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Exploring George Washington's Chair in Philadelphia

WherePHILLY Staff
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PHILADELPHIA - If you're interested in the history of America's founding fathers, explore the chair of George Washington at the National Constitution Center. It was used by the 55 delegates of the Continental Congress to draft the Constitution, and you can even sit in his chair today.


Although most revolutions fail after a military victory, the Constitution Room was an important part of the American founding. Today, visitors can walk through the same door and stand on the same floorboards Washington used to write the Constitution.

During the 1790s, the Pennsylvania legislature shifted to new state capitals like Harrisburg. It returned the chair to Philadelphia for display in the Assembly Room on the birthday of George Washington. The chair is a visual stunner, and the museum's curators use several physical and documentary pieces of evidence to help interpret the historic significance of the piece. The chair may have been displayed in Philadelphia before the legislature moved to Harrisburg, but it was not returned until 1867.

The chair is not the only important part of the National Constitution Center. You can explore the other rooms of Independence Hall, where the delegates negotiated the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Visitors can also view George Washington's copy of the Acts Passed at the First Congress, which includes the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Once you've finished exploring Washington's chair at the National Constitution Center, you'll be able to learn more about the country's founding documents.