Carpenters' Hall was built in 1770 by the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, a guild founded in 1724 to help its members develop architectural skills and to aid their families in times of need.
The delegates to the First Continental Congress met here in September 1774 to air their grievances against King George III. In the spring of 1775, the Second Continental Congress transferred its sessions to the larger Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), but Carpenters' Hall continued to be used by various political groups.
During the Revolutionary War the Hall served as a hospital and an arsenal for American forces. The building is still owned and maintained by the Carpenters' Company. Admission is free.
