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Independence National Historical Park
The Liberty Bell (foreground) and Independence Hall (background)
The Liberty Bell with Independence Hall as its backdrop.
Location Bounded by Chestnut, Walnut, 2nd, and 6th Sts., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Area 55.42 acres (22.43 ha)
Architect Strickland, William; Et al.
Architectural style(s) Colonial, Georgian, Federal
Visitors 3,572,770 (in 2011)
Governing body National Park Service
Website Independence National Historical Park
Designated October 15, 1966
Reference no. 66000683
Designated June 28, 1948
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Independence National Historical Park is a special historic area in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It protects many important places linked to the American Revolution and the start of the United States. The National Park Service manages this park, which is about 55 acres large. It includes many of Philadelphia's most visited historic spots. People often call it "America's most historic square mile." This is because it has so many famous landmarks.

The main part of the park is Independence Hall. This building is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were discussed and approved. Independence Hall was the main meeting place for the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1783. It also hosted the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

Right across from Independence Hall, you can see the Liberty Bell. This bell is a famous symbol of American freedom. It is on display at the Liberty Bell Center. The park also has other old buildings. These include the First Bank of the United States, which was the first bank approved by the U.S. Congress. There is also the Second Bank of the United States. President Andrew Jackson stopped its charter from being renewed.

Carpenters' Hall is another building in the park. The First Continental Congress met here. This building is privately owned, but it is part of the park. You can also find City Tavern, a rebuilt colonial inn. It was a favorite spot for the leaders of the time. John Adams even thought it was the best tavern in America.

Most of the park's historic buildings are near Chestnut, Walnut, 2nd, and 6th streets. The park also has Franklin Court. This is a museum dedicated to Benjamin Franklin and the United States Postal Service Museum. Three blocks north of Independence Hall are called Independence Mall. Here you will find the Liberty Bell Center, the National Constitution Center, and the Independence Visitor Center. This area also marks where the President's House used to be. The park also keeps historical items like the Syng inkstand. This inkstand was used when the Declaration and Constitution were signed.

The Fight for Freedom: American Revolution History

First Steps Towards Independence

The Intolerable Acts were laws that punished Boston for the Boston Tea Party. Because of these laws, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. They met at Carpenters' Hall from September 5 to October 26, 1774. This meeting created a plan for the colonies to stop buying British goods. This plan was called the Continental Association. They also decided to have a Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

On May 10, 1775, the Second Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House. This was after the Battles of Lexington and Concord started the American Revolutionary War. In July 1775, Congress sent the Olive Branch Petition to King George III. This letter said Americans were still loyal to Britain. It asked the King to prevent more fighting. But the King rejected it. In August 1775, he declared the colonies were in rebellion.

Declaring Independence

In February 1776, colonists learned that Britain passed the Prohibitory Act. This law blocked American ports and called American ships enemy vessels. This was almost like a declaration of war from Britain. But Congress could not declare independence right away. Each colony first had to allow its delegates to vote for independence.

On June 11, Congress chose the "Committee of Five." This group included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert R. Livingston, and Roger Sherman. Their job was to write an official declaration of independence. Congress approved the final Declaration on July 4, 1776. This day marked the birth of the United States of America. Many historians believe the Old State House Bell, now called the Liberty Bell, rang to celebrate the Declaration's reading on July 8.

Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States
Scene at the Signing of the Constitution of the United States by Howard Chandler Christy (1940)

Creating the U.S. Constitution

The Philadelphia Convention

After 1781, the U.S. government used the Articles of Confederation. This system gave the federal government very little power. It could not easily manage national issues or collect money. In September 1786, delegates met at the Annapolis Convention. They asked for a larger meeting in Philadelphia to discuss trade and government structure.

This led to the Philadelphia Convention. It met from May 14 to September 17, 1787, at the Pennsylvania State House. The Convention had many disagreements and different interests. But the delegates created the Constitution, which is often called a "bundle of compromises."

Big Ideas and Big Compromises

At the convention, James Madison presented the Virginia Plan. This plan suggested a national government with three branches. It also proposed that states would have votes based on their population. Larger states liked this plan. But smaller states worried they would lose power.

So, William Paterson created the New Jersey Plan. This plan suggested a single-house legislature. In this plan, each state would have one vote, no matter its size. This was similar to the Articles of Confederation. Roger Sherman then combined the two plans. His idea, called the Connecticut Compromise, passed on July 16, 1787. It passed by just one vote. Other big issues were slavery and how the federal government would control trade. These also led to important compromises.

