Upcoming Events
Shells of Liberty Oyster Bash
Tuesday, August 5, 2025 - from 3-5:00pm and 5:30-7:30pm
On August 5, National Oyster Day, join Carpenters’ Hall and Fishtown Seafood for the inaugural “Shells of Liberty Oyster Bash” in Philadelphia’s Historic District.
We’re throwing it back to the Revolutionary era when oysters were the snack of choice for the Founding Fathers. In the 1700s, these briny bites were the original fast food, with shells paving city streets. By the 1800s, Philly boasted 379 oyster houses and devoured 300 million oysters a year. Carpenters’ Hall—where the First Continental Congress sparked America’s fight for freedom—recently unearthed oyster shells beneath its 250-year-old floors.
How to Shellebrate:
Join us from 3–5 p.m for Family Fun, Fresh Oysters, and Free Tours! - NO TICKETS REQUIRED
Dive into games, crafts, and hands-on history outside in Carpenters’ Court!
Learn about oysters with the Independence Seaport Museum, the Bayshore Center at Bivalve, and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (which will be recycling oyster shells all day!)
Slurp up freshly shucked local oysters (available for purchase)
Enjoy free tours of Carpenters’ Hall—walk-ins welcome!
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Purchase tickets below for an Adults-Only TICKETED Bash Inside the Hall that evening from 5:30–7:30 p.m:
Sip, savor, and mingle with drinks from Triple Bottom Brewing!
Sample a dozen local oysters, handpicked by Fishtown Seafood’s Bryan Szeliga (oyster supplier to top Philly restaurants)
Explore the Hall and catch pop-up talks connecting oysters, the Revolution, and the Founders, featuring professor of American history and urban studies, Dr. Stephen Nepa, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, and Triple Bottom Brewing
Proceeds benefit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary
Tickets: $75, includes one beer and 12 oysters (with additional drinks and food available for purchase)
For one delicious day, Old City is your oyster. Secure your spot for this pearl of an event now!
Master Builders’ Dialogues 2025
"Towards a More Perfect Union": Accessibility and Preservation
Thursday, October 23, 11:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
As we approach the Semiquincentennial of American independence in 2026, museums and historic sites are increasingly exploring more inclusive stories about our journey towards a "more perfect union." It follows that these places also need to become more physically and programmatically accessible to all visitors. This engaging half-day symposium wil show you how accessibility has evolved beyond ADA regulations into human-centered, universal design that can be compatible with historic-preservation and interpretive standards.
This event is co-hosted in partnership with Art-Reach, APT-DVC and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
Is your firm or organization currently in the planning or execution phase of a preservation project in the Philadelphia area where accessibility is a central contributing factor? Have you recently completed a project on a historic site where stakeholders in the community were consulted or included to make the site more accessible to people, regardless of age, ability, or other factors?
Though we are no longer accepting proposals for this year’s Master Builders’ Dialogues, we are currently accepting exhibit panels showcasing projects that fit the above theme. These panels will be displayed at Carpenters’ Hall during the first weekend of October as part of the DesignPhiladelphia Festival. Please click the below button to learn more.
PAST EVENTS
300th Anniversary Gala & Awards Ceremony
On Saturday, October 26th, 2024, the Carpenters' Company of the City and County of Philadelphia hosted its 300th Anniversary Gala & Awards Ceremony at the Bellevue Hotel.
That evening, the Master Builders' Award was awarded to the General Building Contractors Association (GBCA). Stemming from the Carpenters' Company of Philadelphia, GBCA was established in 1891 for the advancement of commercial construction in the Philadelphia region. As one of the nation's oldest trade associations they serve as as industry watchdog and resource.
During the ceremony, the 2024 McCullough Prize for Excellence in American Public History was presented to CBS Correspondent, Mo Rocca. Mr. Rocca has greatly contributed to the public's understanding and enjoyment of history through multiple mediums including, television, radio and multiple books. The recipient of our local teacher's McCullough Prize was Ms. Elizabeth Taylor, a local Philadelphia teacher at J.R. Masterman Laboratory & Demonstration School.
Public Reading of the First Prayer in Congress
On September 7, 1774, Rev. Jacob Duché delivered a rousing invocation/prayer at Carpenters' Hall before the Founding Fathers at the First Continental Congress. Exactly 250 years later, Carpenters' Hall marked this moment – which set a precedent for prayer in Congress that continues to this day – with a free public reading of the invocation by Reverend Palmer Hartl of Christ Church.
Watch the video below for a full recording of the reading.
building independence
To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the First Continental Congress, in September and October of 2024, the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia, partnered with Historic Philadelphia Inc. on Building Independence. Actors in Carpenters' Hall performed vignettes featuring First Continental Congress delegates, their spouses, and even common folk of the time. Rather than a recreation or recitation of the Congress itself, the short scenes escorted visitors through the hard decisions that faced the delegates, educate them on the perspectives of the time, and place the First Continental Congress – and Carpenters’ Hall – into the wider timeline of American independence. This series was free and open to the public.
The below images are curtesy of Industry & Commerce Image Works.
Go 4th & Learn: Legos and Hands-On Learning at Carpenters’ Hall
On Tuesday, July 2nd from 11am to 3pm, Carpenters’ Hall, in partnership with the Franklin Institute, and Wawa Welcome America, welcomed the public to Carpenters’ Court for a free and fun day of interactive Lego building and science-learning related demonstrations. Selected Lego builds were judged by young professionals in the architecture, engineering and building trades at a cocktail hour reception following this event. The top three winning builds are now displayed in Carpenters’ Hall for the rest of the summer.
In addition to interactive Lego builds and food trucks and giveaways curtesy of Wawa Welcome America, Carpenters’ Hall unveiled a new Lego model of Carpenters’ Hall. Crafted from 50,000 Lego pieces, this model was created by Richard Paules, a lifelong Lego afficionado from Washington, DC. He has previously been commissioned to build large scale Lego replicas of buildings such as Dulles Airport.
This model depicts Carpenters’ Hall as it would have looked during the First Continental Congress in 1774. Note the view into the eastern half of the first floor of the building where the delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies met. Also, peek into the second-floor library of Carpenters’ Hall, which then housed Benjamin Franklin’s Library Company. This collection was used by delegates during the First Continental Congress.
Paules can be found on Instagram @dclegoman.
This new permanent exhibit was made possible by a generous donation from McHugh Engineering Associates, Inc. & the Witkowski Family.
Interested in viewing footage from our previous programming or events? Visit us on YouTube @carpentershall1308.
Contact emilywinters@carpentershall.com with any questions.
Check back often for new programs and events!
