Independence Hall

Welcome back to the crucible of American democracy. In our previous tour of Independence Hall, we focused on the grand narrative of the foundational documents. …

Let us pause in the grand central hallway and examine the interior woodwork and plastercraft. This is a magnificent example of Palladian-inspired Georgian architecture. …

While the dramatic speeches occurred in the Assembly Room downstairs, much of the grueling, intellectual labor of the republic was executed on the second floor. Let us ascend the grand staircase. …

Also situated on the second floor is the Long Gallery, a magnificent, hundred-foot-long room spanning the entire facade of the building. Originally designed as an elegant space for banquets and royal celebrations, its function…

Returning our thoughts to the Assembly Room below, let us analyze the nature of the debates that occurred there, specifically during the 1787 Constitutional Convention. We often view the Constitution as a unified, inevitable…

As you examine the wainscoting and the paint colors, it is imperative to understand the modern science of historic preservation applied to Independence Hall. The building was nearly demolished in the early 19th century, saved…

Before we depart, let us consider the building's original identity: The State House of Pennsylvania. We must not let the federal shadow entirely obscure the local history. …

Our secondary, advanced academic tour of Independence Hall concludes here. We have moved beyond the traditional patriotic narrative to examine the brutal bureaucratic labor of war, the architectural psychology of imperial design,…