Carpenters' Hall - The First Continental Congress

Photo: Pbjamesphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)

A stop on Philadelphia Independence Walk, a free self-guided tour.

Tucked down a short lane off Chestnut Street, this handsome brick building belongs to the Carpenters' Company, a guild of master builders founded in 1724. They built it as their meeting hall and finished it in 1774, just in time for history.

In September 1774, delegates from twelve colonies gathered here for the First Continental Congress. They were angry about Britain's punishment of Boston after the Tea Party, and they agreed to boycott British goods. It wasn't yet a call for independence, but it was the first time the colonies acted together, and it laid the groundwork for everything that happened at Independence Hall.

The Carpenters' Company still owns and runs the hall today, making it one of the oldest trade groups in the country. Notice the cross-shaped floor plan and the cupola on top, designed by member Robert Smith.

Getting here: Walk east on Chestnut Street about two and a half blocks; Carpenters' Hall is set back down a narrow lane on your right between 3rd and 4th Streets.

Did you know?: In 1798 thieves stole more than 160,000 dollars from a bank that was using this building, in what is often called the first bank robbery in the United States.

Photo op: Stand at the Chestnut Street end of the lane to frame the hall with its cupola straight ahead.

More on Wikipedia: Carpenters' Hall · First Continental Congress · Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia

Carpenters' Hall - The First Continental Congress

Stops on this tour