Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA, is one of the most important sites in US history. It was here that the founders of the nation debated and signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States. Thus, Independence Hall and the city of Philadelphia itself are often referred to as the birthplace of the United States. Given the site’s age and prominence, I began to wonder if there were any ghost stories.
Walking through this historic Georgian style structure, one can feel immersed in the past. Independence Hall was originally built as the Pennsylvania State House. Work began in 1732, but the entirety of the structure wasn’t finished until 1753. The Assembly Room on the first floor was used by the Second Continental Congress for its meetings and then later by the Constitutional Convention. The state government moved out of the building in 1799 and the City of Philadelphia bought it in 1818. Today, Independence Hall is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is part of the National Park System.
Assembly Room
In terms of the paranormal, some do believe that Independence Hall is haunted. Apparently, the ghost of Benjamin Franklin has been seen a number of times over the years in the Assembly Room. His apparition is normally accompanied by a mist and once there was also a musty smell. The specter of Benedict Arnold is also said to roam Independence Hall, perhaps rueful of his decision to defect to the British. Aside from these famous figures, there have been sightings of unidentified ghosts as well.
Assembly Room
To visit Independence Hall, you’ll need to go on a tour. Depending on the time of year, tours are either first-come, first-serve or by timed ticket. The tours are free, though there is a $1.00 handling fee for reserved tickets. Please check the official site for hours, tours, and the latest visitor information. I very much enjoyed my visit to Independence Hall. It was a powerful experience to walk through the halls realizing that the decisions made there changed the course of history. I’m not sure if there are ghosts or not, but you can certainly feel the echoes of the past.
Supreme Court Room
Senate Room
Location
Independence Hall
520 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Independence Visitor Center
GPS Address:
525 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Official site: https://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm
Sources
“Assembly Room of Independence Hall.” National Park Service. January 8, 2021. https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/places-independencehall-assemblyroom.htm.
Hatmaker, Julia. “13 haunted places in Philadelphia where ghosts can be found (supposedly).” PennLive. October 25, 2016. https://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/10/13_haunted_places_in_philadelp.html.
“History in Philadelphia.” Visit Philadelphia. https://www.visitphilly.com/history-in-philadelphia/.
“Independence Hall.” Haunted Houses. http://hauntedhouses.com/pennsylvania/independence-hall/.
“Independence Hall.” Haunted Places. https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/independence-hall/.
“Independence Hall.” National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/places-independencehall.htm.
Independence Hall Association. “Independence Hall.” USHistory.org. https://www.ushistory.org/tour/independence-hall.htm.
Longwell, Laura. “20 Haunted Places to Visit in Philadelphia this Fall.” Guide to Philly. September 10, 2021. https://guidetophilly.com/haunted-places-philadelphia/.
Mires, Charlene. “Independence Hall.” The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/independence-hall/.
“Pennsylvania State House (Independence Hall), Philadelphia Intermittingly from May 10, 1775 to March 1, 1781.” The Office of the Historian. Quoted from: Burke, Lee H. and Richard S. Patterson. Homes of the Department of State, 1774-1976. Washington, D.C: Historical Office, Bureau of Public Affairs, Department of State, May 1977. https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/buildings/section3.
Written by A. P. Sylvia
