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Carpenters' Hall

Address: 320 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Neighborhood: Old City

Website: carpentershall.org

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Contact: 215-925-0167

Description: Erected between 1770 and 1773 as a guild hall for the Carpenters’ Company of Philadelphia, this jaunty two-story brick building with its prominent cupola is one of the country’s finest examples of late Georgian public architecture. Robert Smith, originally from Scotland and a member of the organization that promoted fellowship along with good design and craftsmanship, provided the design. The First Continental Congress met in the Hall in 1774, and it served as a hospital for both British and American troops in the Revolution. It later became the temporary office of both the First and Second Banks of the United States. Carpenters’ Hall is still owned and used by the group for whom it was built.

Resources for Researchers

Information for Visitors

  • Hours
    • 10am - 4pm
  • Accessibility Info
    • Accessible entrance on south side; no public restrooms.
  • SEPTA Routes
    • Bus routes 21 and 42 to 4th and Chestnut; Market-Frankford el to 5th Street or 2nd Street
  • Classroom Visit Information

Subthemes

  • First in the nation – Philadelphia’s “firsts”
  • Changemakers – social reform, racial justice, political movements
  • Architecture and design – iconic, famous, or representative
  • Military history – Revolution and beyond

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