Independence National Historical Park

Independence National Historical Park in downtown Philadelphia preserves the core sites where the United States’ founding documents were debated and adopted, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The site marks the civic and political center of the American Revolution and the early republic.

The park contains multiple historic buildings and museum spaces along Independence Mall where visitors can see Independence Hall, view the Liberty Bell, and tour period rooms and exhibits covering the Revolutionary era. Guided ranger talks and short films explain the Declaration of Independence (1776) and the Constitution (1787); many buildings offer interior tours with timed entry.

The Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall) was built in the mid-18th century and served as the meeting place for the Continental Congress and later for the U.S. Congress when Philadelphia was the national capital. The National Historical Park was created to preserve these and related 18th- and 19th-century sites and has expanded to include adjacent historic structures.

The park occupies a compact block of central Philadelphia around Independence Mall, a short walk from the Delaware River waterfront and Penn’s Landing. It sits in the city’s historic district, adjacent to other cultural institutions and within Philadelphia’s downtown area.

• Entry and tickets: Timed-entry tickets are required for interior tours of Independence Hall during busy periods; the Liberty Bell Center has free public access without timed tickets.
• Timing: Best visited early in the morning to avoid crowds on Independence Mall and to secure timed slots for Independence Hall tours.

What to See #

• Independence Hall: Built between 1732 and 1753 as the Pennsylvania State House, this building is where the Second Continental Congress debated and adopted the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and where the Constitutional Convention met in 1787.
• Liberty Bell Center: Houses the iconic cracked bell cast in 1752 and inscribed with a biblical passage; the Liberty Bell Center provides close viewing and interpretive exhibits.
• Independence Visitor Center: Serves as the park's main orientation facility with ticketing, exhibits, and information for visitors exploring the Independence Mall area.
• Congress Hall: Late 18th-century meeting hall used by the U.S. Senate from 1790 to 1800 and for early federal government business; today it sits across from Independence Hall.
• Carpenters' Hall: 18th-century meeting site of Philadelphia carpenters and architects that played a role in pre-revolution civic life and is preserved within the park's boundaries.