Philadelphia, PA– Today, the National Constitution Center announced it will reopen to the public on August 5, 2020, with free admission for all visitors through September 5, 2020, made possible in part thanks to support from PECO. The Center has developed a multi-phased approach that prioritizes the health and safety of staff and visitors and takes into account state and city guidelines, close coordination with city officials and partners in Historic Philadelphia, and ongoing discussions with its own staff and museum peers around the country.
“We are thrilled to welcome back visitors to the National Constitution Center where learners of all ages can learn about the text, history, and meaning of the Constitution just steps from where it was drafted and signed,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. “Since we closed the building temporarily on March 14, the enthusiasm for our online classes, town halls, and podcasts has been overwhelming, and the Constitution Center is now the fourth most visited museum website in America. While carefully complying with public health guidelines, it’s wonderful to be able to reopen our doors and welcome visitors back to the Center free of charge.”
The Center’s plans emphasize the safety of museum guests and staff in compliance with local and state health agencies as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These protocols include increased sanitation, required mask wearing by staff and visitors, contactless ticketing, limited gallery capacities, one-way visitor flow, as well as modifications to encourage social distancing and use of hand sanitizer throughout the building. Visitors will be required to reserve timed tickets in advance, available online at constitutioncenter.org/tickets. A full list of protocols and a guide for what visitors can expect can be found at constitutioncenter.org/safely-reopening.
The National Constitution Center will begin operations on a modified schedule. During this phase, the Center will be open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The museum experience will include the Center’s newest exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality; the multimedia theatrical production of Freedom Rising, streamed live on the Grand Hall Overlook; and the iconic Signers’ Hall.
The National Constitution Center’s exhibit commemorating the centennial anniversary of voting rights for women, The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote, will open on August 26, the 100th anniversary of the amendment’s certification. The exhibit will trace the triumphs and struggles that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, and will feature some of the many women who transformed constitutional history—including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, and Ida B. Wells—and will allow visitors to better understand the long fight for women’s suffrage.
The exhibit is part of the Center’s Women and the Constitution initiative. Support for the exhibit and the initiative come from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Mauree Jane and Mark W. Perry, John P. & Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation, The Snider Foundation, The McLean Contributionship, Glenmede, SteegeThomson Communications, and Sarah and David Andrews.
The National Constitution Center will continue to offer a robust schedule of live online classes throughout the upcoming school year, as well as online America’s Town Hall programs on timely topics. Information about upcoming programs is available at constitutioncenter.org/calendar.
About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America’s Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a Headquarters for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire citizens and engage all Americans in learning about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.
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