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| {{Infobox Museum | | {{Infobox LocalBusiness |
| | name = Independence Hall | | | name = Independence Hall |
| | image =
| | | type = Historic site |
| | image_caption = Independence Hall, south facade
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| | type = Historic site, UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
| | address = 520 Chestnut Street | | | address = 520 Chestnut Street |
| | neighborhood = Old City | | | neighborhood = Old City |
| | coordinates = 39.9489,-75.1500
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| | phone = (215) 965-2305 | | | phone = (215) 965-2305 |
| | website = https://www.nps.gov/inde | | | website = https://www.nps.gov/inde |
| | established = 1753 (as Pennsylvania State House) | | | established = 1753 (built); 1948 (national park) |
| | founder = Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly
| | | hours = Daily 9am-5pm |
| | director = National Park Service
| | | public_transit = 5th Street Station (MFL) |
| | collection_size = N/A
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| | annual_visitors = 750,000+
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| | admission = Free (timed tickets required)
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| | hours = Daily 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | |
| | public_transit = SEPTA Market-Frankford Line (5th Street Station) | |
| | architect = Andrew Hamilton, Edmund Woolley
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| | building = Pennsylvania State House
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| }} | | }} |
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| '''Independence Hall''' is a historic civic building located at 520 Chestnut Street in the [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]] neighborhood of [[Philadelphia]]. Originally constructed as the Pennsylvania State House between 1732 and 1753, the building served as the meeting place for the [[Second Continental Congress]] and the [[Constitutional Convention]], making it the site where both the [[Declaration of Independence]] (1776) and the [[United States Constitution]] (1787) were debated and adopted. Designated a [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Site in 1979, Independence Hall stands as one of the most significant landmarks in American history and remains the centerpiece of [[Independence National Historical Park]]. | | '''Independence Hall''' is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in [[Old City]], Philadelphia, where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and signed. Often called the "birthplace of American democracy," the Georgian building is the centerpiece of [[Independence National Historical Park]] and one of America's most significant historic sites.<ref name="inde">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/inde |title=Independence National Historical Park |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=December 23, 2025}}</ref> |
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| The building exemplifies American Georgian architecture, characterized by its symmetrical red brick facade, white trim, and distinctive bell tower rising 168 feet above Chestnut Street. General Lafayette reportedly referred to the structure as the "Hall of Independence" during his 1824 visit, giving rise to its current name.<ref name="nps-history">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/places-independencehall.htm |title=Independence Hall |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref>
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| == History == | | == History == |
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| === Design and Construction === | | === The Building === |
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| The history of Independence Hall dates to 1729, when the Pennsylvania Assembly authorized construction of "a House for the Assembly of this Province to meet in." Approximately 2,000 pounds sterling was committed to the project, and a committee including Thomas Lawrence, John Kearsley, and Assembly Speaker Andrew Hamilton was charged with selecting a site, acquiring plans, and contracting construction.<ref name="ushistory">{{cite web |url=https://www.ushistory.org/tour/independence-hall.htm |title=Historic Philadelphia Tour: Independence Hall |publisher=ushistory.org |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref>
| | Originally the Pennsylvania State House: |
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| Hamilton, a prominent attorney famous for his successful 1735 defense of Peter Zenger in the landmark freedom-of-the-press case, served as the guiding force behind the building's design. His plans closely resembled architectural pattern-book designs for English country houses. Hamilton and William Allen (later chief justice of the Province of Pennsylvania) were named trustees and authorized to purchase land for the proposed state house. By October 1730, they had acquired lots on Chestnut Street for the building's construction.<ref name="encyclopedia">{{cite web |url=https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/independence-hall/ |title=Independence Hall |publisher=Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref>
| | * '''1732''' — Construction began |
| | * '''1753''' — Completed |
| | * '''1775-1787*** — Revolutionary and Constitutional events |
| | * '''1799*** — Pennsylvania government moved to Lancaster |
| | * '''1818*** — Purchased by Philadelphia |
| | * '''1948*** — National Park Service assumed management |
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| Construction proceeded as funds became available, resulting in piecemeal completion over two decades. Master builder Edmund Woolley supervised the actual construction. By 1741, Hamilton had died and funding had run out, leaving the project incomplete. The Assembly Room received its interior finish in 1742, and by 1749 the rest of the building stood complete, including an octagonal cupola on the rooftop. In 1750, the Assembly ordered construction of a structure to house a new staircase and "a suitable place thereon for hanging a bell." Edmund Woolley again supervised this work, and by mid-1753 the steeple was complete enough to raise the bell—now known as the [[Liberty Bell]]—to its place.<ref name="nps-history"/>
| | === The Declaration of Independence === |
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| === Revolutionary Era ===
| | * '''June 1776''' — Continental Congress debated independence |
| | * '''July 2, 1776*** — Congress voted for independence |
| | * '''July 4, 1776''' — Declaration adopted |
| | * Document read publicly July 8, 1776 |
| | * John Hancock's famous signature |
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| The Second Continental Congress began meeting in the State House in May 1775, following the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington and Concord. Within these walls, George Washington was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. On July 2, 1776, delegates in the east room on the first floor—now known as the Assembly Room—resolved to break from Great Britain, and on July 4, they approved the Declaration of Independence.<ref name="unesco">{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/78/ |title=Independence Hall |publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref>
| | === The Constitution === |
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| The building witnessed the signing of the Articles of Confederation in 1781, establishing the first framework of American government. However, the limitations of the Articles soon became apparent, leading to calls for a stronger federal government.
