Editing Independence Hall (section)

=== Post-Colonial Era ===

Following the establishment of the federal government in New York City and later Washington, D.C., Independence Hall returned to use by Pennsylvania state and local government. The building underwent significant restoration in the 1820s under architect William Strickland, who designed the current steeple to replace the original structure that had been demolished in 1781 due to deterioration. Strickland's steeple, completed in 1828, rises 168 feet and 7¼ inches and incorporates a four-faced clock—the first of its kind in the tower.<ref name="nps-bells">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/bells-and-clocks.htm |title=The Bells and Clocks of Independence Hall |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref>

The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 and became the centerpiece of Independence National Historical Park, established in 1948 and managed by the National Park Service. UNESCO designated Independence Hall a World Heritage Site in 1979, recognizing that the "universal principles of the right to revolution and self-government, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, have profoundly influenced lawmakers and politicians around the world."<ref name="unesco"/>