Stone Tablet Marking First Amendment Freedoms Finds New Home In Philadelphia At The National Constitution Center

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A four-story, 50-ton marble tablet engraved with the text of the First Amendment, previously displayed on the facade of the now-shuttered Newseum in Washington, will find a new home in Philadelphia across from Independence Hall.

The National Constitution Center, which sits in an area of the city billed as America’s most historic square mile, will erect the tablet in an atrium overlooking Independence Hall, the UNESCO World Heritage Site where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were adopted.

The district is also home to the Liberty Bell and the First Bank of the United States.

The tablet is engraved with the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and the right to petition the government. It’s a gift from the Freedom Forum, the creator of the Newseum, a museum dedicated to the First Amendment. It was sold to Johns Hopkins University and closed in 2019.

“It’s so meaningful to bring the text of the First Amendment to Philadelphia,” National Constitution Center President Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement. He said it would “inspire visitors for generations to come.”

A dedication ceremony is planned for later this year.

National Constitution Center Announces Plans To Reopen To The Public August 5, 2020, With Free Admission Through September 5, 2020

Center announces new 19th Amendment exhibit will open on August 26, 2020, the 100th anniversary of the certification of the amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

 

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.

Marking 100 Years Of Women's Right To Vote - New Exhibit At The National Constitution Center In Philadelphia, Opening June 10th 2020

After Congress failed to act on the federal suffrage amendment, Alice Paul’s National Woman’s Party went after President Woodrow Wilson and the Democrats in 1916.Credit...Library of Congress

The 3,000-square-foot exhibit, entitled The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote, will open to the public on June 10 and feature nearly 100 artifacts from the era

Philadelphia, PA  – On June 10, the National Constitution Center will open The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote, tracing the triumphs and struggles that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment. The exhibit 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 ratification of the 19th Amendment extended the Constitution’s promise of equal citizenship to women, underscoring the core values of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. “The National Constitution Center is thrilled to open an exhibit that will inspire and educate visitors about the visionary women who worked to secure this landmark amendment, which prohibits discrimination in voting rights ‘on account of sex.’”

The 3,000-square-foot exhibit will feature nearly 100 artifacts, including Lucretia Mott’s diary, a rare printing of the Declaration of Sentiments from the first women’s convention at Seneca Falls, a ballot box used to collect women’s votes in the late 1800s, a letter from jail written by a White House picketer, Pennsylvania’s ratification copy of the 19th Amendment, as well as various “Votes for Women” ephemera. A selected list of confirmed artifacts is featured below.

Beginning in the 1840s, The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote will trace the roots of the women’s rights movement in early reform work and the ultimate decision to pursue voting rights. It will highlight the constitutional arguments and historical context of the fight for suffrage over 70 years, as well as the tactics suffragists used to persuade state legislatures and the national government to recognize voting rights for women. To experience these tactics, visitors will be immersed in the large-scale parades and White House picketing that defined the final few years of the movement. The exhibit will also feature a media interactive that will enable visitors to explore the state-level campaigns for suffrage, as well as a separate interactive capturing the debates for and against a national women’s suffrage amendment. The story will culminate with the ratification of the 19th Amendment—where visitors will be able to view Pennsylvania’s own copy of the amendment—and trace its impact, including the push for equal rights that followed ratification in 1920.

As part of the Drafting Table, a feature of the National Constitution Center’s Interactive Constitution, The 19th Amendment will also include a third media interactive allowing visitors to explore the creation and drafting of the 19th Amendment text and the key events that led to its eventual ratification. This interactive will also be incorporated into the Center’s online Interactive Constitution platform, which has received more than 30 million views since its launch and will ensure key content in the exhibit is accessible to classrooms across America.

Building on the National Constitution Center’s newest permanent exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality, The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote will explore the continuing quest to extend the equal liberty promised by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to African Americans and women. The exhibit will examine how the women’s rights movement grew alongside the anti-slavery movement and ultimately gained momentum during Reconstruction as part of the ongoing battle for freedom and equality for all. The 19th Amendment will also feature a one-actor theatrical performance based on the words of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a key African American writer and activist who was integral to the 19th-century anti-slavery and suffrage movements.

