Just finished a fantastic tour with Ranger Ed Welch. He was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. We got lucky as we showed up for tickets this morning and even luckier that we got him. Really glad we had the opportunity to visit while in Philadelphia! read more

As everyone else says.. it's a must see! I mean are you even American if you don't stop by here? You have to take a tour to see the Hall. There is two other sections that are free to roam. The tour is worth taking. You get to learn a lot! I enjoyed hearing all the facts you probably forgot from your 4th grade class. read more

Independence Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Go back and get a $1 ticket. The tour guide was amazing and the entire experience was inspirational. To think, our entire system of government started right here. WOW! Vist as soon as you can. read more

I'm going to do what Garland told me to do, because he has my family hostage in New Jersey, which is bad on so many levels. I'm just kidding, I love New Jersey. He told me to make my review #1776 something do to with July 4th, and so here it is. Independence Hall is an understated little tourist hot spot in the middle of Philadelphia, which is famous for the reasons you probably already know. What I love about this site is that you can walk right up to everything, you can drive right past everything and right through everything, and whether you want to do a whirlwind 10 minute sightseeing breeze, or a drawn-out 3-hour everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-epic, it will cater to you. There's a lot to see around this site too, as well as the Hall, such as the Liberty Bell and such. You can stand in the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Then you can go to the bathroom with your hot significant other (or a stranger) and do very naughty illegal things. Anything is possibly at Independence Hall. I can even take liberties and "give indepdendence" to your own hall, if you want me to. Just say the word. read more

Historic and inspiring building. Place where the Liberty Bell once rang, where the founding father's signed the Declaration of Independence and where our Constitution was drafted. It was here that an announcement was made regarding the creation of the League of Nations, which would later become the United Nations. If you love this country, it's a MUST visit! read more

***Independence Hall is a must visit because of its history, but the tour was surprisingly bland and the experience was definitely weakened by the negative and uninteresting tour guide*** Independence Hall (the old Pennsylvania State House) is the home of many great historical moments in United States history and viewing the interior of this building feels really special. There is a quiet and well-maintained (but not commercial or overly updated) feel that makes it easy to imagine the major events that happened here so long ago. The area outside of Independence Hall is nice too. It is a great looking building and the greenery, pathways and statues around the hall are all great. The tour though was surprisingly bland and a lot of this was due to the very below average tour guide. He had a very negative energy and attitude towards the history of the place. He ended up making the historical proceedings here feel small and even somewhat insignificant. He also delved way too deep into the details (focusing on minor characters and moments), which really detracted from the main storyline of this historical attraction. It is definitely worthwhile learning something new, but I felt what was presented was very uninteresting. Despite the poor presentation from the tour guide, Independence Hall feels special and worth a visit. It is free to visit and not a long tour (it is a very small building), but you need to make sure you grab a ticket first at the nearby visitor center (a block or so away from Independence Hall). With or without a great tour guide though, Independence Hall is still a major landmark and a must visit for those visiting Philadelphia. There are a few pay parking structures near Independence Hall. Metered street parking is also available. read more

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Obligatory visit to the building where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were both debated and signed. The Park Ranger who gave the tour was endearing and knowledgeable. However, the operations supporting Independence Hall needs improvement. There is a serious lack of signage on instructions on how to visit. You have to pick up a free timed-entry ticket at the Independence Visitor Center BEFORE you walk to Independence Hall. The line you see outside of the Hall is just for the security check. There is another line for the tours once you are cleared. Although you need a timed-entry ticket, they are flexible if you are lucky enough to visit on a less busy day. They honor the proper time, then call those who have a ticket but missed the allotted time, and lastly call those who do not have a ticket at all. read more

I can't say enough good about this amazing piece of history! The guides are well-informed and detail so many great anecdotal stories that truly bring the rooms alive with awe-inspired stories of the significance of these incredible venues. Even if you can't get tickets (free) to go inside the Independence Hall itself (where the Declaration of Independence was signed), I HIGHLY recommend going on the West Wing tour to see the original Congressional Chambers... no ticket required. It is AMAZING. In those halls is where Washington was first inaugurated... the first taxes were passed, the Navy was created, John Adams was inaugurated... it is AMAZING. If you are in Philly and you value the history of our nation at all, you can't miss this! read more

