Independence Hall

Independence Hall
Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were both debated and ratified
Location	520 Chestnut Street (between 5th and 6th Streets), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates	39°56′56″N 75°9′0″W / 39.94889°N 75.15000°W / 39.94889; -75.15000
Built	1753; 272 years ago (1753)
Architect	William Strickland (steeple)
Architectural style(s)	Georgian
Visitors	645,564 (in 2005[1])
Governing body	National Park Service[2]
Website	nps.gov/inde
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Type	Cultural
Criteria	vi
Designated	1979 (3rd session)
Reference no.	78
Region	Europe and North America
U.S. National Historic Landmark District Contributing Property
Designated	October 15, 1966
Part of	Independence National Historical Park
Reference no.	66000683[2]
Location in Philadelphia Show map of Philadelphia Location in Pennsylvania Show map of Pennsylvania Location in the United States Show map of the United States

Independence Hall is a historic civic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States were debated and adopted by the Founding Fathers of the United States. The building, which is the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1979.^[3]

It is one of the most recognizable buildings in the United States and an example of American Georgian architecture, which is characterized by symmetry, classical proportions, and exposed brick with stone masonry accents. The architecture creates a generous sense of interior space with ample natural lighting.

Construction of Independence Hall, which was initially called Pennsylvania State House, was completed in 1753. It served as the first capitol of the colonial era Province of Pennsylvania. Even back then, it was seen as "the greatest ornament in the town" and was a part of the ‘Map of Philadelphia and Parts Adjacent’ which showed only a little portion of the organized settlement in Pennsylvania but still had the drawing of the State House showcasing at the top. The building that represented the British culture on life within the American colonies, is now a symbol of liberty, democracy, and the founding of the United States.

During the American Revolutionary War, which broke out with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress convened in Independence Hall from 1775 to 1781. On June 14, 1775, inside Independence Hall, they founded the Continental Army and unanimously appointed George Washington as its commander-in- chief.

The following year, on July 4, 1776, inside Independence Hall, the 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, which was largely written over two weeks the prior month by Thomas Jefferson from his second-floor apartment on Market Street within walking distance of Independence Hall.

From May 25 to September 17, 1787, Independence Hall hosted the Constitutional Convention, where the U.S. Constitution, now the longest-standing written and codified national constitution in the world, was debated, drafted, and ratified.^[4]

In 1915, former U.S. president William Howard Taft presided over a convention at Independence Hall, where the League to Enforce Peace was formed, leading to formation of the League of Nations in 1920, and the United Nations a quarter century later, in 1945, following the end of World War II.^[5]

The National Park, of which Independence Hall is a part, surrounds it and creates acts a buffer zone between the building and the modern urban fabric. Independence Hall is being protected by security screening building entrance. The most significant pressures on the authenticity of the property relate to the large number of visitors, the degradation of the building due to air pollution and acid rain, and commercial development in the vicinity. Most of the urban air pollution is a result of the vehicular traffic on surrounding roads. This can lead to acid rain and surface degradation of the building’s brick, wood, and stone elements over time. Philadelphia has a humid climate with seasonal snow and rain as well as a wide range of seasonal temperatures, and face winds from west and northwest. These can cause biological growth, weathering, efflorescence, and moisture infiltration, which may weaken mortar joints and interior wood components and deteriorate historic materials. The high levels of tourists can also result in the wear and tear of the building and may also result in accidental damage from the visitors.^[6]