Relive the First Continental Congress where it actually took place!

Step back in time to 1774 and take a front-row seat for the debates that shaped a nation. Held in the historic Carpenters’ Hall—the actual site of the First Continental Congress.

Enjoy cocktails and snacks as you witness the Founding Fathers debate independence.  See how representatives from diverse colonies forged a new American identity. Witness the heated exchange between John Adams and John Dickinson – as well as members of the enslaved and free Black communities, as they wrestle with the fate of the colonies behind closed doors.

Is the weekend you’re looking for sold out? Check out Independence After Hours, which offers evening access to one of the most important sites in American history, bringing the summer of 1776 to life.

Produced by Historic Philadelphia, Inc. in partnership with the Carpenters’ Company, this performance offers a compelling look at how representatives from diverse colonies began to forge a new American identity.