To assist in the development of The 19th Amendment, the National Constitution Center assembled a diverse panel of America’s leading scholars to serve as an advisory board. Scholars include Bettye Collier-Thomas, professor of history at Temple University; Gail Heriot, professor of law at the University of San Diego; Reva Siegel, Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Professor of Law at Yale Law School; and Lisa Tetrault, associate professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

The exhibit has been supported by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, John P. & Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation, Mauree Jane and Mark W. Perry, The McLean Contributionship, and SteegeThomson Communications. Additional exhibit details will be posted to constitutioncenter.org/upcoming-exhibits when available.

The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote is a key component of the National Constitution Center’s Women and the Constitution initiative, a yearlong effort to convene America’s top women leaders and scholars to examine the historical and constitutional background of the 19th Amendment and the importance of equal citizenship for women today. The initiative will include a series of public programs, podcast episodes, and special events. The Center is also a proud partner of Vision2020’s Women 100, a celebration of American women in the year 2020, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.  

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.

 Highlights from a confirmed list of artifacts follows.

Confirmed Artifacts

• Declaration of Sentiments from the first women’s rights convention at Seneca Falls, 1848 (Anonymous Collection)
• Lucretia Mott’s diary from the World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, 1840 (Friends Historical Library of Swarthmore College)
• Reproduction of the Petition for Universal Suffrage, 1866 (National Archives)
• Ballot box used to collect women’s votes, ca. 1870-92 (Collection of Ronnie Lapinsky Sax)
• “Vote YES on the woman suffrage amendment” poster, 1915 (On loan from The Galbraith Family 2012 Trust)
• Letter from Philadelphia suffragist Dora Lewis—a White House picketer—written from jail, 1917 (The Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
• American Red Cross armband, ca. 1917-18 (National WWI Museum and Memorial)
• “As a War Measure” suffrage broadside, ca. 1918 (Frank Amari, Jr.)
• Pennsylvania’s ratification copy of the 19th Amendment, 1920 (Pennsylvania State Archives)
• Poll tax receipt, 1922 (National Constitution Center Collection)
• Reproduction of the Voting Rights Act, 1965 (National Archives)

Visit Philly's Latest Overnight Package Includes Tickets To The National Constitution Center, The Museum Of The American Revolution, Hotel Parking & Additional Bonus Perks Valued Up To $214

     

The fall 2019 Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package includes two tickets to the National Constitution Center (left) and two tickets to the Museum of the American Revolution (right), among other perks. 

Credit: A. Ricketts for VISIT PHILADELPHIA® (left) and C. Smyth for VISIT PHILADELPHIA® (right)

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Simple to book, easy to enjoy, the perks-packed Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package, refreshed just in time for the fall season, is perfect for travelers who want to do minimal trip planning. Known for its free and convenient overnight hotel parking, the package also includes museum tickets (Museum of the American Revolution and the National Constitution Center, preeminent institutions for history lovers and anyone interested in how the United States came to be), a restaurant card to use at any of chef Jose Garces’ Philadelphia restaurants and bus passes to get around town (PHLASH^® Downtown Loop). Running from September 12 through November 30, 2019, the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package is bookable online anytime at visitphilly.com/overnight.

The Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package is available at 44 hotels for one- or two-night stays (available for additional nights at select hotels) and includes perks valued at up to $214:

• Hotel parking (up to a $100 value for a two-night stay at a Center City hotel)
• Two tickets to the National Constitution Center, the one-and-only museum devoted to explaining and exploring the laws that shape the U.S. (a $29 value)
• Two tickets to the Museum of the American Revolution, the world’s first venue to trace independence’s roots through the people who lived through the Revolutionary War (a $50 value)
• $25 restaurant card for Garces Group Philadelphia restaurants (Amada, Distrito, JG Domestic, The Olde Bar, Tinto, Village Whiskey, Volvér. During Restaurant Week, September 15-27, 2019, the card is valid for à la carte dining only.)
• Two all-day passes for the PHLASH Downtown Loop (a $10 value)

“The Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package is easy, convenient and full of great perks,” said Jeff Guaracino, president and CEO, VISIT PHILADELPHIA^®. “Once visitors park their car for free, they have a great base for their trip, thanks to the museum tickets, restaurant card and bus passes. From there, they can easily wander and explore the city’s well-known attractions such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and many surprises along the way.”

