After nearly half a century with the doors locked, Philadelphia’s First Bank of the United States is getting back into the public business. The marble, temple-like giant on South Third Street will reopen to visitors on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, just in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Admission will be free, with initial public hours set for Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Public Ribbon Cutting And The Renovation
To officially throw open the doors, Independence National Historical Park and the Independence Historical Trust are planning a public ribbon cutting on July 1. The event also marks the end of a rehabilitation project with a price tag topping $43 million, according to the National Park Service.
The agency reports that the Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund supplied roughly $39.3 million for the overhaul, while the Independence Historical Trust brought in private donations for planning and exhibit design. “This project reflects what is possible when public investment and private philanthropy work together in service of preservation and public access,” Tom Caramanico, executive director of the Independence Historical Trust, said in the release.
What You’ll See Inside
Once visitors step past those long-closed doors, they will find a restored rotunda that serves as the showpiece. The circular exhibition space is capped by a patterned glass dome of about 240 panels and surrounded by immersive displays and interactive galleries, as reported by Visit Philadelphia.
Special exhibitions developed with the U.S. Department of State and Drexel University will help launch the building’s new era. Visit Philadelphia notes that "Marks of Friendship" and an exhibit on Philadelphia’s national anniversaries are scheduled to run from July 1 through February 15, 2027.
Hours, Admission And Where To Go
The City of Philadelphia has announced that admission to the First Bank will be free and that the building will be open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to a post by City of Philadelphia Government.
If you are plotting your Old City history walk, event listings place the First Bank at 120 S. 3rd Street, per VisitPA.
From Hamilton To Girard To The National Park
The First Bank was chartered in 1791 under Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and moved into its Third Street home in 1797, as outlined by the Federal Reserve’s historical essay on the institution. The building later served as Stephen Girard’s bank. The National Park Service notes that Independence National Historical Park acquired the structure in 1955 and that it has been largely closed to visitors since the 1976 Bicentennial.
Funding, Preservation And What Comes Next
The Independence Historical Trust reports that it raised roughly $4.5 million to support planning and design and is continuing a campaign to pay for exhibit fabrication and long-term stewardship, according to the Trust’s project updates. The Trust’s site also lays out the design team, donor list and fundraising milestones behind the approximately $43 million effort to bring the bank back to life.
Officials say the reopening of the First Bank is set to be one piece of a broader lineup of Independence National Historical Park programs tied to the Semiquincentennial, as noted by Visit Philadelphia. For those planning a trip, the park and Independence Historical Trust pages will carry updates on events and visitor guidance as 2026 gets closer.
