[4] Designed by architect Samuel Lewis, Congress Hall was originally built to serve as the Philadelphia County Courthouse; construction began in 1787 and was completed two years later.

Congress Hall served as the capitol building until May 14, 1800, when the offices of the national government moved to Washington, D.C.[3] The House chamber on the first floor is rather simple and featured mahogany desks and leather chairs.

Portraits of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, presented as gifts from the French monarch following the American Revolution, hang in adjoining committee rooms.

The design mirrors a similar pattern on the floor, where a carpet made by William Sprague, a local weaver, features the shields of each of the 13 original states.

[8] After the capital moved to Washington, Congress Hall returned to its original function as the Philadelphia County Courthouse and served as the location of both state and federal courts during the early 19th century.

[10] Under the leadership of a civic organization known as The Colonial Dames of America, the architect George Champlin Mason Jr. began restoring Congress Hall in 1895-96, though this work was mostly limited to the Senate chamber.

In 1900, the Philadelphia chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) began a study of Congress Hall and initiated a funding drive for the building's complete restoration.

[10] Congress Hall is now maintained by the National Park Service, which operates guided tours of the building throughout the year on a first-come, first-served basis.

[8] On December 2, 2008, the building hosted President-elect Barack Obama's meeting with the National Governors Association where they discussed the economic crisis then facing the country.