More Reasons To Book The Package:

Not-to-be-missed exhibitions and events give visitors more reasons to book—and stay a while:

• Hamilton – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s modern Broadway blockbuster debuts in the city of Alexander Hamilton’s greatest roles (Revolutionary War artillery officer, presidential advisor, first national bank founder) and his romantic downfall (Reynolds affair). The performance takes place during the Museum of the American Revolution’s Year of Hamilton and the National Constitution Center exhibit, Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes that Shaped a Nation. August 27-November 17, 2019. Forrest Theatre, 1114 Walnut Street, (215) 893-1999, kimmelcenter.org
• Fringe Festival – For two weeks, Philly hosts cutting-edge, avant-garde performances, street theater, cabarets and more in an American take on Edinburgh, Scotland’s massive arts festival. September 5-21, 2019. Various locations, (215) 413-9006, fringearts.com
• Hispanic Heritage Month – An entire month of Latinx happenings include Mexican Independence Day at Penn’s Landing (September 15) and the Puerto Rican Day Parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (September 29). September 14-October 17, 2019. phila.gov
• Festival 019 – Opera Philadelphia returns with four elegant, controversial, classic and cutting-edge premieres and concerts that promise to turn the artform of opera on its head. September 18-29, 2019. Various locations, (215) 732-8400, operaphila.org
• In Motion, In Place: Trisha Brown Dance Company in Fairmount Park – The post-modern dance company presents free site-specific works at three outdoor locations: Foray Forêt at the Mount Pleasant Mansion, Raft Piece at The Discovery Center and Roof Piece on rooftops around Logan Circle. September 24-29, 2 (215) 988-9334, myphillypark.org
• Site/Sound: Revealing the Rail Park – For three Saturdays in October, Philadelphia’s emergent Rail Park and its surrounding neighborhood will host multi-sensory art installations, family programs, music and performances that honor the past, present and future of the historic corridor along the famed Reading Railroad. October 2-19, 2019. Various locations, muralarts.org
• Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg – The National Museum of American Jewish History hosts the first East Coast stop for an exhibition about the second woman and first Jewish woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. October 4, 2019-January 12, 2020. 101 S. Independence Mall East, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org
• Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit – Please Touch Museum^® presents a larger-than-life exhibit about the work of the prolific children’s author-illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and dozens more titles. October 5, 2019-January 12, 2020. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org
• Old City Fest – Artists, crafters, designers, techies, entertainers and restaurateurs celebrate the creative spirit of a Historic District neighborhood along several blocks filled with activities, exhibits and programs for both families and the over-21 crowd. October 13, 2019. 3^rd & Arch Streets, (215) 592-7929, oldcitydistrict.org
• OutFest – The world’s largest Coming Out Day party features 10 blocks of drag shows, music, bar crawls, shopping and a high-heel race. October 13, 2019. 13^th & Locust Streets, (215) 875-9288, phillygaypride.org
• 30 Americans – The Barnes Foundation presents seminal works by 30 of the country’s most influential contemporary Black artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Nick Cave, Barkley L. Hendricks, Kerry James Marshall, Kara Walker and Carrie Mae Weems. October 27, 2019-January 12, 2020. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7000, barnesfoundation.org

VISIT PHILADELPHIA^® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.

On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.

19th Amendment, Guaranteeing The Right For Women To Vote, Exhibit To Open At National Constitution Center For 2020 Centennial Anniversary

           

In summer 2020, the Center will open a new exhibit on the development of the women’s rights movement and the ratification of a voting rights amendment in 1920

Philadelphia, PA  – On August 18, America celebrates the 99th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guaranteed the right of women to vote. In advance of this anniversary, the National Constitution Center announced it will open a new 19th Amendment exhibit in the summer of 2020 in celebration of the centennial.

“The ratification of the 19th Amendment extended the Constitution’s promise of equal citizenship to women, underscoring the core values of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. “On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, the National Constitution Center is thrilled to open a new exhibit to inspire and educate visitors of all ages about the visionary leaders who worked to secure this landmark amendment and about the constitutional path to voting rights for women.”

Tracing the triumphs and struggles that led to the ratification of the 19th Amendment, the new exhibit will explore the long fight for women’s suffrage, beginning before the Civil War. It will highlight the constitutional arguments and historical context of the movement, as well as spotlight the key advocates for women’s rights and the methods they used to persuade the states and then the nation to recognize equal citizenship for women. Beginning in the early- to mid-1800s, the exhibit will capture the early efforts to secure rights for women and follow the story into the Reconstruction era when the movement grew—and split over women’s rights versus rights for newly freed African Americans. The story will continue with state-level campaigns for suffrage and the push for a national amendment, and will culminate with the ratification of the 19th Amendment, its impact, and the ongoing push for equal rights that followed ratification in 1920.

