Independence Hall (Israel)

Independence Hall, originally the Dizengoff House (), is a history museum and the site of the signing of Israel's Declaration of Independence. It is located on the historic Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv, Israel.

It was originally built as the home of Meir Dizengoff and his wife Zina. Dizengoff later entrusted architect Carl Rubin to redesign the building in the International Style. Dizengoff gifted the building to the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, and it housed the Tel Aviv Museum of Art from 1932 to 1971. It is currently a museum dedicated to the signing of the Israeli Declaration of Independence and the history of Tel Aviv; it is closed to the public for renovations.

History

Dizengoff

At the vicinity of where Independence Hall now stands, sixty-six families gathered on April 11, 1909, to conduct a lottery for plots of land in a new Jewish neighborhood, to be known as Ahuzat Bayit. Meir and Zina Dizengoff acquired plot number 43, on which they built their home. At the time of his appointment he wrote a guest column for Haaretz newspaper, setting out his vision for the museum: "A nurturing institution, from which education will emerge, reflecting the artistic development in other countries; where one can study the works of the country's great artists; [and] which fosters and provides for artists living and working in the country—a place where new ideas are given impetus. That is what the Tel Aviv Museum should be." In spite of the pact of secrecy, a crowd formed outside the building at noon on the day of the ceremony.

Recent history

By the 1970s, the building was in a neglected physical state, crumbling and with mice problems.

In 2013, it was revealed that the building was earmarked for a major renovation project in the coming years, creating an "innovative museum" in the space. Independence Hall in Tel Aviv. It remains closed for major renovations and is not open to the public as of early 2026. Glazer and Gal & Matsliah Architects won a design competition to restore the building and are being assisted by the engineer, Moshe Kazes.