PHILADELPHIA (AP) – America’s birthplace has been named the country’s first World Heritage City, putting it on par with Jerusalem, Cairo, Paris and other places recognized for their impacts on the course of human events.
The Organization of World Heritage Cities added Philadelphia in a vote Friday at its biennial conference in Arequipa, Peru.
Philadelphia, the nation’s fifth largest city, qualified because Independence Hall is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Declaration of Independence was signed at Independence Hall in 1776. Four years later, the Articles of Confederation, which united the 13 colonies, were ratified. The U.S. Constitution was debated and signed at Independence Hall in 1787, with George Washington presiding.
“The universal principles of freedom and democracy set forth in these documents are of fundamental importance to American history and have also had a profound impact on lawmakers around the world,” according to UNESCO’s website.