Visiting Independence Hall

See the room where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed.

NPS photo

 

Location

Independence Hall is located on Chestnut Street, between 5th and 6th Streets. Entrance is through a security screening area on Chestnut Street, just west of 5th Street. After passing through security, visitors line up behind Independence Hall for a tour. The GPS address for Independence Hall is 520 Chestnut Street.

Hours and Fees

Open daily 9am - 5pm

The security screening area closes at least 15 minutes prior to the building closure time.

 

Ticketing

Tickets are required for entrance to Independence Hall from March through December, from 9am to 5pm. There is a 1.00 per ticket handling fee for tickets. Learn how to obtain tickets on the ticketing web page. Obtain your tickets on recreation.gov. Tickets can be printed in advance or shown on a mobile device for scanning at the time of entry.

Tickets are not required in January or February, except for holiday weekends.

Independence Hall Tickets for Teachers/Educators
Need help obtaining Independence Hall tickets for your school group or other non-profit education group? Please contact Independence Hall Education Tickets with the following information:

• Name of Contact
• Name of School or Educational Institution
• Number of Students
• Number of Chaperones
• Requested Date or Date Range
• Requested Tour Time or Time Range (am/pm)
• Email Address
• Ten Digit Telephone Number

Requests must be submitted at least two weeks in advance. Last minute requests are difficult to accommodate due to limitations on tour capacities. Our team will respond to your request within 48 hours. If you do not see a reply, please check your spam folder.

*Please note, individual reservations or commercial tour operators must reserve tickets through recreation.gov.

 

Tours

From March through December (9am to 5pm), entrance is by timed, ticketed tour only.

In January and February (except holiday weekends), entrance to Independence Hall is by tour only, but no tickets are required. Entrance is first-come, first-served. Rangers will cap the line when the number of people in line equals the capacity of the remaining tours. Tours begin every 30 minutes, although additional tours may be added on weekends.

On winter holiday weekends, tickets are required. Tours are every 20 minutes.

What to know about Independence Hall tours:

• The tour is about 15-20 minutes long.
• There are 60 spaces/tickets for each tour.
• Visitors should arrive 30 minutes before their tour time to clear security screening.
• Visitors will see the Assembly Room (where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed) on the first floor of the building.

 

Accessibility

The first floor of Independence Hall is accessible for those with mobility impairments. An audio description tour is available upon request. For those with hearing impairments, the "Birthplace of a Nation" pamphlet provides written information about the rooms shown on the tour and assistive listening devices are also available. American Sign Language interpretation is available by request. You must first reserve tickets and then call the park to arrange for an interpreter at least 14 days prior to your visit. Get the details on how to reserve an ASL interpreter here.

 

Security

Visitors must pass through a security screening area to visit the buildings on Independence Square, including Independence Hall. The screening area is located adjacent to Old City Hall, near the corner of 5th and Chestnut Streets. To maximize your visit to the park, and minimize your security screening time, the park recommends that you bring only small bags, if necessary. The fewer items you have to be checked, the more time you will have to enjoy the buildings on Independence Square. No weapons, pepper spray, or pocket knives are permitted through security.

 

Images and Historical Information

Want to learn more about the architecture, history, and significance of Independence Hall? Additional resources about Independence Hall are available on our website. See photos and videos of Independence Hall below.

 

More to Explore on Independence Square
Great Essentials Exhibit in the West Wing
Congress Hall
Old City Hall
Museum of the American Philosophical Society

 

 

• 

  Birthplace of Freedom: A Tour of Independence Hall

  Let this film guide you through the building where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and signed.

  Duration:

  3 minutes, 31 seconds

 

• 

  Peale's Museum

  Learn about Charles Willson Peale's Philadelphia Museum, once located on the second floor of Independence Hall in the early 1800s.

  Duration:

  4 minutes, 10 seconds

 

• 

  The Fugitive Slave Hearings

  Discover how people accused of being fugitives from slavery were held for hearings on the second floor of Independence Hall.

  Duration:

  4 minutes, 15 seconds