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Le projet revitalisé et réorganisé First Bank of the United States — closed since the Bicentennial in 1976 — reopened to the public on July 1, 2026.
The First Bank of the United States — once the cornerstone of Alexander Hamilton’s visionary plan to create a central banking system to support our new nation — has undergone a $43 million renovation to restore the building’s architectural glory.
The interior space has also been retooled to welcome visitors eager to learn more about the bank’s mission to financially unite the original 13 colonies and establish a system of banking in America. Themed exhibitions rotate throughout the year, with two exhibits on display now.
Read on to learn what to expect at the First Bank of the United States, part of the National Park Service’s Parc historique national de l'Indépendance.
Since the public hasn’t had access to the First Bank of the United States in 50 years, visitors can expect to see the building’s interior and exterior gussied up and looking finer than ever, with the marble façade having undergone a makeover and the interior structure and sculptures restored.
It’s hard not to be wowed by the building’s majesty. Originally designed by architect Samuel Blodgett Jr., it is a stunning example of Classical Revival architecture, and the 1700s-era structure features six Corinthian columns that rise 30 feet into the air, giving it the feel of a Greek temple.
— Photo gracieusement fournie par Independence Historical Trust
Les visiteurs de l'espace rénové entrent par une annexe moderne construite à l'arrière du bâtiment emblématique qui ressemble à un temple. Cet ajout a permis de moderniser l'espace en le dotant d'un système de chauffage et de refroidissement, de salles de bains, d'escaliers et d'un ascenseur.
Look for the bald eagle, made of Jamaican mahogany, and carved by Claudius LeGrand. It sits on the triangular pediment above the columns, where it serves as the oldest architectural reference to the Great Seal of the United States.
Additionally, the First Bank’s main entrance reflects Philly’s 300-year-old architectural history with a carved marble allegory. The depiction features the fledgling nation as a baby in a winged helmet — a symbol meant to represent Mercury, the Roman god of commerce, finance and merchants — leaning against a globe and kneeling on a beehive while carrying a caduceus (staff).
Allegory — Photo by Gregory FCA for Independence Historical Trust
Inside, expect immersive, modern exhibits showcasing artifacts and works of art reflecting America’s history and diplomacy with other nations, including:
Gilded bronze clock from France - Photo par Visit Philadelphia
One highlight: The Grand Rotunda, featuring 240 scalloped glass panels around a central skylight and supported by 40 columns on the second floor, serves as an exhibition space with room for meetings, educational programs and special events.
This extravagant domed ceiling was added in 1902, opening up a three-story central room from which sunlight can beam down and illuminate the entire space through 240 hand-cleaned panes of glass.
- Photo avec l'aimable autorisation du Service des parcs nationaux
Chartered in 1791, the First Bank of the United States was a way for the new nation to signal to the rest of the world that America was here to stay. A central banking system — a contentious debate eventually won by Alexander Hamilton (more on that later) — was key to absorbing Revolutionary War debts and unifying a federal currency.
But this exhibit isn’t simply Colonial-era money or gold bricks. Instead, it focuses on diplomatic gifts and what those things mean to a country’s cultural identity.
I’m a huge history nerd. Like, throw me in the deepest part of the ocean and let me sink in Thomas Jefferson’s Windsor chair.
So, it felt like I was breaching a time capsule when I walked into the First Bank of the United States after the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Inside this temporary exhibit, you see actual diplomatic gifts exchanged between foreign ambassadors and sitting presidents.
Seeing these sterilized treasures under glass was one thing. Understanding them? Well, I needed some help.
- Photo par Visit Philadelphia
Luckily, I had the ultimate cheat code in the form of Joseph Angemi, Jr., who curated the Marques d'amitié : 250 ans de trésors diplomatiques américains exhibit. As a native of South Jersey and former interpretative ranger for the National Park Service, Angemi now works in the Office of Cultural Heritage for the U.S. Department of State.
“This exhibit is about what cultural diplomacy means around the globe,” Angemi told me. “These 17 objects represent every bit of human history, stretching back to the dinosaurs and Indigenous Peoples, up to the Revolutionary War and today. Two questions you need to ask yourself: ‘What do these objects say? What do these objects mean?’”
Here are the most interesting artifacts — never-before-seen items, some with intriguing tales of loss and woe — that I came across during my visit:
On loan from the U.S. Embassy in Prague, this chair traces its roots to 1725. Made of walnut mahogany and stitched tapestry, the Aesop’s Fables armchair survived World War II and the Cold War, unscathed even after the Germans and Soviets occupied the Petschek Villa in 1945.
It depicts two tales: The Eagle and the Fox et The Fox and the Grapes — but, hey, no sour grapes here!
This hand-colored batik garment — made from a centuries-old technique in which hot wax dyes the cotton — was created by famed Indonesian fashion designer Iwan Tirta, who used the same pattern and process to design batik shirts for Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.
It features the Great Seal of the United States against a starry blue background, and lives in the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta.
On loan from the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau, this robe looks like a costume from a movie set. It’s not.
The design dates back to the Qing Dynasty (1644 to 1912 C.E.), and the right to wear it was conferred by rank. It features nine dragons embroidered on blue silk, representing the universe, interwoven by curled designs that depict clouds and waves. Minor details, like the claws on the dragon’s feet, signify your relationship with the Emperor.
