Revolution · 1 block from Society Hill Hotel
Carpenters' Hall
Carpenters' Hall is the 1770 brick guildhall where the First Continental Congress met in 1774, producing the first unified response of the colonies to British rule. Still owned and operated by the Carpenters' Company — the same trade guild that built it — Carpenters' Hall is one block from Society Hill Hotel.
Walking distance
2 min on foot
1 block from 301 Chestnut
Address
320 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Hours
Typically Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday. Verify at carpentershall.org before visiting.
Admission
Free.
Hours and admission change seasonally. For the authoritative schedule and any day-of closures, check the official site.
What to expect
What a visit actually looks like.
A single open room on the main floor, modestly furnished and interpreted by volunteers. The space is small and surprisingly intimate: standing here, you're in the actual room where delegates from twelve colonies agreed, for the first time, to speak with one voice. Exhibits cover the Continental Congress, the Carpenters' Company itself (founded 1724 and still active), and the hall's later uses — including as a First Bank of the United States branch and as a Civil War recruiting station.
A short history.
The Carpenters' Company commissioned the hall in 1770 as the meeting place and pattern-book library of Philadelphia's master builders. Four years later, it hosted the First Continental Congress (September–October 1774) — 56 delegates including George Washington, John Adams, and Patrick Henry, debating how the colonies should respond to the Intolerable Acts. The decisions here led directly to the Revolution.
Tips for visiting
- 01Free admission — walk in, no ticket.
- 02The hall is small; a full visit is 20–30 minutes.
- 03Volunteer docents are often Carpenters' Company members — ask them about the building's construction.
- 04Combine with Franklin Court one block west and Second Bank next door.
While you’re in the neighborhood
Three more within a few blocks.
Staying in Old City?
Society Hill Hotel is 1 block from Carpenters' Hall.
Twelve rooms in an 1832 building at 301 Chestnut, in the heart of Old City. Walk everywhere you came to Philadelphia to see — Carpenters' Hall is a 2-minute walk from our front door. Mobile keycode check-in. No front desk. Piccolina, a contemporary Italian restaurant, on the ground floor.
- · Walk to Independence Hall in 4 min
- · Restaurant downstairs
- · Mobile check-in, no desk
- · 1832 building, fully restored
Reserve a room
Mobile keycode check-in. No front desk.