Independence Hall gets the spotlight, but the real revolution began one block up the cobblestones.
If you’re one of the thousands of tourists who will visit Philadelphia in the months leading up to the Semiquincentennial — I’m not saying that you shouldn’t visit Independence Hall — in fact, quite the reverse. But as a young historian in Philly, I always found nearby Carpenter’s Hall an equally — if not superior — experience. And as it turns out, for all of January there was no choice, after Independence Hall was closed without warning for preservation work. As of January 29th, it’s open!
If you are visiting Philadelphia in anticipation of the birth of our nation, no doubt a trip to Independence Hall is a must. That historic building is loaded with 18th-century artifacts, as well as gorgeous displays and exhibits of some of the deepest history of our nation.
But if you want to experience some of the true foundations — the initial conversations of self-governance free from the control of monarchy that would lead to the country we know today — walk one block south on Chestnut Street to our very own Carpenter’s Hall. Just over 250 years ago, 51 days of deliberation by the First Continental Congress concluded at Carpenter’s Hall on Chestnut Street.
Four years prior, the decision to construct the building itself had been voted on by the members of The Carpenter’s Company, a guild of master tradesmen and builders seeking to show off their remarkable technical and artistic skills. The result was a two-story, 50 foot square structure with 10-foot cutouts at each corner. Its brick walls are 13 inches thick, with the latest 18th-century advances in reinforced mortar joints.
Formed here in 1724, the Carpenter’s Company was the first of its kind in the colonies, adapted from the Worshipful Company of Carpenters of London (est 1271). The building they constructed – the largest rental space in the city — would end up being the birthplace of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The design was the brainchild of one of the most talented architects in the colonies at the time — but unfortunately Robert Smith’s career would be tragically cut short. Smith was killed while building fortifications along the Delaware River to protect Philadelphia against the English fleet in 1777. The Georgian-style Carpenter’s Hall would be one of his last projects, still surviving to this day.
The First Continental Congress convened here between September 5 and October 26, 1774. Two hundred and fifty-one years ago this fall, the Congress changed leadership, with Henry Middleton replacing the sick Peyton Randolph. The assembly included representation from only twelve colonies, as Georgia – the newest and most distant – declined to participate.
This first clandestine convention to subvert British Rule paved the way for America’s fight for independence. Among its accomplishments was the creation of the Declaration of Rights and Grievances, which detailed the rights of colonists, as well as the Articles of Association, which boycotted goods from England.
The delegates even petitioned King George III. Defiantly, they resolved to meet again in a year if the Intolerable Acts were not repealed. A few years later, Carpenter’s Hall would serve as a hospital for both British and American forces during the Revolutionary War.
The special mystique of Carpenter’s Hall can still be felt by tourists today, as can its importance to the birth of our nation. Its marvelous architecture and 18th-century cupola stand as monuments to its nearly 255 years of existence. During a 2023 project in the historic hall, remains of oysters were uncovered in the basement. It turns out that while planning for independence, one works up quite an appetite.
History — much like oysters — is best enjoyed fresh, and Philadelphia still has plenty to serve.
Who Wasn’t in the Room? 👀
When the First Continental Congress met at Carpenter’s Hall in 1774, the delegates represented twelve colonies, but they did not represent everyone living in them. Only property-owning white men could serve as delegates. Historians estimate that only a small fraction of colonial society — less than 25% of the population — could legally participate in civic matters or vote.
Philadelphia was one of the most diverse cities in British North America. It was also the largest — home to roughly 30,000 residents, including:
- Dockworkers unloading ships along the Delaware River.
- Women managing households, businesses, and family networks.
- Enslaved and free Black Philadelphians living and working throughout the city.
- Indigenous trade networks shaping the region.
- Taverns buzzing with political arguments and rumor.
- Printers like William Rittenhouse helping turn the city into a hub of ideas.
Carpenter’s Hall was one stage in a much larger story. While debates about liberty were unfolding inside, thousands of residents were navigating a very different reality, in a noisy, complicated city.
Carpenter’s Hall
320 Chestnut Street | 215-925-0167 | FREE
Open daily 10am to 4pm (closed Mondays & also Tuesdays in Jan/Feb)
carpentershall.org | @carpentershallphiladelphia on social media
More than 250 years later, Carpenter’s Hall remains a place for ideas — offering a full calendar of public programs, talks, screenings, and gatherings that keep the spirit of debate very much alive. (It’s still a rental space, too.)
Thoughts? Questions? My friends, I love your feedback! Please click the links for more information, and reach out in the comments below. If you enjoyed this history, please see my previous story on Philly’s year of “Firstivals” celebrating local milestones like the first manned flight in the Northern Hemisphere.
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