Biggest MUST SEE IN PHILLY. Yes, I am screaming this at the top of my lungs because it is simply amazing. To see where our country's Founding Fathers signed, sealed, and delivered both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution put me in an AWWW state. I am simply put one of the biggest history nerds ever to say the least. I am not going to sit here and say I know anything and everything, but I do enjoy learning about history and this was probably the biggest highlight of my trip to Philly. For me to simply be in the presence was a little piece of heaven for me. NPS rangers are in the Hall giving specific details of the history of the building and what had roam these halls since its consecration in the mid 1700s. Independence Hall has seen a lot. It has also been remodeled and reconstructed over the last 300 years all of which you will learn here. One thing I'd like to mention that I got to experience -- I met the innkeeper of Independence Hall and a young Mr. Thomas Jefferson circa 1774. That was a memorable experience in itself. OK, so let me explain... My friends and I had just finished the tour on the inside and the place was closing. I walked outside to find these 2 gentleman in period garb... colonial times and all. I loved Mr. Jefferson's red hair. Our 3rd president was a fierce redhead back in the date and this actor was sporting his redhead wig with pony tail and all. I sat on the bench and started speaking to them about the Independence Hall. They never broke character. It was only my friends, myself, and the 2 of them. It was so neat and I enjoyed speaking to them. This is the kind of stuff you're going to run into when visiting here, and I can't wait to return. Mind I mention Mr. Jefferson was a dashing look lad... the actor of course. read more

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I should probably "Talk less, smile more" because fools who run their mouths off wind up dead. With that being said, I need to write this because I'm tired of telling folks(in person) why I loved it so much. If you've ever been to DC, then you've been exposed to this type of history at some point. There's one huge difference. As cool as Washington DC can be, I'm not a fan because it's established history. A lot of the government buildings in DC are still used. "Don't say no to this." In Philly, these historical buildings interest me because you get to see the rooms that Congress and the Senate used before they had any type of idea on what this country would be. It's amazing to think about. 20-30 people in a small room debating on how to start a country. I can't imagine all of the discussions that took place in Philly. Pressures to be fair, to decide on whether to put the Schuyler Sisters in the sequel, and to create a government that didn't mirror what they got away from across the pond. It's definitely not perfect, but it's amazing what was accomplished here pre-America. I had a larger sense of connection in these simple rooms as compared to DC. I felt like I needed to start singing "Here comes the General." Along with the pressures, there were also British troops close by. "Can I be real a second? Let down my guard and tell the people how I feel a second?" It's no wonder that a strong personality like Washington had so much support. This was the first time I understood the influence he had in history. With those small rooms, I'm sure he didn't have an issue getting to know everyone. At this point, you might be asking "How does Brad write Yelp reviews like he's running out of time? Write day and night like he's running out of time." As the tour guide takes you around and tells you stories about the sites, you also get a sense of all that was/is wrong with America. In those early days as difficult as it must've been to put a country together, you can also sense the imperfections happening. Even in a perfect and undefined world, there's no way to make everyone "Satisfied." The tour guides are awesome here! Educational and entertaining to keep you interested. At first I felt like I was on an elementary school field trip since it was early in the morning. It didn't take long for our guide to start cracking historical and geographical jokes. It would make me go back to see if the jokes change! The banter is on point... even for 1776 standards. There is also another building with copies of the Declaration, Articles, and Constitution. Note: These aren't the original copies, but we were told that they're the first copies to be printed out. Other notables: -- It's free with tickets(Get them at the visitor center.) -- Go here first. "Figure it out. That's an order from your commander." -- Get there early or expect an extra 10-20 minutes to get through security. -- You're behind on life if you don't get all these references. Quit assuming that it happened and seek out the "Room Where it Happens." read more

$1 tickets online. Interesting tour and only about 15 minutes, which makes it worth a stop. Inside was a little underwhelming personally, but enjoyed seeing the spot of signing the Declaration and Constitution. Only original piece of furniture is Washington's chair, as the building was used as a Philadelphia municipal government building through part of the 20th Century. read more

I'm very disappointed in this "experience". Nothing is marked other than "Not an Entrance. It took us 20 minutes, and a walk around the entire perimeter, before we eventually stumbled upon the entrance. Once inside, we had no idea where to get the supposed tickets. We walked through one building and left. As a national park/monument, the ones in charge should take a some pride in creating a positive experience for first-timers. There was more emphasis on the Park Rangers and the security rather than the attendees. Utterly disgusted with the experience. read more

Brought 23 high school students here for the tour. It was surprisingly short, thought it would be longer but it was still powerfully historic and gave feeling to the history of the Declaration of Independence. It was very easy to find and tickets were not required since it was February. Great tour guide and everything was well organized in regards to traffic flow. You will have to go through metal detectors and security. read more

