Independence Hall

They risked everything — “their lives, their fortune and their sacred honor.”

During the blistering summer of 1776, 56 courageous men gathered at the Pennsylvania State House and defied the King of England.

Eleven years later, representatives from 12 states gathered to shape the U.S. Constitution, finally creating one unified nation.

George Washington’s “rising sun” chair dominates the Assembly Room which is arranged as it was during the original Constitutional Convention.

In the adjacent West Wing, the actual inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence and an original draft of the Constitution are prominently displayed.

Pro-tip: Guests who tour Independence Hall during January or February may even get a chance to see the second floor of the iconic building.