Independence Hall

Posted: 06.18.2025 | Updated: 10.11.2025

Few buildings are as significant to the United States’ history as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. On many occasions since its 18th-century construction, the red-bricked building just blocks from the flowing waters of the Delaware had been at the center of jarring changes and national tragedy. 

It stood at the heart of progress, and the memories contained within tell the story of a budding nation. At the core of those stories remain the apparitions of notable figures that shaped them.

When it comes to haunted places in Philadelphia, Independence Hall ranks high on the must-see list. The historic halls offer visitors the chance to witness the ethereal form of a Founding Father and feel the potency of a centuries-long feud. Though a lot of good unfolded within the historic halls, it doesn’t completely overshadow the foreboding sense of a more melancholy force. 

Care to walk the line where history and the otherworldly collide? Then book your spectral exploration of the City of Brotherly Love and listen to haunting tales of Independence Hall with a Philly Ghosts tour.  

Who Haunts Independence Hall

Two iconic figures from America’s past have been spied patrolling the halls of this national antiquity. The apparition of Benjamin Franklin, one of the United States’ founding fathers, spends much of his time in the Assembly Room, watching over the Declaration of Independence. 

He does so peacefully, despite the presence of a known rival and traitor, Benedict Arnold. Why Arnold haunts Independence Hall remains unknown, though some believe he’s there to seek pardon for his transgressions. 

An Early Landmark of American Politics

Though Natives had occupied North America for centuries before the arrival of the first settlers, it was the arrival of the English that ignited the first sparks of contemporary society. Near the turn of the 17th century, British colonists made a home in Jamestown, Virginia. It wasn’t there that a nation would form, though. That process began some five hours north and more than 120 years later when the Pennsylvania Assembly moved for the construction of a permanent meeting space.

By 1723, development had begun just on the outskirts of Philadelphia, with Speaker Andrew Hamilton leading the decision-making process. The red-bricked building, designed by Edmund Woolley, was finished by 1753, its final appearance taking on the silhouette of a church. Within the central peak, the bell that would later become a symbol of liberty was installed.

The Nation’s Fight for Sovereignty

While Woolley’s construction initially only served the needs of the Pennsylvania Assembly, it would soon play a part in the creation of a new nation. Over 400 miles east, on April 19, 1775, the first shots of the American Revolution rang out in Massachusetts. 

As the war between the British and Continental armies waged on, the Assembly building became a hub for the fledgling national government. During the year-long British occupation, the building was converted into a POW prison, its once pristine allure stained by the forceful seizure. Though the steeple was damaged, restorations began several years after revolutionaries reclaimed the State House.

Official talks over finalizing an independent nation began in May 1775, with the Second Continental Congress gathering in the State House to find a suitable resolution. On July 2, 1776, in the building’s east room, one was agreed upon. 

The most significant event in United States history, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, occurred in the future Independence Hall. Yet somehow, despite just how important and impactful it was, only one of the Founding Fathers present for the signing returned long after his passing. 

An Echo of a Founding Father

Though four others joined Benjamin Franklin on July 2 to draft and sign the Declaration of Independence, it’s only his spirit that lingers by the historic document. A man of many achievements, including being the first Postmaster General and making numerous innovative contributions to science, his role in creating the Declaration may be his most consequential. 

The wispy form of the famed polymath spends its time in the Assembly Room. It was a space he became familiar with, forming important bonds with those who shaped the nation. His ghost may not show obvious signs of being an intelligent haunt, but he very well could have returned from his eternal slumber to watch over the key document — especially knowing a villain of the states is not far.

A Traitor Goes Against the Revolution

Benjamin Franklin represents a high point in American history. Contrasting his positive, ethereal presence is that of Benedict Arnold, a notorious traitor to George Washington and the Revolution. 

Though Arnold began as a trusted general of the Continental Army, he felt overlooked by the established Congress. He sacrificed plenty at the Battle of Saratoga and the invasion of Quebec, and felt his rewards and compensation were lacking. When the Continentals passed him up for promotions, Arnold questioned his allegiances. 

As he started to fall out with Continental officials, Arnold’s behavior led some to believe he had turned coat. Driven by his disillusionment and growing debts, the former revered Continental general fed information to the British. In 1779, after taking control of West Point near the Hudson, Arnold provided British commanders with the specifics needed to reclaim the fortress.

By the war’s end, Arnold’s betrayal came to light. Though the men he worked with, like British Major John Andre, were executed, the traitor escaped to England. He eventually died in London in the early 19th century, though his soul refused to rest overseas.

Benedict Arnold Returns to the States 

Was it shame or revenge that anchored Benedict Arnold’s spirit to Independence Hall? It’s a question that remains unanswered, even as the traitor’s apparition still actively haunts the former State House. Perhaps it’s a residual memory, a moment in time before Arnold defected to the British, replayed as a way to restore his image as a hero of the revolution.

Unlike Franklin, Arnold isn’t bound to one room. His ethereal form has been spotted throughout Independence Hall, wandering without purpose. There’s a sadness to his spectral energy, though there’s no telling if it’s his own regret or the lingering sorrow felt by those who once trusted him.

A Presidential Wake

On April 22, 1865, the body of President Abraham Lincoln finished its journey to Philadelphia for a public viewing in Independence Hall. His casket was placed in the Assembly Hall, near the Liberty Bell, to provide hundreds of his supporters an opportunity to pay their respects. For about 20 hours, the body remained on display, and nearly 100,000 people were ferried through Independence Hall.

It’s a macabre bit of history, though surprisingly not one that has any influence on the location of President Lincoln’s ghost. Despite the emotions that filled the Assembly Hall that day, his spirit is instead believed to haunt the White House or one of his Illinois homes.

Haunted Philadelphia

Independence Hall, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands today as a proud reminder of the efforts taken to develop the United States. Who better to preserve that memory than one of the Founding Fathers responsible for creating it? 

Although there have been whispers of other unknown specters, such as the 18th-century spirit glimpsed by a National Park ranger, Franklin and the traitorous Benedict Arnold are the most common haunts at Independence Hall. 

Philadelphia is a city oozing with history. Where there’s history, there’s likely to be spirits, wraiths, phantoms, and apparitions that preserve the past in their own way. Explore yesteryear in the most unique way possible by booking your Philly Ghosts tour today.

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Sources:

• https://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/essays/independence-hall/

• https://www.worldatlas.com/heritage-sites/independence-hall.html

• https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/buildings/section3

• https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/7-of-the-most-important-of-ben-franklins-accomplishments

• https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/benedict-arnold

• https://locationsoflore.com/2022/03/02/hauntings-at-independence-hall/

• https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/independencehall-civilwar.htm