Independence Hall Audio Guide

Independence Hall: what does the audio guide cover?

1. 01

   Welcome to Independence Hall

   Welcome to 520 Chestnut Street, the very spot where the United States was born. You are standing before Independence Hall, a stately red-brick building that serves as a global symbol of freedom and the pursuit of self-governance. While it looks like a peaceful monument today, this site was once the center of a political earthquake that reshaped the world. Originally built as the Pennsylvania State House, this building served as the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress and later the Constitutional Convention. As you look up at the elegant Georgian facade and the towering steeple, try to imagine the heat and tension of a Philadelphia summer in the late 1700s, when men in powdered wigs gathered here to debate ideas that would eventually change the course of human history. It was right here that the United States transitioned from a collection of British colonies into a sovereign nation.

2. 02

   The Room Where It Happened

   Step inside your imagination and enter the Assembly Room, the most historically significant room in the country. This square chamber is where two of the most pivotal documents in democratic history were debated and signed: the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the United States Constitution in 1787. The room today is a meticulous restoration, designed to look exactly as it did during those intense sessions. You will see 13 tables covered in green cloth, representing the original 13 colonies. Look for the silver Syng inkstand on the presiding officer's table; it is the very one used by legendary figures like Benjamin Franklin and John Hancock to sign their names to the Declaration. For a smooth experience, remember that you should arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time to clear the security screening located on the south side of the building.

3. 03

   A Country House in the City

   The architecture of Independence Hall is a masterpiece of the Georgian style, characterized by its strict symmetry and classical proportions. Completed in 1753, the building was designed primarily by master builder Edmund Woolley and lawyer Andrew Hamilton. Unlike many urban public buildings of the time, its design was actually inspired by English country houses, giving it a sense of balance and gravity without being overly ornate. The exterior features beautiful marble keystones over the windows and a carved wooden cornice that stretches along the roofline. Note the tower on the south side; this was added shortly after the main building was finished to house a staircase and a very famous belfry. That belfry once held the Liberty Bell, which rang out to mark the reading of the Declaration of Independence to the public for the first time on July eighth, 1776.

4. 04

   The Legend of the Rising Sun

   At the front of the Assembly Room sits a very special piece of furniture known as the Rising Sun Chair. This mahogany armchair, crafted by Philadelphia cabinetmaker John Folwell in 1779, was used by George Washington during the four long months of the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The chair gets its name from a famous quip by Benjamin Franklin. As the final delegates were signing the Constitution, Franklin looked at the half-sun carved into the back of the chair and remarked that he had often wondered throughout the summer if that sun was rising or setting. With the successful completion of the document, he happily declared that he now knew it was a rising sun, symbolizing the dawn of a new nation. It is a powerful reminder of the optimism and uncertainty that defined the American experiment. If you have mobility needs, please note that the first floor of the Hall is fully accessible via a ramp located on Fifth Street.

5. 05

   Beyond the Hall

   As you finish your visit to Independence Hall, take a moment to look around at the rest of the square. This building was the anchor for one of America's first true civic centers. Just to the west, you will find Congress Hall, where the United States Congress met while Philadelphia was the national capital from 1790 to 1800. To the east is Old City Hall, which once housed the first United States Supreme Court. Even the West Wing of the building you just saw holds the Great Essentials exhibit, featuring original printed copies of the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Articles of Confederation. There is so much more to discover in this historic district, from the crack in the Liberty Bell across the street to the footprints of the President’s House just a block away. What other stories are waiting to be found in the shadows of these red-brick walls?