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Independence Hall
Birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
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Click on the photo above to view a slideshow of Independence Hall
Top photo by J. Smith for GPTMC, bottom photo by G. Widman for GPTMC
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Tickets
Free tickets are available at the Independence Visitor Center.
Independence Hall is open 365 days a year.
Hours vary by season.
Kids Stuff
If the story of Independence doesn’t get them, the mini-jail in the courtroom where defendants literally “stood trial” will.
Visiting
Independence Hall is open 365 days a year. Hours vary by season.
Tickets
Tickets are required for admission. Free, walk-up tickets are available for pick up at the Independence Visitor Center on the day of your visit starting at 8:30 a.m. Arrive early — during the busy season, tickets are often gone by 1 p.m.
To guarantee a ticket and to avoid waiting in the walk-up ticket line, consider purchasing timed tickets ($1.50 each) in advance, either by phone or online. Click here for more information about tickets.
Location
Independence Hall is located at the southeast corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets. Click here to view on map.
VIEW ON MAP
Slideshow
Click here to preview the Independence Hall experience via our brand new slideshow feature.
The Experience
They risked everything — “their lives, their fortune and their sacred honor.” During the blistering summer of 1776, 56 courageous men gathered at the Pennsylvania State House and defied the King of England. Eleven years later, representatives from 12 states gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution, finally creating one unified nation.
The guided tour of Independence Hall, led by National Park rangers, begins in the courtroom where lawyers from opposing sides shared tables and law books.
George Washington’s “rising sun” chair dominates the Assembly Room which is arranged as it was during the Constitutional Convention. In the adjacent West Wing, the original inkstand used to sign the Declaration and an original draft of the Constitution are displayed.
History
After the Revolutionary War, the fledgling nation was in chaos and bordering on collapse. Each state had its own monetary system and trade laws. There was no centralized system of defense. Yet many were wary of a strong central government. Debates were bitter but the checks and balances provided by three branches of government alleviated concerns. In 1787, the US Constitution was adopted.
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