Congress Hall, part of Independence National Historical Park
SITE OVERVIEW
Congress Hall, now part of Independence National Historical Park, served as the home of the United States Federal government when the capital moved from New York to Philadelphia in 1790. It is the oldest surviving Federal capitol building, for the very first—Federal Hall in New York—was torn down in 1812. After the U. S. capital moved to Washington, D. C., in 1800, Congress Hall reverted back to its original purpose, a county courthouse.
While the U. S. Constitution was written and signed at Independence Hall, it was at Congress Hall where it was debated, tested, and enforced. The Bill of Rights was authored and ratified here. John Adams was sworn in as the second president on the lower floor where the House of Representatives met. Joining him were Thomas Jefferson, the new vice president, and George Washington, the first man to give up the presidency and relinquish power as directed by the Constitution. Issues of taxes and slavery were of high importance during the ten years that Philadelphia served as the capital, and all of these debates and decisions took place here at Congress Hall.
LOCATION
Congress Hall is located at the corner of Chestnut and South 6th streets, though the security entrance is near the corner of Chestnut and South 5th streets.
OPERATING HOURS
- Daily from 9:15 AM to 4:45 PM (closes at 3 PM on Christmas Eve)
- Last tour at 4:15 PM
- Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
Times can always change, so before making travel plans be sure to get the latest schedule on the National Park Service’s official Operating Hours and Seasons web page for Independence National Historical Park.
TICKETS AND FEES
Because the building is located in the same complex as Independence Hall, visitors must pass through airport-type security to enter. You may see many people in line with tickets, but these are for Independence Hall. There are no tickets or fees associated with entering Congress Hall, and you do not need a ticket to go through security. You only need a ticket if you are touring Independence Hall.
WHAT TO DO
Entry into Congress Hall is by Ranger-guided tour only from March through December. Tours are given every twenty or thirty minutes, depending on the season. Meet at the front of the building if interested. A sign indicates when the next tour is being held. In January and February you must tour the building on your own, though Rangers are on duty to answer any questions.
Those with mobility problems can see the first floor, but climbing stairs is required to get to the second floor.
Tour groups are limited to a certain number of people, so there is a possibility that you may have to wait. However, Congress Hall is not nearly as popular as Independence Hall. I visited on a packed summer day in Philadelphia, and there were only a dozen people on the tour I attended. I can’t imagine having to wait long, if at all, except maybe on a holiday weekend. It is sort of sad, since everyone and his brother goes to Independence Hall and Congress Hall is located right next door.
Ranger gives a tour of Congress Hall, part of Independence National Historical Park
The tour begins on the first floor where the House of Representatives met. By the end of its stint as the national capitol building there were 106 representatives from sixteen states meeting in this room—Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee became states during the 1790s. Key features are the Speaker of the House’s chair, with the chairs of the Sergeant of Arms and the Clerk located directly in front of it.
Seats of the Speaker of the House, Sergeant of Arms, and Clerk in Congress Hall, part of Independence National Historical Park
The building was open to the public at all times that Congress was in session. An upper level gallery was available for those interested in watching the proceedings.
Public’s viewing gallery at Congress Hall, part of Independence National Historical Park
None of the furniture on the bottom floor is original, but all of it is authentic pieces from the late 1700s. When the capital moved to Washington, the furniture was auctioned off. Some of the desks were later acquired by the National Park Service, but these are upstairs in the Senate chamber.
The tour continues on the second floor where five rooms are open to the public, with the largest being the Senate chamber. It is here that you will find the original furniture: twenty-eight of the thirty-two desks. The rest are identical reproductions. However, there is no way to tell the difference between the originals and the reproductions just by looking at them. The originals have a tag on the bottom that can only be seen by turning the furniture over or crawling under, neither of which visitors are allowed to do.
Senate Chamber at Congress Hall, part of Independence National Historical Park
Senate Chamber at Congress Hall, part of Independence National Historical Park
There are four other rooms on the floor that you can view from their entrance doorways: the Joint Committee Room, Senate Secretary’s Office, and the West and East Committee rooms.
Senate Secretary’s Office in Congress Hall, Independence National Historical Park
Joint Committee Room in Congress Hall, Independence National Historical Park
Paintings in the West and East Committee rooms are of France’s King Louis 16th and Marie Antoinette. These were gifts from France after the American Revolution ended.
West Committee Room of Congress Hal with a painting of Marie Antoinette, Independence National Historical Park
East Committee Room in Congress Hall with a painting of King Louis 16th, Independence National Historical Park
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
Tours of Congress Hall last a half hour. If you visit during the self-guided tour season, you might move a little faster, for all you can do is walk into the room and take a photo. No exhibits or other written information is available.
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Last updated on March 22, 2025
