Independence Hall, or Old State House, is the most famous building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the scene of some of the most important events in American history. Patriots met in the Hall in May 1775, in the Second Continental Congress. There they chose George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental Army. On July 4, 1776, John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence in the Hall. On July 8, the Liberty Bell in the Hall’s tower proclaimed the first public reading of the Declaration. The bell, displayed in the Hall for many years, now hangs in a building just north of the Hall. Congress Hall and other historic buildings are also nearby. In 1951, the Hall became a part of Independence National Historical Park. See also Liberty Bell .