The 19th Amendment exhibit will build upon the National Constitution Center’s newest permanent exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality, which is America’s first exhibit devoted to the constitutional legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction. The new exhibit, located adjacent to the Civil War and Reconstruction gallery, will explore how the women’s rights movement grew alongside the anti-slavery movement and ultimately gained momentum during Reconstruction as part of the ongoing battle for freedom and equality for all.

The exhibit will be open for the centennial year and beyond. The National Constitution Center is a proud partner of Vision2020’s Women 100, a celebration of American women in the year 2020, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment.

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 our congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.” As theMuseum 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.

National Constitution Center In Philadelphia - Events July To September 2019

Admission to the museum is FREE on July 2, courtesy of Wawa Hoagie Day; $5 after 5 p.m. on July 3; and FREE on Constitution Day, September 17, made possible in part by PECO

Philadelphia, PA  – This summer, the National Constitution Center invites visitors to enjoy Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality—America’s first exhibit devoted to exploring how constitutional clashes over slavery set the stage for the Civil War, and how the nation transformed the Constitution after the war to more fully embrace the Declaration of Independence’s promise of freedom and equality. The Center will offer special programming and onsite educational programs—including theatrical performances, artifact workshops, and interactive shows—to engage visitors of all ages with this pivotal era in constitutional history.

The National Constitution Center will kick off its summer programming with the annual All-American Celebration, featuring Wawa Hoagie Day on Tuesday, July 2. Admission to the museum is free on July 2, courtesy of Wawa, and includes access to the Center’s new theatrical performance FOURTEEN, main and feature exhibits, including the new Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality gallery and Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation, as well as a display featuring Wawa’s history in the Philadelphia region and the history of the famous hoagie sandwich. In addition to Wawa Hoagie Day, the National Constitution Center will participate in events around the historic district all week long, including Philadelphia’s Historic District Block Party and Go 4th & Learn, as part of the Wawa Welcome America festival.

Also taking place at the National Constitution Center this summer in July, teachers from around the country and constitutional scholars from across the philosophical spectrum will participate in weeklong teacher institutes. Through demonstration, discussion, and historic site visitation, educators work with content experts to deepen their knowledge of the history and modern understandings of the First Amendment and separation of powers. Participants discover and develop innovative, nonpartisan ways to make the content relevant to their students. Dates and topics for Summer Teacher Institutes can be found below.

On Constitution Day, September 17, 2019, the National Constitution Center will launch two important educational initiatives, the Interactive Constitution: Classroom Edition and the Constitutional Ambassadors program. The new Interactive Constitution: Classroom Edition, a cutting-edge, multimedia digital platform, will provide trusted, nonpartisan constitutional resources for middle and high school students and educators. The Constitutional Ambassadors program will welcome tens of thousands of Philadelphia-area students to the National Constitution Center for a new and immersive experience in constitutional education.

PLEASE NOTE:

-          All-American Celebration, Tuesday, July 2, and Wednesday, July 3 – Extended museum hours, 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

July Events

Civil War and Reconstruction Onsite Educational Programming

Regular museum hours

Free with general admission

In conjunction with the opening of the new permanent exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality, and the ongoing commemorations of the 150th anniversaries of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction period, the National Constitution Center will offer various onsite educational programs to engage visitors of all ages with this pivotal era in constitutional history. The onsite experience will introduce visitors to central topics, including slavery in the Constitution, the Civil War and the role of the federal government, citizenship, the goals of Reconstruction and its successes and failures, key figures of the era, and the legacy of Reconstruction today. A full list of special programs and schedules can be found here.

FOURTEEN: A Theatrical Performance

Tuesdays through Saturdays, through August 10; please check the daily program guide upon arrival for that day’s show times.