The site itself is why you go. Amazing preservation of the historical setting. I had a reservation, highly recommended to ensure time and avoid lines. My reason for the lower ratings stems from two things. First, the ranger at the ticket reservation pick-up was rude and hostile. The visitors center doesn't open until 8:30 and you are supposed to pick up your tickets at least 45 minutes before your tour. I had a 9 A.M. tour. See the problem, not of my own making. She treated me very poorly. Outrageous! Second, the half hour tour doesn't entail much and the ranger leading it wasn't very good. read more

After an obligatory visit to the Liberty Bell, I meandered over to Independence Hall with my boyfriend and his parents. It wasn't until we were standing in line that we realized we needed tickets... For the FREE tour. So ridiculous! The tickets are located in a separate building, and yes they have a time stamp, but no one ever checked our tickets. Eventually we got our tickets and survived the rude jerks at security. Then we exited the security area and had to stand outside until another group got called into Independence Hall, which happens every 15 minutes or so. Once you enter the main building, there's a volunteer tour guide who gives his or her history lesson. Ours was pretty dry and boring. Generally I love US history, but this guy almost made me fall asleep. And it seemed like he couldn't remember many details of what he was talking about. The building itself was fascinating to see. We toured the whole first floor and ended up on the top floor where we were then released into the wild. The whole experience was around an hour. Overall I would not say this is a must-see in Philadelphia. It did make me want to read books about the signing of the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution, so if anything, thanks for that! read more

Really neat to see where the beginnings of our country started. Great history the birth of our nation! Sadly on a walking tour we didn't get to go inside but our guide was very informative. read more

Independence Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

VISIT THIS NATIONAL LANDMARK (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) for FREE ! You will need an appointment ticket - available on line for a $1.50 per ticket service fee, or FREE in person at the Visitor's Center. To be guaranteed the time and date of your choice, spend the $1.50 (or check availability on line). During peak summer periods it is advisable to get tickets on-line. If you are trying to walk-on and things are crazy busy, ask to be on the "stand by" list to take the appointment of no-shows. The visitors center provides restrooms. Go potty here, as there are NO BATHROOMS ON THE INDEPENDENCE HALL GROUNDS and it's a 10 minute walk away, across two streets + passing through security to get onto the grounds. MAKE THE KIDS (and Grandma) GO POTTY HERE, otherwise you have a 20+ minute round trip ! The Visitor's Center provides a historical background of the Colonies & Revolutionary War. Perfect for families with children and foreigners who need a little background. Get to the Visitor's Center 2 hours earlier than your appointment, so that you can tour the Visitor's Center and the Liberty Bell (across the street between the Independence Hall Visitors Center and Independence Hall) before proceeding to the Independence Hall grounds. You will have your packages and backpacks checked at the Independence Hall grounds and the Liberty bell Visitors Center. No firearms, knives, weapons, spray paint, open drinks, chewing gum or cigarettes are allowed. Unopened bottled drinks are okay, but you cannot open them on the grounds. A 15 minute verbal history lecture is followed by a brief tour of the building. Most people leave without touring the adjacent Congressional Hall. Those tours are every 20-30 minutes. You need to get onto the grounds to do this tour. This makes the visit complete. Be wary of the pricing scam at "The Autopark" at the Independence Hall Visitors Center (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-autopark-philadelphia). They charge by the hour, not the $9 flat rate as posted on the LARGE ENTRANCE SIGNS (fine print states that the $9 rate is a special off-hours rate - when all of the historical attractions are closed). Totally worth the visit. read more

Independence Hall - Independence Hall as viewed from the mall in front of the Visitor's Center - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It goes without saying, if you visit Philadelphia you must visit the historical sites. And the best part is, it's all free! The tour guides are very knowledgeable. Security is kind. Make sure you wake up early and get to the visitors center to make sure you get the tour time you want! read more

Independence Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

History and to be where our founding fathers sat is amazing. Get your tickets at the visitors center. There is much to see so plan and enjoy your time. read more

Independence Hall - The second floor of Congress Hall. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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It's the cradle of the USA. I loved the notion that I stood where George Washington once stood. The rangers gave great tours. We were fortunate in that we got to go inside the hall twice. We had different rangers on each occasion, and their respective tours were completely different. If you have some spare time in Philly, check it out. It's so historically important. read more

Independence Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Visited Independence Hall in March 2019 and really enjoyed the experience. The tickets are free, but you have to get them before the tour at a different location. After going through security, a park ranger will give you the history of the era, and the building. He did an excellent job. The tour was short was packed full of information. A must if visiting the Philly area. read more