| | * '''May-September 1787''' — Constitutional Convention |
| | * '''September 17, 1787*** — Constitution signed |
| | * Debates held in secret |
| | * George Washington presided |
| | * "We the People..." replaced the Articles of Confederation |
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| === Constitutional Convention === | | == The Building Today == |
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| In May 1787, delegates from twelve states (Rhode Island declined to participate) convened at Independence Hall for what became known as the Constitutional Convention. Meeting in the same Assembly Room where independence had been declared eleven years earlier, delegates debated throughout the hot summer of 1787 with the windows shut to maintain secrecy. After months of deliberation and compromise, the United States Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, providing the framework for the nation's government that endures to this day.<ref name="constitutional">{{cite web |url=https://www.theconstitutional.com/blog/2016/03/15/independence-hall-history |title=Independence Hall History |publisher=The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref>
| | === Assembly Room === |
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| George Washington presided over the Convention from a chair featuring a carved half-sun on its back. [[Benjamin Franklin]], at 81 the oldest delegate present, reportedly remarked upon the Constitution's signing that he had often wondered during the debates whether the sun on Washington's chair was rising or setting. "Now at length I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting Sun." This "rising sun chair" remains in the Assembly Room today.<ref name="nps-history"/>
| | Where history happened: |
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| === Post-Colonial Era ===
| | * Original chairs used by delegates |
| | * Rising Sun chair (Washington's seat) |
| | * Inkstand used to sign both documents |
| | * Silver inkstand on display |
| | * Period furnishings throughout |
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| 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>
| | === Other Rooms === |
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| 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"/>
| | * '''Long Gallery''' — Banquet hall on second floor |
| | * '''Governor's Council Chamber''' |
| | * '''Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chamber''' |
| | * '''Committee rooms''' |
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| == Architecture == | | == Visiting == |
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| Independence Hall is considered a premier example of American Georgian architecture, a style characterized by symmetry, classical proportions, and exposed brick with stone masonry accents. The building features a red brick exterior with white wooden trim and a prominent central tower.
