Carpenters' Hall of Philadelphia

Carpenters' Hall is a treasure in historic Philadelphia. It hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was home to Franklin's Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States.

NOW RUNNING:

CONSTRUCTING KNOWLEDGE: 300 YEARS OF THE CARPENTERS’ COMPANY OF THE CITY AND COUNTY OF PHILADELPHIA

The Carpenters’ Company is proud to present a new exhibit on display at the Athenaeum of Philadelphia from May 13th to August 31st, 2024.

This exhibit celebrates the past 300 years of the Company and its membership, and explores the way in which those members physically constructed the landscape of Philadelphia, while contributing to the standards and definitions of the current architecture, engineering, and construction trades.

We would like to thank the Athenaeum of Philadelphia for hosting this exhibit.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia is a member-supported library, established in 1814 at a time when the free public library system did not exist and collections of books, available for reading or research, were still mostly limited to institutions, schools or colleges. The Athenaeum nurtures curiosity in members and neighbors, strengthening community through learning and discourse. It is one of 16 membership libraries that collaborate through the Membership Libraries Group.

THE Carpenters' CoMPANY

Set humbly back from Chestnut Street, the Hall has been continuously owned and operated by The Carpenters' Company  
of the City and County of Philadelphia, the oldest craft guild in America, since 1770. 

RENT THE HALL

Carpenters' Hall can accommodate events for up to 125 guests. The Hall is open to the public from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday and cannot be rented during those hours.

NOTE: Rental of Carpenters’ Hall will resume September 2023.

OPEN to THE PUBLIC

Today, Carpenters' Hall is free to the public and welcomes over 150,000 world-wide visitors to this wonderful Georgian building. Admission has been complimentary since 1857, when it became the first privately owned American building to be opened as a historic monument.

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“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. ”
— Benjamin Franklin
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WALKING TOUR OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT

So much of 18th century Philadelphia — its homes, churches and historic sites — is framed by three city blocks just south of Carpenters' Hall. Use the directions in the link below to enjoy an hour-long stroll of Old City and Society Hill.

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historic meeting minutes available for research

Peruse the newly digitized records of the oldest craft guild in the United States, who let their Hall to the delegates of the First Congress, Benjamin Franklin, the United States War Department, the American Philosophical Society, The First Bank of the United States, and much more! These freshly uploaded records offer insight to the citizen scholar and professional historian alike, available on the American Philosophical Society website link below.

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Keep History Alive:
Donate Today!

Supporting Carpenters' Hall keeps a historic landmark open free to the public, sharing its essential role in the formation of the United States, as it has since 1857. Known as the "Birthplace of Liberty", Carpenters' Hall was the location of the 1774 meetings of the First Continental Congress.

Interested in Carpenters’ Hall merchandise? Visit our virtual museum store to shop Hall-themed products, gift certificates to our Air BnB experiences, and more!

In this video Carpenters’ Company Historian, Roger Moss, describes the history of The Company and the history of Carpenters’ Hall.

Supported by:

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and the generous contributions from members of The Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia

 

The Carpenters’ Company is proud to be a nonprofit affiliate to America250PA.

 
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