Carpenters' Hall
Carpenters' Hall
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Built in 1770 and used by a variety of political groups, Carpenter Hall was used as a hospital and arsenal during the Revolutionary War.
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: City Center East
How to get there
- 5th St • 4 min walk
- 2nd St • 5 min walk
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
193 reviews
Excellent
62
Very good
94
Average
30
Poor
6
Terrible
1
tinylass
Sheffield, UK5 819 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We were wandering around Philly at night and passed by here when it was closed. It is located on Chestnut Street around the back of the the First Bank of the United States and is in a quiet garden, almost like someones house. It was a pretty building, especially lit up at night.
Written 27 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa B
Texas1 377 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
A historic building on historic grounds. It was amazing to see how close in proximity all the buildings are to one another.
Written 6 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1234texas
Seabrook, TX5 177 contributions
Sept 2019
Let's keep it simple on this one! The building is a very attractive one in a great setting. It is at the end of a side street lined with attractive brick "cottages" that frame the building when you turn the corner. It is really eye catching and makes you want to see it. I suggest that you get a picture of it and move on, but if you have to go, look at the two plaques in front of it--they tell you all you need to know.
After that, reject the desire to go inside--it is just disappointing. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING interesting or exciting to see, do, or learn! There is a entry hall with some "artifacts" that belong in a kids museum and one big room with a bunch of stuff. That's it! What a sad end for a building that is as historically significant as this one is.
After that, reject the desire to go inside--it is just disappointing. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING interesting or exciting to see, do, or learn! There is a entry hall with some "artifacts" that belong in a kids museum and one big room with a bunch of stuff. That's it! What a sad end for a building that is as historically significant as this one is.
Written 27 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Herstory_62
Philadelphia, PA488 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
Hidden in plain sight, nestled in a cluster of more prominent historic buildings on & around Chestnut Street, Carpenters' Hall is worth a stop on any tour of old Philadelphia - especially for history buffs interested in events leading up to those better known that took place at nearby Independence Hall. Here, for example, the first Continental Congress met & Benjamin Franklin met with a French spy, who carried a message of support for the revolution from Louis XVI.
Although artifacts are relatively sparse, the cruciform building is unique & displays enable the visitor to acquire a sense of the importance of the role played in the early days of Pennsylvania & the US by the carpenters' guild. A gift counter offers some worthwhile souvenirs.
Although artifacts are relatively sparse, the cruciform building is unique & displays enable the visitor to acquire a sense of the importance of the role played in the early days of Pennsylvania & the US by the carpenters' guild. A gift counter offers some worthwhile souvenirs.
Written 14 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CynthiafromOhio2011
Cleveland, OH337 contributions
Sept 2011 • Solo
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.
Its main claim to fame is that it was home to the First Continental Congress; the Second Continential Congress met at Independence Hall. Because the First Continential Congress was meeting in secret, this building was chosen since it was tucked away off the street (still is -- most people walk by it and don't even know that it is there). The Hall has been continuously owned and operated by The Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, the oldest trade guild in America, since 1770. Today it is also part of Independence National Historical Park.
Although there is not a lot to see here, it is worth a visit for history buffs. Not very crowded, just one large room. Although the reviewers were correct that there is not a lot to do or see here, it was nice to view something historic but not fight crowds. Also, it had the nicest (friendliest and knowledgable) guides / park service rangers and gift shop of any of the locations around Independence Hall.
Very good place to absorb the atmosphere of the time without crowds of people and photo flashes.
Its main claim to fame is that it was home to the First Continental Congress; the Second Continential Congress met at Independence Hall. Because the First Continential Congress was meeting in secret, this building was chosen since it was tucked away off the street (still is -- most people walk by it and don't even know that it is there). The Hall has been continuously owned and operated by The Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, the oldest trade guild in America, since 1770. Today it is also part of Independence National Historical Park.
Although there is not a lot to see here, it is worth a visit for history buffs. Not very crowded, just one large room. Although the reviewers were correct that there is not a lot to do or see here, it was nice to view something historic but not fight crowds. Also, it had the nicest (friendliest and knowledgable) guides / park service rangers and gift shop of any of the locations around Independence Hall.
Very good place to absorb the atmosphere of the time without crowds of people and photo flashes.
Written 26 September 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stacy H
Denver, CO112 contributions
Jul 2021 • Friends
You won’t spend a ton of time here because it’s a small but interesting museum, but it’s worth checking out of you’re in the neighborhood. Best of all it’s FREE!
Written 26 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy M
Cleveland, OH238 contributions
Oct 2019
There was not really too much to see in here. Interesting to see for historical purposes but only a ten minute or so to see everything.
Written 21 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maud180291
Loughborough, UK278 contributions
Oct 2019
Across the way from the Independence Hall, this building plays its part in the independence story & includes some interesting artefacts. Include as part of a walking route around the area.
Written 4 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
katsusanna
Raleigh, NC614 contributions
Jul 2019
Everyone knows about the Second Continental Congress that signed the Declaration at Independence Hall, but no one ever talks about the FIRST Continental Congress. That one was, of course, super important, because it was the first time the 13 Colonies got together (well, as many as possible) in one spot in defiance of British rule. They didn't meet in Independence Hall, though, they met in Carpenters Hall. So, for that fact alone, Carpenters Hall is very important to our nation's founding history. However, it was also the actual hall built by and for the Carpenters Guild (and still is their hall), and the exhibits inside reflect primarily the "Carpenters" aspect, although there is also some information about the First Congress. Both aspects of the building are very interesting. My husband is an amateur woodworker, and he found the building especially interesting. He spent a long time examining the historical carpentry tools inside the foyer. The hall itself is quite splendid to see. The architecture and flooring is very beautiful, and there is a scale model showing the construction and structure of the building. There is a replica Speakers chair (from the First Congress) you can sit in, and there are explanatory signs around the perimeter of the hall, telling the history of the place. There is a also a well-stocked gift shop. (Unfortunately, while we were there, there were two ladies trying to decide which mini-replica of the Liberty Bell they wanted to purchase, and they spent about ten minutes ringing the various souvenir Liberty Bell models, which was REALLY annoying -- having little bells ring constantly for ten minutes. Not the fault of the site, but the tourists should have more respect for others in the building!).
There were no tour guides present in the hall while we were there, so this was completely self-guided. The gentleman manning the gift shop did let us know that if we had any questions, he'd be happy to answer them.
We spent about 20-25 minutes inside Carpenters Hall. The grounds are quite peaceful and lovely, too, though, and we spend some time outside at the Storytelling Bench, listening to the wonderful storyteller. Those benches are really a wonderful idea! They are all over Philadelphia (and there was one at Valley Forge, too!). We don't even have children, and we still always enjoyed hearing the stories whenever we came across one of the benches. It's fun to look for them!
There were no tour guides present in the hall while we were there, so this was completely self-guided. The gentleman manning the gift shop did let us know that if we had any questions, he'd be happy to answer them.
We spent about 20-25 minutes inside Carpenters Hall. The grounds are quite peaceful and lovely, too, though, and we spend some time outside at the Storytelling Bench, listening to the wonderful storyteller. Those benches are really a wonderful idea! They are all over Philadelphia (and there was one at Valley Forge, too!). We don't even have children, and we still always enjoyed hearing the stories whenever we came across one of the benches. It's fun to look for them!
Written 24 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janice K
72 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
If you are passing by, then stop in. Beautiful building built by carpenter's guild. Cheapest post cards and a few other items not found anywhere else!
Written 11 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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