Independence Hall hosted both the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The building was then called the Pennsylvania State House and stood at the center of Philadelphia’s revolutionary political life.
The Continental Congress met there when it approved the Declaration, linking the building to the anniversary marked by America250. Eleven years later, delegates met in the same building to draft the United States Constitution. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, after months of debate.
The name Independence Hall became widely established after the American Revolution, reflecting the building’s association with independence. It is part of Independence National Historical Park, which also includes the Liberty Bell Center and other historic sites. The building’s dual role explains why it is associated with both the founding declaration and the later framework of government.