Independence+Hall



Independence Hall is located on Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets. This beautiful structure was constructed between 1732 and 1756 as the State House of the Province of Pennsylvania. From 1775 to 1783 (except for the winter of 1777 - 1778 when Philadelphia was occupied by the British Army) this was the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress. It was in the Assembly Room of this building that George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. In the same room the design of the American flag was agreed upon in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781, and the U. S. Constitution was drafted in 1787. The building, inside and out, has been restored whenever possible to its original late-18th century appearance. Most of the furnishing are period pieces. The "rising sun" chair used by George Washington as he presided over the Constitutional Convention is original.

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INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT INDEPENDENCE HALL
 * The basement once served as the city's dog pound
 * Ben Franklin would occasionally trip other delegates from his aisle seat
 * Windows were closed in the summer of 1787 so no one could overhear their conversations
 * It was the home of the Liberty Bell for over 200 years

WEBSITES http://www.nps.gov/inde/independence-hall-1.htm http://www.ushistory.org/tour/tour_indhall.htm