The Declaration of Independence was signed primarily at the Pennsylvania State House, which is now known as Independence Hall, in Philadelphia. The signing began on August 2, 1776, about a month after the Continental Congress approved the Declaration on July 4, 1776

. John Hancock, the President of the Congress, was the first to sign the engrossed copy, followed by other delegates arranged by state from northernmost New Hampshire to southernmost Georgia

. Not all delegates were present on August 2, but eventually, 56 delegates signed the document