Second Bank of the United States, Independence National Historical Park
SITE OVERVIEW
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816 and remained a federal bank until 1836. After that it became a private bank, operating until 1841. Today it is part of Independence National Historical Park and houses over 150 portraits of 18th and 19th century Americans of importance. Many of the paintings were done by Charles Willson Peale. The collection was originally displayed on the upper floor of Independence Hall.
LOCATION
The Second Bank of the United States is located at 420 Chestnut Street.
OPERATING HOURS
- April through June
- Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM
- July through Labor Day
- Daily from 11 AM to 5 PM
- All other days of the year
- Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM
- Christmas Eve: 11 AM to 3 PM
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day
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 the Portrait Gallery.
WHAT TO DO
The Portrait Gallery was not open when I visited Independence National Historical Park. The following are a few photos of the gallery courtesy of the National Park Service.
Portrait Gallery in the Second Bank of the United States (photo by National Park Service)
George Washington sculpture (photo by National Park Service)
Portraits and exhibits in the Second Bank of the United States (photo by National Park Service)
SCHEDULING YOUR TIME
The time spent in the Portrait Gallery all depends on how long you want to look at paintings.
With a few exceptions, use of any photograph on the National Park Planner website requires a paid Royalty Free Editorial Use License or Commercial Use License. See the Photo Usage page for details.
Last updated on July 13, 2022
