Independence Hall
Constructed between 1732 and 1756 to serve as the State House of the Province of Pennsylvania, Independence Hall is the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Today's guided tours of Independence Hall include its courtroom and Assembly Room, which features the original "rising sun" chair that George Washington used as he presided over the Constitutional Convention.
The West Wing is home to the original inkstand used to sign the Declaration, as well as an original draft of the Constitution. Independence Hall's Georgian architecture has been restored to its original late 18th century appearance and the majority of its furnishings are period pieces.
Independence Hall is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. Visitors must pick up their free timed tour tickets, available the morning of their visit, at the Independence Visitor Center, located adjacent to Independence Hall; these tickets are required March to December and are used to eliminate long waits. Tickets tend to be gone by 1 PM, so visitors should plan on picking them up as early as possible. The Independence Visitors Center opens at 8:30 AM.
Each visitor can take up to 10 tickets for a family and up to 80 tickets for a group. Timed tour tickets can also be reserved online up to one year in advance for just $1.50 per ticket. Independence Hall is accessible by public transportation and parking is available at the visitor center's underground lots. For more information: 215-965-2305