This replica, painted by Charles Willson Peale in 1779, was supposed to entice the Dutch to join the Revolutionary War effort, but the gift never arrived after the British captured the ship carrying it.
The painting survived the war, funneling through various English families for more than 160 years until an American heiress named Caroline Ryan Foulke bequeathed it to the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Paris — where it is slated to return at the end of the exhibit.
While the Philadelphia History Museum shuttered its doors in 2018, its collections remain under the stewardship of Drexel University. You can view rare items from the 1876 Centennial, 1926 Sesquicentennial and 1976 Bicentennial at the First Bank’s first floor.
Highlights include a pair of Chinese armchairs (made of wood and mother of pearl), along with onyx marbles from Mexico and stereograph cards from the Netherlands, among more modern treasures like tortoiseshell Liberty Bell earrings.
The First Bank of the United States officially opened lors d'une cérémonie publique d'inauguration le mercredi 1er juillet 2026.
The attraction is free and open to the public, and Independence National Historical Park invites visitors to view the park’s newest tourist attraction Thursday through Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Footnote to history: The First Bank of the United States marks the first new attraction opened at Independence National Historical Park since The President’s House debuted in 2010.
Englué dans les dettes après être sorti triomphant de la guerre d'Indépendance, le pays s'est tourné vers le secrétaire au Trésor, Alexander Hamilton, pour trouver des moyens de rembourser tout en continuant à se développer économiquement. Avocat de métier, Hamilton s'est inspiré de la Constitution américaine pour trouver des idées.
Hamilton believed that the document’s Necessary and Proper Clause gave the country the implied power to establish a national bank, but several Founding Fathers disagreed.
Remember, the bank’s mere existence was a very controversial topic in the late 1790s as Hamilton (Federalist) and Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) fought bitterly over its establishment.
Ever the orator, Hamilton delivered a 15,000-word rebuttal, successfully selling the idea to President George Washington and Congress.
A l'origine, les locaux étaient situés à proximité Salle des charpentiers, La première banque des États-Unis a ouvert ses portes en 1791 et a déménagé plus tard à son emplacement actuel. domicile permanent au 120 South 3rd Street en 1797. L'architecte Samuel Blodgett Jr. a conçu le bâtiment en s'inspirant des temples grecs pour symboliser la puissance et la force de l'Amérique. Les banques du pays ont suivi cet exemple pendant les 150 années qui ont suivi.
À l'origine, le Congrès avait accordé à la First Bank une charte de 20 ans. À l'expiration de celle-ci, l'éminent financier de Philadelphie Stephen Girard a saisi l'occasion d'acheter le bâtiment, d'y ajouter la rotonde et d'y ouvrir sa propre banque privée en 1812.
The building served Philadelphians as a bank through 1930, changing hands a few times before the National Park Service (NPS) acquired it in 1955, adding it to Independence National Historic Park. NPS used the space first as a visitor center and more recently as office space.
Restoration and planning to convert the space to a museum began back in 2018.
Construit en marbre bleu de Pennsylvanie, acquis dans la région. Montgomery County, La façade en pierre, ornée de six imposantes colonnes de style corinthien, avait besoin d'un peu de soin après avoir résisté à des siècles d'intempéries.
L'ensemble de l'extérieur a été rejointoyé, les ouvriers réparant ou remplaçant les éléments endommagés, notamment la sculpture de l'aigle (en acajou) qui veille au-dessus des colonnes et le allégorie du marbre au-dessus des portes.
After preserving the structure, builders then had to ensure that the walls would be protected when installing interactive exhibits. The cost for the rehabilitation — including planning, preservation, construction and installation of exhibits — totaled more than $43 million.
“The First Bank of the United States reflects an effort to establish national trust in abstract ideals at a tempestuous time in American history,” said Steven Sims, superintendent of the National Park Service in Philadelphia. “This was a site of great experimentation, and we’re fortunate that the government continues to invest in the places where great American stories are told.”
Enormément ! Faites votre choix parmi les programmes destinés aux familles, from yoga behind the Second Bank and outdoor movie screenings to Declaration of Independence readings and nightly Twilight Tours of the park — all for free.
De plus, le Aile ouest du bâtiment Independence Hall was renovated in June 2026, featuring new interactive installations and artifacts like the 1787 final version of the United States Constitution and the Syng Inkstand — the silver inkstand used to sign the Declaration of Independence.
Pour en savoir plus sur l'ouverture de la First Bank of the United States - et sur les événements connexes -, consultez la page officielle du parc historique national de l'Indépendance ci-dessous.
Visiter la page web officielle
C'est la plus grande année de Philly !
Profitez-en pour réserver le Visit Philly Overnight Package, qui s'accompagne d'un parking gratuit et de billets gratuits pour certaines des attractions les plus populaires dans chacun des cinq comtés de l'agglomération de Philadelphie, notamment Parcs à thème Universal : l'exposition à The Franklin Institute, le Mercer Museum à Bucks County, Longwood Gardens à Chester County, le Brandywine Museum of Art à Delaware County et Elmwood Park Zoo à Montgomery County.
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