Free with general admission, group reservations recommended

This summer, visitors can experience FOURTEEN, a moving theatrical performance that sheds light on the Reconstruction era and the ratification of the 14th Amendment. Through dramatic interpretation of original texts, such as Frederick Douglass’s open letter “To My Old Master,” the 30-minute performance will bring to life the leaders, influential figures, and everyday Americans who were central to the era. This production has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper: The Great Problem to be Solved

Saturday, June 29, Tuesday, July 2, and on Thursdays and Saturdays July 6 – August 17; Performances will run two times an hour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Free with general admission

As visitors explore Civil War and Reconstruction, they will encounter a one-actor performance in the 14th Amendment section of the exhibit highlighting Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a key African-American figure from the Reconstruction era. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a staunch abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, writer, and public speaker, speaks out in this 1875 address to the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, outlining the work yet to be done in the cause for African-American freedom. This production has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

All-American Celebration

Extended museum hours, 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, and Wednesday, July 3

Regular museum hours, Saturday, June 29 – Monday, July 1, and Thursday, July 4

Free with general admission

The National Constitution Center will offer an array of patriotic festivities over Independence Week, Saturday, June 29, through Thursday, July 4, in celebration of freedom and America’s independence. Visitors can participate in a variety of family-friendly programs and activities, including flag etiquette and flag folding workshops, arts and craft activities, and interactive shows. Admission to the museum is free on July 2, courtesy of Wawa.

Free Admission Courtesy of Wawa Hoagie Day

Tuesday, July 2, 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Free admission courtesy of Wawa

The National Constitution Center and Wawa celebrate the 27th annual Wawa Hoagie Day honoring America’s troops. Attendees will enjoy a nine-ton hoagie salute of free Wawa hoagies served at noon to the crowd on Independence Mall, a performance by the U.S. Army Field Band, and a hoagie building competition between military teams, police, and firefighters.

Finding the Founders Scholarly Talks and Walking Tours
Tuesday, July 2, 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Free

The National Constitution Center is partnering with neighboring sites throughout Historic Philadelphia for the annual Finding the Founders event. Scholars will share their insights on equality and freedom through the lens of the American Revolution. The program will provide an expanded understanding of Independence Day—one that sees the holiday as both a celebration and an acknowledgment of America’s ongoing struggle to achieve the ideals expressed in the nation’s founding documents.

Revolutionary War Encampment

Tuesday, July 2 – Thursday, July 4, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Front and Side Lawns and Grand Hall Lobby 
Free admission courtesy of Wawa on July 2

Free with general admission July 3 and July 4

At the recreated military encampment at the National Constitution Center, visitors can step back in time to watch a blacksmith forge iron, practice being a Revolutionary-era soldier with a wooden musket, stop by the medical tent to visit the surgeon, and observe Continental Army soldiers march and drill on the grounds. Presented in partnership with the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment.

Independence Week Concert Wednesday, July 3, 2 p.m.

Free, museum access not included

Visitors can enjoy a festive, free, outdoor concert performed by the USAF Heritage of America Concert Band. The Concert Band is comprised of over 40 professional Airman-musicians who captivate audiences on regular tours throughout the East Coast with a variety of renditions of great orchestral classics, marches, Broadway hits, jazz standards, movie music, and patriotic favorites. Presented in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band.

$5 After 5 p.m. Trivia NightWednesday, July 3, 5 – 8 p.m.

Discounted $5 admission after 5 p.m.
After 5 p.m., visitors can participate in an evening of trivia, based on iCivic’s popular online, educational games, like “Do I Have a Right?” Admission to the museum is $5 after 5 p.m. Presented in Partnership with iCivics.

2019 Summer Institutes: Separation of Powers

Sunday, July 7 – Friday, July 12, and Sunday, July 14 – Friday, July 19

For registered attendees only

Teachers from across the country and constitutional scholars from across the philosophical spectrum participate in a weeklong teacher institute at the National Constitution Center in Historic Philadelphia. During the institutes, educators work with content experts to deepen their knowledge of the history and modern understandings of the separation of powers through interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. 

Civil War Summer at the National Constitution Center
Monday, July 8 – Saturday, August 17, 2019

Free with general admission

This summer, in conjunction with the National Constitution Center’s new Civil War and Reconstruction exhibit the Center’s Main Lobby will be transformed into a Union Army encampment. Visitors will be able to try on replica Civil War soldier uniforms and examine the kinds of supplies soldiers would have had at war camps. Every Thursday and Saturday, special activities will include Meet and Greets with historic figures like Henry “Box” Brown, as well as Union soldiers and battlefield nurses. Visitors can also attend Town Hall programs with President Abraham Lincoln, enjoy a theatrical performance highlighting Frances E.W. Harper, and participate in interactive Military Muster activities.

