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Don’t overlook this tour when visiting Independence Hall. This tour requires no tickets or reservations. It is right next door to Independence Hall, and you just wait on the line for the next tour to start (they run every 20-30 minutes.) The tour is longer and more extensive than the one you need tickets for in Independence Hall. As our ranger said, Independence Hall was the ‘Big Idea’ building, but Congress Hall is where the real work got done.
George Washington was inaugurated here for his second term and four years later he declined to seek a third term. In 1797, John Adams, who had defeated Thomas Jefferson in the first two-party election, was sworn into office here, cementing one of the foundations of our democracy: the peaceful transition of power.
Our ranger first took us into the large courtroom on the first floor which was used by the House of Representatives. The furniture here is not original as the desks were auctioned off once the capital moved to DC. The NPS reacquired some of the originals, but they are in the upstairs rooms. So we were able to sit at these authentic looking desks with ink wells while the ranger talked.
Next we went upstairs to see the room used by the Senate as well as some other smaller committee rooms where large paintings of France’s King Louis 16th and Marie Antoinette adorn the walls. These were gifts from France after the American Revolution ended.
In 1800, Washington, DC became the US capital and Congress Hall reverted to serving as the Philadelphia courthouse.
Location: 6th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Designation: National Historical Park
Date NPS designation declared: 1951
Date of my visit: August 2017
We did this tour when we visited Philadelphia a couple of years ago. It was fascinating. 🙂
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I’m just catching up with blogs. Thank you for liking my latest posts. I liked this place better than I actually liked Independence Hall. If you get a chance, visit the Museum of the American Revolution in Phily. It tells the story of the American Revolution from four sides, American , British , Native American and Slave. I loved it and want to see it again,
Thanks for commenting! Yes, we thought the tour of Congress Hall was way more engaging. I have not been to that museum, nor inside a few of the other historic buildings like Betsy Ross house. Another road trip is in order 😃
If you go to the museum, your ticket allows you to go the following day as well. You will really need two days to see it.
Have been to Independence Hall many times, but never did Congress Hall. Will definitely look into it!
Yes, that tour was a nice surprise! We really enjoyed it