Editing Independence Hall (section)

===Demolition and reconstruction===
While the shell of the central portion of the building is original, the side wings, steeple and much of the interior were reconstructed much later. In 1781, the Pennsylvania Assembly had wooden steeple removed from the main building. The steeple rotted and weakened to a dangerous extent by 1773. By 1781,the Assembly had it removed and had the brick tower covered with a hipped roof.<ref>{{cite web |last1 = National Park Service |title = Architectural Change over Time |url = http://www.nps.gov/inde/historyculture/places-independencehall-architecture-changeovertime.htm |website = Independence National Historical Park }}</ref> A more elaborate steeple, designed by [[William Strickland (architect)|William Strickland]], was added in 1828.

The original wings and [[Hyphen (architecture)|hyphens]] (connecting corridors) were demolished and replaced in 1812. In 1898, these were in turn demolished and replaced with reconstructions of the original wings.

The building was renovated numerous times in the 19th and 20th century. The current interior is a mid-20th-century reconstruction by the [[National Park Service]] with the public rooms restored to their 18th-century appearance.

During the summer of 1973, a replica of the [[Thomas Stretch#Clockmaker|Thomas Stretch clock]] was restored to Independence Hall.<ref name="Frazier 1974 287"/>

The second-floor Governor's Council Chamber, furnished with important examples of the era by the National Park Service, includes a musical tall case clock made by [[Peter Stretch]], c. 1740, one of the most prominent clockmakers in early America and father of [[Thomas Stretch]].<ref>{{cite book |last = Moss |first = Robert W. |title = Historical Landmarks of Philadelphia |year = 2008 |publisher = University of Pennsylvania Press |location = Philadelphia |pages = 28 }}</ref>

Two smaller buildings adjoin the wings of Independence Hall: [[Old City Hall (Philadelphia)|Old City Hall]] to the east, and [[Congress Hall]] to the west.  These three buildings are together on a [[city block]] known as Independence Square, along with [[Philosophical Hall]], the original home of the [[American Philosophical Society]]. Since its construction in the mid-20th century, to the north has been Independence Mall, which includes the current home of the Liberty Bell.