2019 Annual Supreme Court Review

12 – 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 9
This program is now sold out. Simulcast tickets are available, including for CLE credit.

Former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, legal scholars Erwin Chemerinsky and Frederick Lawrence, and Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick, examine the Supreme Court’s 2018-2019 term, which includes significant cases regarding religious displays, the death penalty, partisan gerrymandering, the census, and more. Melissa Garlick, civil rights national counsel for the Anti-Defamation League, moderates. CLE credit available. Presented in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League.

Members-Only Guided Exhibit Tour

Tuesday, July 16, at 10 a.m.

Free for Members

Members can experience a guided tour of Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality. A museum educator will guide Members through the exhibit featuring key figures central to the era—from Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass to John Bingham and Harriet Tubman—and discuss how the equality promised in the Declaration of Independence was finally inscribed in the Constitution by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments, collectively known as the Reconstruction Amendments.

The First Amendment in 21st Century America

Sunday, July 21 – Saturday, July 27

For registered attendees only

K-12 teachers from across the country join the National Constitution Center, The Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement, and the National Endowment for the Humanities for this one-week intensive institute focusing on the First Amendment and the delicate balance between the rights of individuals and the need to govern society and keep it safe. During the institutes, educators will deepen their understanding of the purpose of the First Amendment, the freedoms protected by it, and the history of its meaning and interpretation.

2019 Summer Institutes: First Amendment

Sunday, July 28 – Friday, August 2

For registered attendees only

Teachers from across the country and constitutional scholars from across the philosophical spectrum participate in a weeklong teacher institute at the National Constitution Center in Historic Philadelphia. During the institutes, educators work with content experts to deepen their knowledge of the history and modern understandings of the First Amendment through interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. 

August Events

Sensory-Friendly Sunday

Regular museum hours, Sunday, August 25

Free with general admission

Sensory-Friendly Sundays at the National Constitution Center incorporate a variety of programs and learning techniques developed for visitors with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorders, intellectual disabilities, and other neurodevelopmental disabilities into the everyday visitor experience.

September Events

Constitution Day with FREE Admission

Tuesday, September 17, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Admission will be free on Constitution Day made possible in part by PECO

In honor of Constitution Day, on September 17, 2019, the National Constitution Center will launch two important educational initiatives, the Interactive Constitution: Classroom Edition and the Constitutional Ambassadors program. The new Interactive Constitution: Classroom Edition, a cutting-edge, multimedia digital platform, will provide trusted, nonpartisan constitutional resources for middle and high school students and educators. The Constitutional Ambassadors program will welcome tens of thousands of Philadelphia-area students to the National Constitution Center for a new and immersive experience in constitutional education. The Center will also honor the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution with a daylong celebration of the freedoms afforded to us by the Constitution—from fun, educational activities, to timely constitutional conversations with federal judges, to an inspiring naturalization ceremony. Stay tuned: This summer, the National Constitution Center will announce an exciting lineup of Constitution Day speakers and panel topics.   

Admission is free on Constitution Day, Tuesday, September 17, and teachers can reserve their field trip by contacting a Group Sales Representative at 215-409-6800. Reservations recommended as programs fill quickly.

America’s Town Hall Fall Programs

The National Constitution Center’s America’s Town Hall fall season will be announced this summer. Up-to-date program information can be found atconstitutioncenter.org/debate or by calling 215-409-6700.

The National Constitution Center’s America’s Town Hall series features distinguished leaders, scholars, authors, and journalists who speak on the most significant constitutional topics of our time. Tickets for the National Constitution Center’s America’s Town Hall programs are free or discounted for Members, and advance registration is recommended as programs fill quickly. Tickets can be purchased by phone at 215-409-6700 or online at constitutioncenter.org/debate.

Please note: All programs are subject to change. Please call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org for the most up-to-date program information.

Ticket Information

General Admission: Adults $14.50; Youth (6-18) $11; Students w/ID and Seniors $13. Members, active military personnel, and children ages 5 and under are free.

Admission for 15 or more is $7.50 for student and youth groups; $9 for adult and senior groups.

*Visit constitutioncenter.org for the most up-to-date ticket information.

The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street on Philadelphia’s Independence Mall. The Center is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.