Where were members of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission sworn in on November 16, 2018?

Members of the United States Semiquincentennial Commission were sworn in at Independence Hall on November 16, 2018.

The Philadelphia building was chosen because of its direct connection to the country’s founding. The Second Continental Congress met there when it debated and adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Delegates also met there during the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

Independence Hall was originally known as the Pennsylvania State House. Its better-known name reflects its association with independence and the Revolutionary period. The building is part of Independence National Historical Park and is a major historic site in Philadelphia.

The commission’s gathering there symbolically connected modern planning for America250 with the events being commemorated. The commission was created by Congress to promote and coordinate the national observance, while the wider America250 effort includes public programs, educational activities, and local celebrations.