| | === Tours === |
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| The most recognizable architectural feature is the 168-foot bell tower and steeple, designed by William Strickland in 1828 to replace the deteriorated original. The Strickland steeple differs from its predecessor in incorporating a clock with faces on four sides, each copper dial measuring eight feet in diameter. The Isaiah Lukens clockworks required a taller structure to accommodate the clock weights, resulting in the greater height compared to the original 1750s tower.<ref name="nps-bells"/>
| | {| class="wikitable" |
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| | ! Detail !! Information |
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| | | '''Hours''' || Daily 9am-5pm |
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| | | '''Cost''' || Free (timed tickets required March-December) |
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| | | '''Tickets''' || Reserve at recreation.gov or same-day at Visitor Center |
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| | | '''Tour length''' || ~30 minutes |
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| | | '''Format''' || Ranger-guided tours |
| | |} |
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| The building's interior retains much of its 18th-century character, particularly in the Assembly Room. Arranged in its original configuration from the Constitutional Convention, the room features period furnishings beneath a glittering antique chandelier. Visitors can view artifacts from the era, including George Washington's rising sun chair and the silver inkstand used to sign both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
| | === Getting Tickets === |
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| == Visiting Independence Hall ==
| | * '''March-December''' — Timed tickets required |
| | * '''January-February''' — Walk-up access, no tickets |
| | * '''Reserve online*** — Up to 60 days ahead at recreation.gov |
| | * '''Same-day*** — Available at Independence Visitor Center (limited) |
| | * '''Arrive early''' — Peak season tickets go quickly |
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| === Tickets and Admission === | | === Security === |
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| All visitors must obtain a timed entry ticket to enter Independence Hall. Tickets are free but required to manage crowd flow and preserve the historic site. Visitors can secure tickets online in advance through [https://www.recreation.gov Recreation.gov] or at the Independence Visitor Center at 6th and Market Streets. Walk-up tickets are available but limited, especially during peak seasons (spring through fall and holiday weekends).<ref name="nps-tickets">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/independencehalltickets.htm |title=Independence Hall Tickets |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref> | | * All visitors pass through security screening |
| | * Enter at Chestnut Street |
| | * No large bags, weapons, or prohibited items |
| | * Allow extra time for screening |
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| Admission to Independence Hall is completely free. While timed entry tickets are required, there is no charge for the tickets themselves when obtained at the Visitor Center. Tickets booked online through Recreation.gov carry a small service fee.
| | == The Liberty Bell == |
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| === Tours ===
| | [[Liberty Bell Center]] is directly adjacent: |
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| Standard ranger-led tours of Independence Hall last approximately 20 minutes and depart every 20 minutes throughout the day from 10:40 AM to 4:00 PM. An extended 40-minute tour is offered at 4:20 PM daily. All visits are conducted via mandatory guided tours—visitors cannot explore the building independently.<ref name="nps-visiting">{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/independencehall.htm |title=Visiting Independence Hall |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=December 22, 2025}}</ref>
| | * Bell originally hung in Independence Hall tower |
| | * Rang for readings of the Declaration |
| | * Cracked in 1846 |
| | * Now displayed in separate building |
| | * Free admission, no tickets required |
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| Visitors should arrive at the security screening entrance on Chestnut Street at least 15-30 minutes before their scheduled tour time. During peak season (March through Labor Day), arriving 30 minutes early is recommended. The security process is similar to airport screening—large bags, weapons, and certain other items are prohibited.
| | == Surrounding Area == |
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| === The Liberty Bell === | | === Independence National Historical Park === |
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| The [[Liberty Bell]] is not inside Independence Hall. The bell is displayed in the Liberty Bell Center, a separate building located across Chestnut Street from Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell Center is free to visit and does not require tickets—visitors simply pass through a security screening. The bell originally hung in Independence Hall's steeple from 1753 until it was moved in 1846 after the crack expanded and rendered it unringable.
| | Independence Hall is the centerpiece of a larger park: |
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| === Hours and Closures ===
| | * [[Liberty Bell Center]] |
| | * [[Franklin Court]] |
| | * Congress Hall |
| | * Old City Hall |
| | * [[Second Bank of the United States]] |
| | * [[Carpenters' Hall]] |
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| Independence Hall is open seven days a week, including weekends and most federal holidays. Standard operating hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, with the last tour departing at 4:20 PM. The security screening area closes 15 minutes before building closure or earlier if all tours are full. Hours may vary seasonally; visitors should check the official NPS website before planning their visit.
| | == Getting There == |
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| '''Important:''' Independence Hall will be closed to visitors from November 13, 2025, to January 28, 2026, for comprehensive interior preservation work in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.<ref name="nps-visiting"/> | | * '''SEPTA Subway''' — 5th Street Independence Hall Station (Market-Frankford Line) |
| | * '''Walking''' — Central Old City location |
| | * '''Parking''' — Nearby garages (no dedicated lot) |
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| === Photography === | | == Frequently Asked Questions == |
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| Photography is permitted inside Independence Hall for personal, non-commercial use. Flash photography and tripods are not allowed, and visitors should be mindful of tour group flow when taking pictures. Video recording is also permitted under the same guidelines.
