LOCATION:

Address: Chestnut Street between 5th & 6th Streets.

Independence Hall is part of Independence National Historical Park, which protects and provides upkeep for historical buildings in this historically significant old town of Philadelphia.

Admission is free, but visitors must have a tour ticket with a specific day and time, during the months of March 1 to December 31, Security is tight around this building, and all visitors are screened before allowed to stand in line. The idea of the tickets was to eliminate the long wait for Independence Hall tours and give visitors more time to see the other historic sites in the area. Tom and I arrived in Philadelphia around 3:00 in the afternoon on an August day, and the line to get in was fairly long, probably because of the needed security checks, and the fact that the month of August is during the peak tourist season! But people were grouped according to their time slot, so once there was room for another tour to start, the line must of moved up fast.

Walk-Up Tickets are available for free on the morning of the scheduled visit at the Independence Visitor Center at 6th and Market Street starting at 8:30 AM. This is also the place to get a detailed map of historical Philadelphia, with the other sites to see, many of which have resident ghosts.

DESCRIPTION / HISTORY:

Originally known as the Pennsylvania State House, its name was changed to Independence Hall in 1732. This beautiful building is a fine example of Georgian architecture, and is a magnificent two-three story brick building complete with a clock and bell tower! Construction of this building began in 1730, the most "ambitious" building project in the 13 colonies! It was built in stages as the provincial Pennsylvania government paid as they went, under the watchful eye of Andrew Hamilton. It took 21 years to complete, but it was paid for in full. There were renovations over the years. In 1830, Greek revival architect John Haviland. 120 years later, the National Park Service renovated Independence Hall back to its original 1776 Georgian architecture.

It makes one tingle when one realizes all the history which took place in Independence Hall. For Independence Hall truly was the birthplace of the United States.

It was the meeting place for the Second Continental Congress.

In the Assembly Room: George Washington was appointed commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1775

In the Assembly Room: Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. * The design of the American flag was agreed upon in 1777.

In the Assembly Room: The Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781 * The U. S. Constitution was drafted in 1787.

Throughout the years, when the basement of this historical building was once the dog pound. Second floor was once home to Charles Willson Peale's museum of natural history.

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS:

Considering all the history connected to this building, it is no wonder that it attracts entities who were involved in its history. Many signers of the Declaration of Independence faced hardships because of their courage to do so. Other incidents which happened here have also resulted in a variety of hauntings.

Ben Franklin - Ben was a very talented man, an enlightenment intellectual, who earned his fame as a statesman, "through his subsequent diplomatic services in connection with the relations of the colonies with Great Britain, and later with France."

In 1775, he was chosen by Pennsylvania to be their delegate to the Second Continental Congress. In 1776, he was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and made several small changes to Thomas Jefferson's draft. He was busy in life, involved with a lot of activities, societies and organizations.

Benedict Arnold - It was 1780 and Benedict Arnold wasn't a happy camper. He had married a lady who was a loyalist sympathizer, and was putting pressure on him to find a way to end the war with the colonies still being under England. He had serious issues with the Continental Congress and the military, was suffering from mounting personal debt, and was facing untrue corruption charges filed by the Pennsylvania civil authorities, due to personal quarrels with the council president of the state, Jerry Reed, who was determined to ruin Arnold. At his court martial, Benedict Arnold was ultimately cleared of all civil charges but was found guilty of two trivial charges and it was recommended that he receive a reprimand from Washington, himself. "Washington, who considered Arnold the victim of persecution, couched the reprimand in such terms as to convert it into eulogy, and soon afterward offered Arnold the highest command under himself in the northern army for the next campaign."

In 1780, the war wasn't going well for Washington's troops; conditions for the patriots was pretty dire, and men had been deserting to the British lines averaging more than 100 a month. Benedict Arnold was still angry about his treatment and acted on a plan he had been thinking about. First step was to be assured through a loyalist contact that Lord North, would introduce the liberal terms already offered by the British in 1778, which conceded everything that the Americans had demanded in 1775, would be re-offered in negotiations if the colonies would only come back to the British empire. Second step was to switch to the dark side of the force and put into action his plot to give the British control of the Hudson River, which was foiled. He escaped and became a Brigadier General in the British force and was rewarded with a paltry sum of £6,000 sterling. He wound up in England, where he got a mixed reception. He started a business with two of his sons in New Brunswick, forever banished from America as a black hearted traitor. His last years were embittered by remorse. His name in American culture has since been linked to the word, treason, and his reputation was ruined by his own actions. It is a shame that such a brave, courageous military leader met such a sad end.

MANIFESTATIONS:

Entities have been seen wandering around the first floor of the Hall's central clock tower.

A National Park ranger was about to close the building for the night, when the security alarm went off on the first floor level of the clock tower. As he entered the area, he saw a male apparition dressed in 18th century clothing

The entity of Ben Franklin has been seen around his favorite places in Philadelphia, and Independence Hall is one of them.

Ben Franklin was a whirling dynamo during his lifetime, and may be having trouble taking his eternal rest.

The entity of Benedict Arnold is seen here as well, perhaps reliving his troubles.

Benedict Arnold died a bitter, remorseful man, who probably is restless, and still trying to settle his troubles at Independence Hall.

STILL HAUNTED ?

Yes Indeed!

Independence Hall is popular with the living and the entities which haunt it as well.

SOURCES INCLUDE: ushistory.org * nps.gov * .wikipedia.org