Declaration Chamber

The Continental Congress sat here from May 10, 1775, when it convened, until the close of the Revolution, except during 1776-7 in Baltimore and 1777-9 in Lancaster and York, when the British army temporarily occupied Philadelphia. Here on June 16, 1775, George Washington accepted his appointment by Congress as General of the Continental Army. Here, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and on July 9, 1778, the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States were adopted and signed. Here, on November 3, 1781, twenty-four standards taken at the surrender of Yorktown were laid at the feet of Congress and His Excellency, the Ambassador of France. Here, on September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States of America was adopted and signed.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · United States