Editing Carpenters Hall (section)

== Architectural Significance ==

Carpenters' Hall is recognized as one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Philadelphia. The building's cruciform plan, unusual for American colonial architecture, may have been influenced by English guild halls that Robert Smith encountered in architectural pattern books. The exterior features Flemish bond brickwork, a pedimented doorway, and a graceful wooden cupola that originally housed a bell. The interior woodwork, including elaborate cornices, pilasters, and door surrounds, showcases the craftsmanship of the Carpenters' Company members who built it—effectively serving as an advertisement for their skills to potential clients.<ref name="moss"/>

The building has been designated a National Historic Landmark and is included within the boundaries of Independence National Historical Park, though it remains privately owned by the Carpenters' Company. This status reflects both the building's architectural merit and its historical significance as the meeting place of the First Continental Congress. Carpenters' Hall stands as evidence that the American Revolution emerged not only from the grand halls of colonial government but also from the meeting rooms of tradesmen and craftsmen who sought to preserve their liberties against imperial overreach.<ref name="nps">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/places-carpentershall.htm |title=Carpenters' Hall |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=December 29, 2025}}</ref>