Independence Hall is a public building in Philadelphia, PA. Construction began in 1732; when it was completed in 1756, it served as the Pennsylvania State House. The Founding Fathers and colonial leaders met here to plan and shape the future of the new Nation.

Some of the most important events in United States history took place here. The Declaration of Independence was debated and ratified here on July 4, 1776, which is now celebrated as Independence Day. In 1781, the Articles of Confederation were ratified here as well.

From May to September of 1787, the Constitutional Convention was held in Independence Hall; the Convention, or series of meetings and debates, was held to revise the Articles of Confederation. During that summer, the delegates to the Convention eventually drafted the United States Constitution. Within Independence Hall’s Assembly Room, the Constitution was debated, ratified, and signed on September 17, 1787; the date is now celebrated as Constitution Day.

The individuals who gathered in the Assembly Room over the years were famous leaders in U.S. history: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and George Washington, among many others.

Independence Hall is a U.S. National Historic Landmark and was also the home of the Liberty Bell for over 200 years.

Independence Hall facts and figures:

• Independence Hall is represented on the back of the $100 bill and the Kennedy bicentennial half-dollar.
• The reverse side of the $2 bill shows the Assembly Room of Independence Hall from John Trumbull’s painting, The Declaration of Independence.

To learn more, see the National Park Service site.