D. G. Hart’s new book on Independence Hall noted in First Things.
Independence Hall is forever tied to the Founding. The meetings that gave us the Declaration and the Constitution took place there. Henry Ford once sought to purchase the entire building and transport it to Dearborn, Michigan. The full significance of the building extends well beyond 1776 and 1787, says D. G. Hart in Independence Hall: The History of an American Icon. It didn’t even get the name “Independence Hall” until the 1820s. It started in 1732 as the Pennsylvania State House, which young Ben Franklin knew well because of the odd jobs he did for the legislature as a local printer. President Andrew Jackson’s tour of the city in 1833 ended with a reception in the building that was so crowded and raucous, some attendees jumped from the first-floor windows to escape the crush. The Hall was designated a national park 120 years later, and at the bicentennial the spot was a focal point for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II. These and many more entertaining episodes fill the book. Hart’s writing is brisk and smooth, giving the structure an identity and history equal to that of other historic sites in our country. Another superb offering from Creed & Culture press.
