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Where It Was Written
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.
Declaration of Independence · July 4, 1776
1776
Declaration of Independence Adopted
1787
Constitutional Convention
1774
First Continental Congress Convenes
1776
Thomas Paine Publishes "Common Sense"

Philadelphia

PA · American Revolution

The Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both signed in Philadelphia.

Declared Here
10
Events
2
Stories
6
Connections
July 4, 1776
Independence Hall
N

The document was signed here. The argument started long before.

Notable
63.9/100
8People10Events2Stories

**Philadelphia and the American Revolution: The City Where a Nation Was Forged**

PEOPLE

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KEY EVENTS

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STORIES

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HISTORICAL VOICE

The Boy Who Refused England

James Forten was fourteen years old when he shipped aboard the privateer Royal Louis in 1781. He was free, Black, and Philadelphian — the son of a sailmaker who had worked on the wharves his entire li...

MODERN VOICE

Two Rooms and What They Hold

Most visitors want to see the Liberty Bell. We get about three million people a year through the Bell Center, and I understand the draw — it is iconic, it photographs well, and it has a crack. But th...

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Plan Your Visit

Upcoming Events

All Events

Jul

4

ceremony

July 4th Celebration at Independence Hall

Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park

May

11

reenactment

Independence NHP Walking Tour

Meet on the east side of the Liberty Bell Center near the viewing window- 526 Market Street

May

18

reenactment

History Hangout

Liberty Bell Center, 6th and Market Streets

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Eat & Shop

In & Around Philadelphia

★ HIFE Picks

Places chosen by HIFE — never paid for, always honest.

★ HIFE PickCity Tavern$$$

138 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Daily 11:30am–9pm (verify — hours change seasonally)

This is the ground where delegates argued out the compromises that became a country — the fact that you can order dinner here and sit in essentially the same rooms where that happened is genuinely wild.

★ HIFE PickFranklin Fountain$

116 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Monday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Tuesday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Wednesday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Thursday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Friday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Saturday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Sunday: 11 AM to 12 AM

A block from Independence Hall on the same street Franklin walked from his print shop to the statehouse — the ice cream is great, but mostly I love that you're standing somewhere this old and it just looks like a normal corner.

Restaurants

★ HIFE PickCity Tavern$$$

138 S 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Daily 11:30am–9pm (verify — hours change seasonally)

This is the ground where delegates argued out the compromises that became a country — the fact that you can order dinner here and sit in essentially the same rooms where that happened is genuinely wild.

Cafés & Bakeries

★ HIFE PickFranklin Fountain$

116 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Monday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Tuesday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Wednesday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Thursday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Friday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Saturday: 11 AM to 12 AM, Sunday: 11 AM to 12 AM

A block from Independence Hall on the same street Franklin walked from his print shop to the statehouse — the ice cream is great, but mostly I love that you're standing somewhere this old and it just looks like a normal corner.

Directory data is refreshed regularly. ★ picks are chosen by HIFE and never paid for. Hours change — call ahead.

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