Independence Hall: then and now

about 1900 vs 2013 · Philadelphia, PA

NowThen

Then, about 1900A color-tinted photo of Independence Hall from around 1900, held by the Library of Congress.Photo: Library of Congress · Public domain · Source · resized

Today, 2013Independence Hall and its clock tower seen across the park. Photo from 2013.Photo: Kwdavids · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source · resized

The story

The building was built from 1732 to 1753 as the Pennsylvania State House. Edmund Woolley and Andrew Hamilton designed it.

The Declaration of Independence was adopted here on July 4, 1776. The U.S. Constitution was drafted here at the Constitutional Convention from May 25 to September 17, 1787, in the Assembly Room.

The original wooden steeple rotted and was removed in 1781. A new, more elaborate steeple by William Strickland was added in 1828. The site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.

Did you know? Two of the country's founding documents were created in one room.

Historians argue about this. Nothing big is disputed here. The common mistake is thinking the steeple is the original.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidThe Declaration of Independence was adopted at Independence Hall in 1776.
Wikipedia: adopted there on July 4, 1776.
Not trueThe steeple on Independence Hall today is the original from the 1700s.
The original wooden steeple was removed in 1781. A new one was added in 1828.

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

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Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Independence Hall can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

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Next: Liberty Bell. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.