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FREE. Independence Hall is another place you should visit in Philly. Get the ticket from the Visitor Center, it's a Timed Ticket. We had a 2:30pm, but we were able to get an earlier tour because Nobody in the Winter 3/6/14! I recommend winter only for the tourist spots! Ranger took us to where they signed the Declaration of Independence, another room, and optional room upstairs. Take all the pics you want. read more

+++++ - Price; free ninety-nine, can't beat that - Great for people into history TIPS and INFO: - Get ticket from visitor center (On a 40 degree March Sunday, I got there at 12:30, got a ticket for 1:45) - Total tour takes less than an hour, a volunteer takes you through three rooms and describes the history - Theres another small wing you can go to on, that's short as well - May be boring for kids esp. those who are not interested read more

If you are visiting Philly this is THE historical building that you must visit. You get to stand in the actual room in which the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution was debated and ultimately signed. First, you must pick up free tickets at the visitors center a block away. Once you pass a security check point next to Independence Hall a tour guide will take you into a room and give you some historical facts. The guide then takes you into an old courtroom first, then the room the documents were signed by George Washington, Ben Franklin and the other founding fathers of the country. The room still contains original chairs, books, quills, and walking sticks used by our founding fathers. When the tour ends you can walk into another wing of the building on your own to see old copies of the Declaration and Constitution. Don't even think about visiting Philly without stopping by Independence Hall. read more

It's free. I realize it costs money to travel here and you either take public transportation to get here or pay for parking, but think about how much there is to see and do here. If you want the full tour and a set time, go to the nearby Center to get your pass. Or, if you want the "express" 12 minute tour, go about 4:45 on a weekend afternoon to stand in line. They bring in 85 people at a time for a tour of the main floor, where you get plenty of information and context and are in "the" room where decisions were made and the document was signed. It's quite a perspective to view the building from the front or rear with all of the modern city around it and think of all that happened here so many years ago. read more

I love the National Park Service and the rangers who bring history alive! Continuing our outings with our niece to visit sites critical to our national identity (see my review of Fort McHenry in Baltimore), we took her to Philadelphia for the weekend. And though she'd been to the same sites on a field trip in fifth grade, I wanted her to know that the buildings and stories regarding our foundational documents are not just boring stories on school field trips but fascinating stories of great people who took pains to found our nation based on ideas and ideals. I want her to know that even though America has made many mistakes along the way we are indeed ever on a path to form a more perfect union. Independence Hall and the buildings around it housing the Liberty Bell and copies of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, etc. are beautifully preserved with visitor centers and historic buildings all surrounding a mini National Mall that allows one to look back at the grand Independence Hall (formerly the Pennsylvania State House) where the Liberty Bell (formerly the State House Bell) was rung on numerous occasions before and after the American Revolution on auspicious occasions. The only way to get some semblance of the events and the symbols is to visit and spend a couple of hours or all day. We all left thinking and discussing aspects of our nation's founding that kind of just make me proud to be American. read more

Independence Hall - Room where the founding fathers drafted and adopted the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution 11 years later. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

To see the building where both the Declaration of Independence AND the Constitution were signed deserves FIVE stars. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Independence Hall over Labor Day weekend. We went on the Friday heading into the weekend and it was not overly crowded. We reserved the tickets online in advance, since we only had one free day in the city and placed a high priority on seeing the place. To reserve online it is $1.50 per ticket. You pick up the tickets at the Independence Park Visitor Center which is about a block away. Upon entering, you go through security. We arrived about 20 minutes before our tour started and that was ample time. Once we got through security, we strolled around outside and also visited the small philosophy museum that had a one room exhibit. A park ranger leads the tour, and ours was quite informative. They take you to two rooms after providing an introduction in a seating area. I won't divulge all the details, but needless to say the rooms toured are important parts of the birth of our nation. The park ranger did a great job trying to convey the tenuous nature of our young nation when the constitution was drafted and signed. For anyone who is an American history buff, this is a must see. read more

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Visiting Independence Hall is a humbling experience. It is wonderful that the birthplace of the Revolution and the United States of America is maintained in such fantastic condition and manned by such enthusiastic rangers and guides. It's extraordinary to see where everything began so many, many years ago. You'll need to pick up (free) tour tickets from the Independence Visitor Center beforehand or reserve them online via the National Park Service for a small fee. read more

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How can you not get chills thinking that America was born here. See the spot where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Amazing site to see. Tickets are free and should be booked ahead of your trip here. Gets busy since this is one of the top sites in Philly. Tour was not long at all and you get to walk through Independence Hall and pretend you remember what you learned in high school American History. Worth a visit. Soak in as much history as you can! read more

