They met in Philadelphia , at the Pennsylvania State House—today known as Independence Hall—to write the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

Main location

  • The Constitutional Convention met in the Pennsylvania State House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
  • This building is now called Independence Hall and is a central landmark of the American founding period.

Time and setting

  • Delegates gathered there during the summer of 1787, meeting from late May to September 17 to debate and draft the Constitution.
  • Sessions were held behind closed doors, with windows shut, so discussions about the new government could remain private.

Why Philadelphia?

  • Philadelphia was the largest city in the United States at the time and sat in a convenient, central location for most states.
  • The city offered boardinghouses and taverns where delegates stayed, dined, and held informal political discussions after formal sessions.