Miss Dalley’s Boarding House Officially Recognized as the Constitution House
Statutesandstories is pleased to announce that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania voted on June 5 to install an historic marker to commemorate Miss Dalley’s Boarding House, aka the “Constitution House,” at 3rd and Market Streets. We would like to thank the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides for its support of our application!
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is the official entity charged with administering and approving historic marker applications. The PHMC agreed that Miss Dalley’s boarding house deserves to be honored on par with the “Declaration House” on 7th and Market Streets, at the site where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.
Who Is Miss Dalley?
For decades, Miss Mary Dalley operated an important, centrally located boarding house near Independence Hall, frequented by delegates to the Continental Congress, the Confederation Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the First Federal Congress.
In addition to housing delegates, she entertained many leaders of the founding generation including 15 signers of the Declaration, 12 signers of the Constitution, the Marquis de Lafayette, Baron von Steuben, Presidents George Washington, John Adams, James Madison, and many, many more.
Gouverneur Morris, widely recognized by historians as the “Penman of the Constitution,” and Alexander Hamilton boarded at Miss Dalley’s during the Constitutional Convention.
Several of her boarders became leaders in the abolition movement. As an entrepreneurial businesswoman, Miss Dalley employed free African American labor including, Henry, who lived at Miss Dalley’s Boarding House as early as 1780, and Maria, a nine-year-old formerly enslaved child from Delaware who became Miss Dalley’s apprentice in 1793.
The Constitution House marker’s approval is perfectly timed to coincide with the America 250 celebrations happening next year. Stay tuned for future announcements on the marker’s installation ceremony, an exhibit, and educational programs in 2026!
Read the full blog post which includes links to more information about Miss Dalley.