On what date was the Declaration of Independence primarily signed?

The Declaration of Independence was primarily signed on August 2, 1776.

Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, but adoption and signing were separate stages. Most historians conclude that the principal signing ceremony occurred nearly a month later at the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now called Independence Hall.

The date is sometimes confused with July 4 because the engrossed document is dated July 4 and several early leaders later recalled that date as the signing date. Some delegates also signed later, so August 2 was not necessarily the date every name was added.

The completed document contains the names of 56 delegates. John Hancock’s name appears first, while the other signatures are arranged by state. The distinction between adoption and signing is one of the most frequently discussed details of the Declaration’s history.