Independence Hall hosted the 1787 Constitutional Convention that produced the United States Constitution.
The Philadelphia building was originally called the Pennsylvania State House. From May 25 to September 17, 1787, delegates met there to address weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation. Instead of merely revising that document, they drafted an entirely new Constitution.
The convention’s delegates included George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and delegates from twelve states. Rhode Island did not send delegates. The convention completed and signed the Constitution on September 17, 1787.
Independence Hall is also associated with the Declaration of Independence. The Second Continental Congress adopted that document there on July 4, 1776. The building therefore connects two foundational moments: declaring independence and designing the federal government. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.