Description
The park was authorized by Congress on June 28, 1948 and formerly established on July 4, 1956. It consists of over twenty 18 th and 19 th century buildings on 44.85 acres of land. It has been deemed significant due to the area's association to the American Revolution and the founding of theUnited States.
It is within the walls of Independence Hall that the United States of America was created. Two documents, the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution, were debated, adopted, and signed in Independence Hall.
When Philadelphia served as the national capital from 1790 through 1800, the new Constitution was interpreted and tested in such buildings as Congress Hall, the President’s House (no longer standing) and Old City Hall. The basic rights that Americans cherish were guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. These first amendments to the Constitution were added while Congress met in Philadelphia at Congress Hall.
On these streets walked Benjamin Franklin, one of Philadelphia's greatest and best known citizens. Franklin's life and accomplishments are remembered through both modern facilities and original structures preserved within the boundaries ofIndependenceNationalHistoricalPark.
It is here that a nation was created, that our rights as a people were guaranteed, and where the concept of liberty is embodied in an internationally recognized symbol of freedom, the Liberty Bell.
The events that happened within "the most historic square mile" have affected generations of Americans and have inspired people all over the world. The international community formally recognized Independence Hall onOctober 24, 1979 when UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site.
Today, over two million people visit Independence National Historical Park annually. Our visitors come from all over the world and are met with information in over sixteen languages.
