The Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, now called Independence Hall, is where the Second Continental Congress nominated George Washington as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army on June 14, 1775. And it’s where they drafted, debated and adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring the American colonies free and independent states.

The first Fourth of July celebration took place in Philadelphia in 1777. It included a parade, a thirteen-shot cannon salute and fireworks. Five little known facts about Independence Hall:

  1. The Declaration was read aloud in the area now known as Independence Square.
     
  2. The hall still has the original inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence.
     
  3. The basement of Independence Hall was once used as Philadelphia’s city dog pound.
     
  4. Independence Hall is also the birthplace of the Constitution. An original draft of the Constitution is on display there.
     
  5. During the hot and humid summer of 1787, delegates to the Constitutional Convention closed and draped windows and kept doors shut so discussions would be private and not overheard.

This iron bank depicting Independence Hall was made by Enterprise Manufacturing Co. of Philadelphia for the Centennial Exhibition held in Philadelphia in 1876 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It sold at a recent RSL auction in New Jersey for $1,680. Find prices of other still and mechanical banks in the free online price guide at Kovels.com.

Happy Independence Day!