The Declaration of Independence was adopted in Independence Hall, the Philadelphia building then known as the Pennsylvania State House. America250 commemorates that adoption on July 4, 1776.
Independence Hall was the meeting place of the Second Continental Congress during the Revolutionary era. The building was also used for the Constitutional Convention in 1787, making it significant to both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Its original name reflects its colonial role before independence.
The building’s name changed over time as its historical importance expanded. It is now the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Declaration was publicly read in the nearby area now called Independence Square, while the congressional debates and formal adoption took place inside the State House.