Philadelphia was the largest city in British North America at the time. Independence Hall was originally built as Pennsylvania’s colonial seat of power with the governor’s office and the courtroom inside the building.
The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed here. You have to book in advance to visit, but it’s worth the trouble to see the original copies and final draft of the document as well as the inkstand. The Declaration was first read in the east court of the hall on July 8, 1776.
Many famous leaders were here. Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass came to petition for the rights of women and black people. Abraham Lincoln predicted his own assassination and had his casket laid in state in the hall. The building itself is featured on the reverse of the $100 bill.
The Bill of Rights was also signed in this complex. During the First World War, the Declaration of Common Aims for the Independent Mid-European Nations was also signed here as a statement against autocratic royal dynasties, ratified by 12 countries.
0 Comments