Visiting Independence Hall

Preservation Work on Independence Square

Visitors may encounter preservation specialists and equipment both inside and outside the buildings on Independence Square. This includes Independence Hall, Congress Hall, and the West Wing. The National Park Service periodically addresses areas of concern in the historic buildings to ensure the preservation of these national treasures for future generations.

Information about our current projects.

 

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 the south side of Independence Hall. Visitors can access the security entrance using the stairs or accessibility ramp on 5th Street, between Chestnut and Walnut Streets. 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

Independence Hall is open 9 am to 5 pm daily with guided and self-guided options.
The security screening area closes 15 minutes prior to the building closure time, or earlier if all tours are full.

 

Ticketing

• 9:00 am to 9:50 am—No tickets are required. The Independence Hall experience is self-guided. Park rangers will be available to answer questions. Due to building capacity limitations, not all visitors are guaranteed entry.
• 10:00 am to 4:00 pm—20 minute guided tours every 20 minutes. Tickets required on rec.gov
• 4:20 pm—40 minute guided tour (not wheelchair accessible), tickets required on rec.gov

Tickets
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.

Independence Hall Tickets for Teachers/Educators

Need help obtaining Independence Hall tickets for your school group or other non-profit education group? Please visit the Plan a Field Trip web page for more information.

*Individual reservations or commercial tour operators must reserve tickets through recreation.gov.

 

Guided Tours

Guided tours of the building run every 20 minutes between 10:00 am and 4:20 pm. Guided tours require a timed ticket.

• The tour is about 15-20 minutes long.
• 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.
• The 4:20 pm tour is an expanded tour and is not wheelchair accessible.

 

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

All visitors and their belongings are required to undergo screening to enter Independence Square. This includes all items in pockets, bags, medical devices, and underneath strollers and wheelchairs. Belongings must pass through an x-ray machine or pass visual inspection by security officers.

• No firearms, knives, explosives, or any other weapons are permitted.
• No open containers of food or drink are allowed through the screening. Examples include: an open tray of french fries or a disposable coffee cup. Bottles with screw on lids are permitted through.
• Visitors will be screened using a walk-through metal detector. Visitors who are unable to pass through or who alarm the walk-through metal detector will undergo additional screening with a hand-held metal detector or a pat-down screening by a same gender security officer

The screening area is located on the south side of Independence Hall. Visitors can access the screening area by using the stairs or accessibility ramp on 5th Street, between Chesnut and Walnut Streets.

 

National Parks of Philadelphia

Independence National Historical Park

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site

Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site

 

Explore the National Parks of Philadelphia

Philadelphia is home to four seperate National Park Serivce units all within a short walking distance. While visiting Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, be sure to visit the city's other National Park sites.

 

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