What building hosted the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia?

Independence Hall hosted the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.

Delegates met there from May 25 to September 17, 1787, to address weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. Instead of merely revising the Articles, they drafted an entirely new framework for the federal government: the U.S. Constitution.

The building was known as the Pennsylvania State House during the founding era. Its later name, Independence Hall, reflects its association with the Declaration of Independence, which the Second Continental Congress adopted in 1776. The Continental Congress also used the building during the Revolutionary period.

The convention proceedings were conducted in private, allowing delegates to debate representation, executive power, taxation, commerce, and slavery without public transcripts of the discussions. The final Constitution was signed there on September 17, 1787. Independence Hall is now part of a national historical park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.