Independence Hall reopens following renovations for America's 250th

Renovations are now complete at the birthplace of American democracy. Independence Hall is back open today after a four-month closure. The inside was updated to get ready for the nation's 250th birthday. Action News' Maggie Kent was given one of the first tours. Lucky girl, she's live at Independence Hall with more online. Visitors might not even notice the change. Maggie. That is a good thing. Preservation is the point here, guys. We've got fresh paint, some spackle, some restoration happening inside Independence Hall. It looks pretty much the same, and of course, that's the point. Construction of the building began in 1732. What's old is new again. With the reopening today of the Independence Hall, we did a tour to take a look at the restoration upgrade. This is the original Pennsylvania Supreme Courthouse. I usually like to stand up here and ask people whether I still look innocent here or not. You might notice things look the same since the last time you were here. The restoration team took great care to match that color up exactly. And after about eight weeks of renovations, it's looking brand new in its old fashion. New lighting helps illuminate the history in this building for those who are stopping it. Across the hall, the Continental Congress met inside the assembly room. It's the room where it happened. And of course, it's a major draw for tourists. The restoration is a small part of preparation for thousands of tourists to flock to America's birthplace. And there's deals to capitalize on now. The $2 off the Betsy Ross House and discounts at the Museum of the American Revolution all weekend. We're just inviting visitors to the historic district to kick off 2026. Yeah, and this is the time to do it, guys. Come in January when all the tourists are still warm at home, wherever they're from. There was no lines today. What a great weekend opportunity to get out of your house. Maybe you're feeling a little bit cooped up. Come to this historic square mile, the most historic square mile in the nation, and take in all the sights that we have here in our own backyard. We're live in Old City. Maggie Kent, Channel 6 Action News. Guys, go ahead. So many people who live here haven't even walked through there. It's just so impressive that that's in our backyard. It is. Forget to go. Yep. Gotta get there. Thanks, Maggie.