Old City Hall / Independence Hall / Congress Hall

Construction of the Pennsylvania State House began in 1737, with office wings built in 1736, arcades added in 1739, and the Library Company founded by Benjamin Franklin occupying the West Wing. A tower and steeple were added in 1753, and the State House bell, later called the "Liberty Ball," was installed there. In 1776 the Second Continental Congress declared American independence in the State House. During 1777-78 the British army occupied Philadelphia and used the State House as an army barracks and hospital for American prisoners of war. The rotted and dangerous steeple was removed in 1781 and replaced by the present steeple in 1828. In 1787 the Federal Convention, representing 12 states, met in the State House to draft the U.S. Constitution. The County Court House, later known as Congress Hall, was built in 1789 and served as the Capitol of the United States from 1790 until 1800; it was enlarged in 1793 as new states sent representatives to Congress, and Washington was inaugurated there as President, with John Adams inaugurated there as second president in 1797. City Hall was built in 1791 and was used biannually by the U.S. Supreme Court to 1800. In 1799 the state capital moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and in 1800 the U.S. capital moved to Washington, D.C.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · United States