Independence Hall
Independence Hall is a 18th century government building where both the United States Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution were signed. It is a strong anti-colonial and pro-liberty symbol.
From 1775 to 1783, Independence Hall served as the principal meeting place of the Second Continental Congress, a body of representatives from each of the thirteen British North American colonies. The United States Declaration of Independence was approved there on July 4, 1776, and the Declaration was read aloud to the public in the area now known as Independence Square. This document unified the colonies in North America who declared themselves independent of the Kingdom of Great Britain and explained their justifications for doing so.
The Hall was originally built between 1732 and 1753 to house the colonial government of Pennsylvania. The red brick building was designed in the Georgian style by Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton, and built by Woolley.
The bell tower steeple of Independence Hall was the original home of the "Liberty Bell". The original Liberty Bell, with its distinctive crack, is now on display across the street in the Liberty Bell Center.
Visit April 2009
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If you enter a city center by subway, it’s always a surprise what you will see when you pop your head above the ground. While Philadelphia’s subway is a story to itself, the first impression of Independence Hall isn’t too grand either. I turned my head around and saw the visitors center and blinking skyscrapers. So where’s Independence Hall? Ah, it must be that little brick building with the bell tower!
These ‘tiny’ colonial buildings are completely dwarved by later constructions. Clearly no building restrictions here. There’s also a huge modern terminal to hold … one bell!
Free tickets to visit Independence Hall can be picked up at the visitors center. These will include a specific time-slot, as the tours fill up quickly. My visit was scheduled for 1 pm, and I was bundled into a group with about 80 others. We first had to sit through a speech by a park ranger (a park ranger at a historic monument? Yes – this site is managed by the National Park Service). Then we went into the Hall itself. On the ground floor there are two rooms. They are filled with period furniture. One was the former court room, and the other the assembly room. This is were it all happened, the discussions among the Second Continental Congress and the signing of the documents.
The area now called Independence National Historical Park has a couple more relics from the same period. Liberty Bell of course, and the pretty Library Hall. In all, it’s an important site in US and World History but it didn’t live up to my expectations. I visited the National Mall in Washington a couple of days before, and felt that Philadelphia really lacks that grand atmosphere of a (former) capital.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
William Pieczara (United States of America):
I have visited Philadelpia National Park and I am in awe of the entire park and what it offers. You can actually see the rooms and sites where our "Founding Fathers" met, discussed debated, quarreled and heatedly discussed the actions and documents that have given Americans the freedom we experience on a daily basis. If you are an American an want to see where our country began, schedule a visit to Philadelphia National Park. |
| Date posted: August 2010 |
Timothy (United States):
I have visited this site many times as I used to live in the area and I found the above review to be rather superficial if not a bit uninformed. For starters there are many other buildings that make up Independence Historical Park scattered over several blocks including the First and Second Banks of the United States, the Mercantile Exchange and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the Revolutionary War that are given short shrift in the review.
To say the site is surrounded by "blinking skyscrapers" does not do justice to its history. Before the park was created in the 1940-50's the historic buildings were completely surrounded by the modern city and some were still in use by the city government of Philadelphia. After the US government took over management of the park an entire block of 19th-century buildings was demolished (not without controversy) to create an open vista (Independence Mall), buildings were restored to their 18th-C. appearance and a wave of gentrification swept over the neighborhood so that what was once a blighted downtown area became a cohesive 18th-C. Old Town along the European model. The adjacent neighborhoods of Society Hill and Washington Square contain many beautiful streets filled with 18th and 19th-century houses, churches and other buildings not officially part of the park but which add much to the overall ambiance.(Carpenter's Hall, Newmarket stalls, Quincy St., Delancey St., Christ Church Burial Ground, Philosophical Hall, St. Peter's Church, the Quaker Meeting House to name a few). This project spurred the reclamation and restoration of Colonial and Revolutionary War era buildings all across the United States and is really a triumph of historic preservation over neglect. In that way I think this site perfectly embodies the spirit of the UNESCO list.
Independence Hall and the other buildings in Independence Sq. are lovely examples of English colonial architecture. The fact that they are made of brick and "tiny" seems beside the point. The buildings were built for the colonial government of Pennsylvania and the city government of Philadelphia in the then-current Georgian style. The Federal government only occupied the buildings temporarily while the new capital was being built. They are not really the products of a national government, but of a small but thriving English provincial city.
I have known several Europeans who found Philadelphia to be charming. A few even pronounced it "very European" (apparently the highest compliment they can give.) Frankly I think a visit to Independence Historical Park more worthwhile than is credited in the review. Perhaps one only gets out of a visit to a site what one is willing to put into it. |
| Date posted: March 2010 |
Philip T.K. (Canada):
 Independence Hall is located in the heart of Philadelphia. One must receive a free ticket from the visitor center a block away in order to visit the building on a short tour. Only the first floor is shown and most of the objects are replicas; however, it is still very interesting. The Liberty Bell Center and Congress Hall are near Independence Hall and should also be visited. Other than the stern security guards (security clearance is needed in order to enter all buildings), every aspect of my visit was positive.
P.S. The world heritage plaque is located right outside the pre-tour meeting room so be ready with a camera if you want to have your picture taken with it as the tour will not wait for you! |
| Date posted: July 2006 |
Emilia Bautista King (U.S.A.):
Philly is certainly a city with lots of character. Independence Hall is worth visiting, even when you are a child. I was 7 or 8 when I went and even then I was thrilled about seeing the Liberty Bell and its big crack! |
| Date posted: March 2006 |
Ben Pastore (USA):
No matter what a person's view of the United States' government may be, no one can deny the importance the documents and designs that originated in this building have had upon the world. The hall itself is small, but its effects have been far reaching. This is a worthy addition to the list considering the history that happened and started here. |
| Date posted: June 2005 |
Klaus Freisinger (Austria):
Anyone interested in US history should see the city of Philadelphia, which is the actual birthplace of this country. Many important events that led to the founding of the United States took place there when New York was still a much smaller city and Washington not even a thought in the minds of the founding fathers. Independence Hall especially is important, since in this building both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. Because of this it is on the WH list, since the building itself is not bad but not really superlative. The whole surrounding area of downtown Philadelphia is protected as Independence National Historic Park, containing many interesting buildings and museums; most famous is the pavillion containing Liberty Bell. In general, Philadelphia is not the greatest city to visit, but its inner city does have redeeming qualities, and Independence Hall is very well worth a visit. |
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