The Carpenters’ Company of City and County of Philadelphia is raising funds to repair Carpenters’ Hall after it was damaged in an arson attack. On Christmas Eve of 2022, Carpenters’ Hall was broken into and a fire was started in the basement.
While the fire was thankfully contained in the basement, the basement and its contents suffered extensive damage in the flames. While navigating the damage and exploring a new path to reopen, Carpenters’ Hall is asking the public to support its efforts. Public donations will help to fund an improved security system, including new security cameras, fire protection systems, fireproof archival storage, and environmental protections for our collections.
About Carpenters’ Hall: A National Historic Landmark, Carpenters’ Hall was built in the early 1770s and hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774, one of the most significant events in the founding of our nation. We are located in Independence National Historical Park, but the building is privately owned and maintained by the nonprofit Carpenters’ Company, which was founded in 1724 and is the nation’s oldest continuously operating trade guild. Carpenters’ Hall receives around 120,000 visitors annually, and donations enable us to maintain the site and provide free admission.
