What was the original name of the building now called Independence Hall?

The building now called Independence Hall was originally named the Pennsylvania State House.

Located in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania State House hosted the Second Continental Congress when it adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The building later became known as Independence Hall because of its association with the independence movement and the founding of the United States.

The same building also hosted the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where delegates drafted the United States Constitution. Its two major founding-era uses helped make it one of the most important historic sites in the country.

A common mix-up is treating Independence Hall as if it had always carried that name. The name “Pennsylvania State House” reflected its original role as the colonial legislature’s building. The later name emphasizes the national events that occurred there, including the action commemorated by America250.