Philadelphia: The First U.S. Capital

PhiladelphiaPresidentsHouse
The President's House, where George Washington (1790-1797) and John Adams (1797-1800) lived as presidents.

The Residence Act of 1790 allowed President George Washington to choose a permanent capital city. It would be along the Potomac River. But Robert Morris from Pennsylvania convinced Congress to make Philadelphia the temporary capital.

From 1790 to 1800, the same city block held federal, state, county, and city government offices. Congress Hall was originally built as the Philadelphia County Courthouse. It became the home of the United States Congress. The House of Representatives met on the first floor. The Senate met on the second floor.

While Congress Hall was the capital, three new states joined the U.S.: Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The Bill of Rights was also added to the Constitution. Both George Washington (for his second term) and John Adams became president here. The President's House was where President George Washington lived and worked. President John Adams also lived there from 1797 to 1800. Important laws like the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793 (a law about runaway enslaved people) and the Alien and Sedition Acts were signed at this house. The Supreme Court met at Old City Hall.

Pennsylvania leaders tried to keep the capital in Philadelphia. The city started building a huge new Presidential palace. They also expanded Congress Hall. But these efforts did not work. The federal government moved from Philadelphia for good on May 14, 1800.

Independence Hall: From State House to National Park

A Building's Journey

After the federal government moved to Washington, D.C., Independence Hall became a city building. The state government moved to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1812. The Pennsylvania State House was not used much anymore. The state even thought about selling it or tearing it down. In 1818, the City of Philadelphia bought the buildings. They used them until the city government moved to a new city hall later in the 1800s.

In 1852, the Liberty Bell was moved from its tower. It was put on public display inside Independence Hall. Between 1885 and 1915, the Liberty Bell traveled by train seven times. It went to different events and celebrations. After that, the city stopped allowing it to travel.

Independence Hall South Facade
South facade of Independence Hall

Creating a National Park

Over time, the area around Independence Hall became less important. But it was still a busy business center. In 1915, some architects suggested clearing the area in front of Independence Hall. They wanted to make a nice setting for the building. They also wanted to reduce fire risks and make the area more beautiful.

The idea for a park grew in the 1920s and 1930s. People felt more patriotic during the American Sesqui-Centennial in 1926. World War II also made people feel more strongly about protecting national monuments.

On June 28, 1948, Congress approved the creation of Independence National Historical Park. It officially opened on July 4, 1956. The park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. In 1973, Pennsylvania gave the three blocks of Independence Mall to the federal government. Independence Hall became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Exploring Independence Mall

Independence Hall
Chestnut Street facade of Independence Hall

Most of the park's buildings are in a large open area called Independence Mall. The National Constitution Center is at the north end. Independence Hall is at the south end. Fifth and Sixth Streets are on the east and west sides. City planner Ed Bacon created the Mall in the 1950s. He wanted an open space in the middle of historic Philadelphia.

Many buildings on the Mall site were from the late 1800s. They replaced older buildings destroyed by fires. People thought these newer buildings looked out of place next to the historic ones. So, they were torn down.

By 1959, almost all the old buildings on Independence Mall were gone. Only the Free Quaker Meetinghouse remained. This building was used as a warehouse before it was restored. In 1961, it was moved to make Fifth Street wider.

For the United States Bicentennial in 1976, the Liberty Bell was moved. It went from Independence Hall to a glass building called the Liberty Bell Pavilion. This was because Independence Hall could not hold the millions of visitors expected that year.

2012-07 view NCC to Indep Hall
Lawn of Independence Mall in 2012

In 1997, the National Park Service planned to redesign Independence Mall. New public buildings were built. The Independence Visitors Center opened in 2001. The National Constitution Center opened in 2003. The Liberty Bell moved into the Liberty Bell Center in 2003. The exhibits there also talk about slavery in U.S. history and its end.

At 6th and Market Street, there is a President's House memorial. It shows where the old mansion stood. It also honors the enslaved people who worked there. The original building was torn down in parts starting in 1835. Its last pieces were removed when Independence Mall was created.

Independence Mall is surrounded by other important places. These include the Philadelphia Mint, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and the National Museum of American Jewish History.

Syng inkstand
The Syng inkstand, used during the signings of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, is exhibited in the park

Key Sites in Independence National Historical Park

Other Nearby National Park Service Sites

These sites are managed by the National Park Service but are not inside Independence National Historical Park:

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