Philadelphia was the meeting place of the Second Continental Congress when it adopted the Declaration of Independence.
Delegates gathered in Pennsylvania’s colonial capital, an important political and commercial center in British North America. The Congress debated independence there, approved the Lee Resolution on July 2, 1776, and adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
The document is traditionally associated with Independence Hall, then known as the Pennsylvania State House. The building later became one of the best-known landmarks connected with the American Revolution and the nation’s founding.
Philadelphia’s role explains why it received special attention in planning for the 2026 semiquincentennial. Federal legislation identified Philadelphia, Boston, Charleston, and New York City as leading cities for anniversary events because of their Revolutionary-era significance.