| | {{FAQ |
| | |q1=Do I need tickets for Independence Hall? |
| | |a1=Yes, from March through December, timed tickets are required for Independence Hall tours (free but limited). Reserve at recreation.gov up to 60 days ahead, or try for same-day tickets at the Independence Visitor Center. January-February offers walk-up access. |
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| === Transportation and Parking === | | |q2=What happened at Independence Hall? |
| | |a2=The Declaration of Independence was adopted here on July 4, 1776, and the U.S. Constitution was signed here on September 17, 1787. The building served as Pennsylvania's colonial and state capitol and hosted the Continental Congress. |
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| There is no dedicated parking lot at Independence Hall, but several public parking garages operate within walking distance in [[Old City, Philadelphia|Old City]] and [[Center City]]. Street parking with meters is available but limited. The most convenient option for visitors is public transportation—the [[SEPTA]] Market-Frankford Line stops at 5th Street Station, one block from Independence Hall. Multiple SEPTA bus routes also serve the area.
| | |q3=How long is the Independence Hall tour? |
| | |a3=Ranger-guided tours last approximately 30 minutes. The tour takes you through the main first-floor rooms, including the Assembly Room where both the Declaration and Constitution were signed. |
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| === Accessibility === | | |q4=Is the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall? |
| | |a4=No, the Liberty Bell is now housed in the Liberty Bell Center, a separate building across Chestnut Street from Independence Hall. The bell originally hung in Independence Hall's tower but was moved to its own building in 2003. |
| | }} |
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| Independence Hall is wheelchair accessible. Ramps provide access to the building, and accessible restrooms are available. Service animals are permitted on tours. Assistive listening devices are available for guided tours upon request at the Independence Visitor Center.
| | == See Also == |
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| == Significance == | |
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| Independence Hall's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site recognizes its outstanding universal value as the birthplace of American democracy. Two of the most important documents in American history were signed here: the '''Declaration of Independence''' (August 2, 1776, though approved July 4, 1776) and the '''United States Constitution''' (September 17, 1787). The Articles of Confederation were also signed here in 1781.
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| The fundamental concepts, format, and substantive elements of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution have influenced governmental charters in many nations and even the United Nations Charter itself.<ref name="unesco"/>
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| The building draws approximately 750,000 visitors annually, making it one of Philadelphia's most visited attractions and a cornerstone of the city's tourism economy. As part of Independence National Historical Park—often called "America's most historic square mile"—Independence Hall anchors a collection of sites that includes the Liberty Bell Center, [[Congress Hall]], [[Carpenters' Hall]], and the [[Benjamin Franklin]] Museum.
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| == See Also ==
| | * [[Liberty Bell Center]] |
| * [[Liberty Bell]] | | * [[Franklin Court]] |
| | * [[Old City]] |
| * [[Independence National Historical Park]] | | * [[Independence National Historical Park]] |
| * [[Declaration of Independence]]
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| * [[Constitutional Convention]]
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| * [[Benjamin Franklin]]
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| * [[Old City, Philadelphia]]
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| * [[Congress Hall]]
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| * [[Carpenters' Hall]] | | * [[Carpenters' Hall]] |
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| == External Links == | | == External Links == |
| * [https://www.nps.gov/inde National Park Service - Independence National Historical Park] | | |
| * [https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/234639 Independence Hall Tickets - Recreation.gov] | | * [https://www.nps.gov/inde National Park Service - Independence] |
| * [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/78/ UNESCO World Heritage Site Listing]
| | * [https://www.recreation.gov Recreation.gov - Tickets] |
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| {{#seo: | | {{#seo: |
| |title=Independence Hall - Philadelphia's Birthplace of American Democracy | | |title=Independence Hall - Birthplace of American Democracy in Philadelphia |
| |description=Complete guide to Independence Hall in Philadelphia, UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were signed. Tour info, tickets, history, and visitor tips. | | |description=Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. UNESCO World Heritage Site in Old City Philadelphia. Free tours with timed tickets. |
| |keywords=Independence Hall Philadelphia, UNESCO World Heritage Site Philadelphia, Declaration of Independence signing location, U.S. Constitution birthplace | | |keywords=Independence Hall, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Philadelphia, Old City, National Park Service, UNESCO, American Revolution |
| |type=Article | | |type=Article |
| }} | | }} |
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| | [[Category:Landmarks]] |
| [[Category:Historic Sites]] | | [[Category:Historic Sites]] |
| [[Category:Attractions]]
| | [[Category:Old City]] |
| [[Category:Old City, Philadelphia]] | | [[Category:American Revolution]] |
| [[Category:Revolutionary War]] | |
| [[Category:UNESCO World Heritage Sites]] | | [[Category:UNESCO World Heritage Sites]] |
| [[Category:National Historic Landmarks]]
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