Past: Independence Hall (1753)
When the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1776, they met at the Philadelphia State House, now known as Independence Hall. There, luminaries like John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson picked up their pens and signed the American Declaration of Independence. In 1787, the United State Constitution would also be signed here. Because these documents were so critical in creating the framework of the new United States government, Independence Hall is considered the “birthplace of America.” It has been the center point for political and social movements, political speeches, and appears on the United States $100 bill. Today, about 2.7 million people visit the restored Georgian-style Independence Hall.
