Independence Hall hosted both the Declaration of Independence debates and the 1787 Constitutional Convention.
Independence Hall stands in Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. When it was built, it was known as the Pennsylvania State House. The Second Continental Congress used the building while debating and adopting the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
Eleven years later, delegates met there for the Constitutional Convention from May to September 1787. George Washington presided over the convention, which produced the United States Constitution. The building therefore witnessed both the decision to declare independence and the effort to create a durable federal government.
The name Independence Hall became common during the nineteenth century. Its neighboring Liberty Bell Center preserves the bell traditionally associated with the independence era, though the bell’s famous crack developed after years of use. Independence Hall is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.