The first United States Semiquincentennial commissioners were sworn in at Independence Hall.
The ceremony took place in Philadelphia on November 16, 2018. The location was symbolically important because Independence Hall was the site where the Second Continental Congress debated and adopted the Declaration of Independence and where the Constitutional Convention later met.
The commission’s first organizing meeting followed the swearing-in ceremony. Its members began planning an eight-year national effort leading to the 250th anniversary. The original body included private citizens, members of Congress, and federal officials, reflecting the commission’s broad congressional structure.
Independence Hall was formerly known as the Pennsylvania State House, a name that can create confusion with nearby historic buildings. It is also distinct from Congress Hall, which served as the meeting place of the U.S. Congress in Philadelphia after the Constitution took effect.