Independence Hall - Outside - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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If you don't get an overwhelming feeling of awe and admiration upon visiting this historic site then you are irretrievably lost to what it means to be an American and the struggle our ancestors had to undertake so that we could enjoy the country we now inhabit. Perfectly preserved and arrayed as it was on during the tumultuous days of 1775 and 1776. Well worth the addmission and a detour to visit this site. read more

Such a wonderful piece of history to visit. You can get free tickets for a tour at the visitor's center. If you don't want to tour inside, you can walk around the grounds and visit Philosophy Hall and the Old City Hall. If it's a busier tourist season, get tickets early or they'll be gone. You can reserve some online but they'll charge you a couple dollars. read more

Independence Hall - Long line of ticket holders waiting to tour Independence Hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We went on a tour, and just standing in the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed, just gives me chills. I really did love it. You must go here when you're in the area. It's just amazing and beautiful. read more

I think this one also required tickets, but it was otherwise free. It made more sense to me that there were tickets for this. Again, with the security! Just like at the Liberty Bell, a metal detector, wands, and an X-ray machine. It just felt a little ridiculous. First off, the hall is only 15 feet away from the street with only a fence separating it (one that can be easily climbed) with temporary crowd fences surrounding it. If someone wanted to do something terrible, they wouldn't go through the tour. Just my observation, and just general disdain for the way our culture had gone to require security for the most simple of things. Rant over. Otherwise, the national parks service rangers are all very pleasant and knowledgeable. There was one gentleman, he gave a very funny speech about being off your phone while visiting, but to take many pictures. I loved that they did this. The place has been kept in great shape, and it is a modest structure of the 18th century, beautiful nonetheless. I was looking forward to visiting the birthplace of our nation. read more

A must see for anyone visiting Philadelphia or for any history buff. It's very well maintained, and the tours are very informative. I would say that this was my favorite attraction while in Philly! I highly recommend it to anyone who has the time. You do have to get a ticket so I would recommend getting there early and picking a time for the day. read more

There were two things that I had to see on my first ever visit to Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Since they were right next door to each other, the logistics of getting to see both of them was simply too easy. Tours of Independence Hall are given frequently (one starting ever 20 minutes?) during the day, but require tickets for a timed tour that can be obtained at the Independence Visitor Center free of charge. We arrived 20 minutes before our tour start time to give us plenty of time to clear the security checkpoint prior to entering Independence Square and the waiting area for the tour. National Park Service rangers give the tours. Our tour guide, Ranger Knight, was exceptional in his ability to engage the group, pass along a wealth of information about this historically significant site, and keep it fun and interesting. It was apparent that despite probably having given the tour hundreds if not thousands of times, he was passionate about what he was doing and was proud to represent his hometown, Philadelphia. Frankly, Independence Hall is an old building that isn't all that impressive architecturally and aesthetically. However, to dismiss Independence Hall and not visit it would be a huge mistake since, much like the Liberty Bell, it's not what it is, but what it means to our nation and its history that's important. Independence Hall is a must see. read more

I'm not a huge history buff but I did enjoy the tour of independence hall. I found it to be very beautiful & interesting to look at and imagine what it was like back then. The staff was very knowledgeable & engaging in describing the tour. It was something different and fun to do, especially in such a great city with important history. It's free too so why not? read more

Independence Hall - Posing with a monument behind independence hall - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Amazing! 1) The tour is excellent. 2) It is free. 3) Get ticket from visitor center. read more

Independence Hall - Excellent tour - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

An historic can't miss in a city full of historic can't misses. If you're just in town for a few days, work it in along with the Liberty Bell (right next store) and maybe even the Art Museum. If you live in Philly, why not make a visit during one of its several events during the year. Pops on Independence has been an annual tradition for at least the last few years can be loads of fun (as long as the weather agrees). read more

Independence Hall - Philly Pops July 2013 - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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**If you don't get a ticket you can show up as stand-by for those with tickets that no-show. Many people we ran into didn't know this. As for the tour itself, it's nothing grand because you basically look at two large rooms. Historically these two rooms are a big deal but considering the amount of waiting you do for your turn to view the rooms it's tough to say you must see this. It's def nice to see and I see it every time I visit Philly. read more

We pre-booked our tour, reserved our tickets online for a minimal fee ($1 per ticket). The tour was very good, the guide was very knowledgeable. There is so much history, literally the birth place of America. To be in the same room where Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and so many others shaped our country... Be sure to arrive early for your reservation time, you have to go through security before the time that your tour starts. read more