One of Philadelphia’s most important historical landmarks, Carpenters’ Hall boasts a ground-floor exhibition area, where you can learn more about its history while spotting artifacts ranging from Jane Stuart’s portrait of George Washington to several original chairs used by delegates of the First Continental Congress. Thanks to its accessible scale, Carpenters’ Hall is easy to visit as part of a self-guided tour of Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. It also features on a wide range of Old City walking tours and excursions.
Admission to Carpenters’ Hall is free for all visitors.
Due to the landmark’s small size, most visits to Carpenters’ Hall take less than 1 hour.
Carpenters’ Hall’s ground-floor exhibition area is accessible to wheelchair users, but bathrooms are located on the second floor and are only reachable by stairs.
Carpenters’ Hall is located at 320 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood. It’s readily accessible from the 5th Street Independence Hall and 2nd Street stops on the Market-Frankford Line, and is a roughly 20-minute walk from Jefferson Station, served by various commuter train lines. Old City is very walkable, and the landmark can also be reached on foot.
Carpenters’ Hall is open every day except Monday, from morning until late afternoon. It’s closed every year on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, and is also closed on Tuesdays in January and February. Carpenters’ Hall—and Independence National Historical Park—are likely to be busiest on weekends, during the summer, and during school holidays; visit at alternative times for a calmer experience.
Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park preserves a number of major landmarks associated with the American Revolution, and is often described as “the birthplace of America.” In addition to highlights like the UNESCO-listed Independence Hall (which is where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were adopted), other must-sees include the Liberty Bell, whose chime is said to have changed the world; Congress Hall, where the first US bank was established; and Christ Church Burial Ground, the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin.
