Old City Hall

SITE OVERVIEW

Construction on what is now called Old City Hall began in 1790 and finished early the following year. In August, the U. S. Supreme Court moved in and remained there for the entire time Philadelphia was the capital of the United States (1790-1800). However, while the dates correspond to Philadelphia’s tenure as the capital, the building was not constructed for the U. S. government—it was built to replace an older city hall building. The Supreme Court shared the building with the mayor’s office and a city courtroom. Keep in mind that the Supreme Court did not meet that often back then, so there wasn’t really much of a conflict in scheduling. When the U. S. capital moved to Washington, D. C., the building continued to operate as Philadelphia’s City Hall until 1854.

LOCATION

Old City Hall is located on the corner of 5^th Street and Chestnut Street. Though right next to Independence Hall, Old City Hall is not located inside the security area. Enter the building from the main door on Chestnut Street.

OPERATING HOURS

• Daily from 9 AM to 5 PM (closes at 3 PM on Christmas Eve)
• 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

There are no tickets or fees associated with entering Old City Hall.

WHAT TO DO

Like most historical buildings at Independence National Historical Park, all you can do at Old City Hall is step inside and take a look around. The room that is open to the public is the Supreme Court Chamber. There are no exhibits or information panels, but a park Ranger is on duty to answer questions.