Opening in 1753 as the Pennsylvania State House, this building is one of the most important buildings in America. During the founding of this country, it was here that delegates from each colony met for the Second Continental Congress. Although the famous painting by John Trumbull would have you believe that everyone was gathered in one room to sign the Declaration of Independence on that fateful day, that is not quite how it happened. It was July 2, 1776 when the document was approved and adopted by Congress to be our official declaration to King George III to be free and independent states. The document then went to the printing press and was printed in newspapers on July 4th. The signing commenced in August of 1776. On July 8, 1776, the first public reading of the document was read aloud behind this building, now known as Independence Hall. Each year on the anniversary, a reenactment is staged of this reading. President Taft held a convention here in 1915 to announce the formation of the League to Enforce Peace, which eventually became the United Nations. Two hundred and sixty-seven years later, this building stands tall as the birthplace of our country. Each year, over five million people visit this Philadelphia icon and learn about the Founding Fathers that met here daily and worked hard to fight for what is right.