An architectural declaration of independence

The 250th anniversary of the adoption of our Declaration of Independence to set forth our self-governing liberty from King George III has piqued my awe about the architecture of its birthplace. Of prime fascination for me is how Independence Hall in Philadelphia (built 1732-1753 as the Pennsylvania State House) was designed not only to create ample breathing room, elbow room and room to grow for Continental Congress to debate, shape and ratify this pivotal parchment, but also with America's future population growth and physical expansion in mind.

This 1752 drawing shows that the State House had its hip-roofed wings, linked to the headhouse by arcaded hyphens, from the beginning. This civic symmetry touted the edifice's central significance as the seat of the local government.

The building's tripartite arrangement was planned to compartmentalize various governmental and civic functions into separate entities for the sake of efficiency, clarity of location, and hierarchy of importance. In the central headhouse sat Pennsylvania's Legislative Assembly, Executive Council and Judicial Courts, as well as the Long Room the royal governor used for banquets and public events, all proudly crowned by the iconic cupola-topped tower where the Liberty Bell rang until its recognizable crack began to appear in it.

The West Wing, as its houselike form suggests, housed living quarters for doorkeepers of the Pennsylvania Assembly and books for the Library Company of Philadelphia, which Benjamin Franklin founded in 1731 to make books accessible to all.

Today the West Wing proudly displays the Great Essentials, original printed copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, paying homage to those founding documents that were debated and drafted in the great hall next door.

Also in the West Wing is the Syng silver inkstand, in which 56 Continental Congressmen reportedly dipped their quill pens to "mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor" as they signed Timothy Matlack's final written copy of the Declaration.

The identical East Wing was built to hold public documents and governmental paperwork, so that the governing bodies would not be buried in paper as they went about their business. Today the East Wing houses the America's National Parks store, a gift shop selling Park Ranger-endorsed books, 250th-anniversary-themed merchandise, and historical souvenirs such as postcards, magnets, and miniature Liberty Bells. Proceeds from their sales directly fund educational and preservation programs at the Independence National Historical Park.

More to come...

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