted in Independence Hall from May 25 to September 17, 1787. The Hall, located in Philadelphia, served as the principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress, a body of representatives from each of the thirteen British North American colonies. On June 14, 1775, delegates of the Continental Congress, gathered in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania State House, established the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander-in-chief.
Independence Hall, initially called the Pennsylvania State House, was completed in 1753 and served as the first capitol of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. It is the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park and was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979. The Assembly Room is the heart of Independence Hall, and it is where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.
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The Liberty Bell rang out after the Declaration of Independence
Independence Hall in Philadelphia is a historic civic building where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated and adopted by the Founding Fathers of the United States. The Assembly Room is the heart of Independence Hall and the room where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.
The Liberty Bell, which once hung in the belltower of Independence Hall, is believed to have rung to celebrate the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. While there is no evidence to support this claim, it is likely that the bell was among those rung in commemoration when the Declaration was read publicly in Philadelphia. The first public reading took place four days after the unanimous adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and was read aloud in the area now known as Independence Square.
The Liberty Bell was originally known as the State House Bell and was hidden under the floorboards of a church in Allentown when the British occupied Philadelphia. It was returned to Philadelphia in June 1778 and placed in storage until 1785, when it was again mounted for ringing. The bell was placed on an upper floor of the State House, which was later named Independence Hall, and was rung on Independence Day, on Washington's birthday, and on election day to remind voters to cast their ballots.
The bell was made in 1751 by the Pennsylvania Assembly to mark the 50-year anniversary of William Penn's 1701 Charter of Privileges, which served as Pennsylvania's original Constitution. The bell features the Bible verse, "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." The Liberty Bell has become a symbol of the nation's independence and has appeared on several U.S. postage stamps and the current $100 note.
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Independence Hall was completed in 1753
Independence Hall, initially called the Pennsylvania State House, was completed in 1753. It was designed in the Georgian style, with a red brick facade, a central building with a belltower and steeple, and two smaller wings. The building served as the first capitol of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania.
The State House was built between 1732 and 1753, designed by Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton, and constructed by Woolley. The Pennsylvania colonial legislature commissioned its construction and paid for it as funds became available, leading to a piecemeal construction process. The building initially housed the colonial government of Pennsylvania from 1732 to 1799.
In 1753, Thomas Stretch, the son of council member Peter Stretch, erected a giant clock at the building's west end. This clock, resembling a tall or grandfather clock, had a 40-foot-tall limestone base and a 14-foot wooden case surrounding the clock face. The clock was removed around 1830, and a new clock designed by Isaiah Lukens was installed in 1828.
Independence Hall played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. From 1775 to 1781, it served as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress, which founded the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander-in-chief on June 14, 1775. On July 4, 1776, the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress unanimously approved the Declaration of Independence inside Independence Hall.
The Assembly Room within Independence Hall is particularly notable as the place where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. The room also witnessed the appointment of Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General, marking the beginnings of the United States Post Office Department.
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Frequently asked questions
Independence Hall is in Philadelphia.
It was originally called the Pennsylvania State House.
Construction of Independence Hall was completed in 1753.
Independence Hall served as the first capitol of the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania. It housed all three branches of Pennsylvania's colonial government.
The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed in Independence Hall.
