Michael Norris, Executive Director of Carpenters’ Hall and The Carpenters Company of the City and County of Philadelphia discussed the well-known, but little understood, “Birthplace of Liberty”, Carpenters’ Hall.  Designed by Robert Smith and built by the Carpenter gild as a showcase of their skill and an apprenticeship for young builders, the building hosted the First Continental Congress in 1774 and was home to Franklin’s Library Company, The American Philosophical Society, and the First and Second Banks of the United States. 

He related the history of Benjamin Franklin’s secret meetings there with French spy, Julien-Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir, which laid the foundation for French support of the American Revolution. Carpenters’ Hall has declared 2025 the “YEAR OF THE SPY” in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of these clandestine evenings. Activities for the celebration include a spy book club with the Rosenbach, programming with the Museum of the American Revolution’s Revolutionary Philadelphia: 1775 events, a film screening, and a members-only event.

Carpenters’ Hall is free to the public and welcomes over 100,000 visitors annually. Its library is available to members and architectural scholars, and they continue to support the building and design trades with lectures and professional events. They also offer the Robert Smith Memorial Scholarship to recognize promising student in the historic building trades. https://www.carpentershall.org/robertsmithscholarship 

He discussed the Young People’s Continental Congress, a National Partner Program of America250, an educational program that allows students and teachers to work in teams as they collaboratively study America’s founding era and its implications today. Last year 54 students and teachers from 27 states attended, enjoying dinner with elected officials at City Hall and a Fife & Drum-led parade to an opening ceremony, field learning opportunities at historic Philly sites like Carpenters’ Hall, Independence National Historical Park, the National Constitution Center, the Museum of the American Revolution, and an opportunity to co-create and sign a joint Declaration of Aspirations for American democracy. He hopes to expand it in 2026 to include more Philadelphia school participation. 

Michael invites us to attend one of their public programs, After-Hours Whisky Tours in the rarely-seen second floor 19th-century library and their Holiday Tea, ‘hosted’ by Dolley Todd Madison, former Philadelphia resident and neighbor of Carpenters’ Hall, wife of President James Madison, and one of the most prominent women in U.S. history. To book your reservation go to carpentershall.org/events. Teas will be held Sundays from November 30 to December 21.

For more information on Carpenters’ Hall and The Carpenters’ Company go to carpentershall.org