‘We The People on September 17, 1787’
The National Constitution Center celebrates the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution with a week’s worth of interactive programs, activities and events in honor of this momentous occasion.
The Center is the only museum in the world that is dedicated to the Constitution and these events will take place from September 16 – 23.
Throughout the week, visitors will put their knowledge to the test during the educational and fun “Bill of Rights” Show and the “Separations of Power” Show. You will also enjoy the Center’s old-fashioned print shop, complete with a replica printing press from the 1700s, and join in calligraphy demonstrations and learn about the Copperplate technique used to pen the official, handwritten Constitution.
Below are some of the highlights of Constitution Week :
September 16-23 (all week)
- Bill of Rights Show (Hourly) – Students will face off in a fun competition testing their Bill of Rights knowledge while an engaging host reveals the real deal about our amendments and freedoms.
- Separation of Powers (Hourly) – This high-energy show teaches the three branches of government and examines how our Constitution limits government by separating power.
- Printing and Craft Activities – From 9:30 am t0 5:00 pm. Visitors can explore a re-created Colonial print shop—complete with a replica printing press from the 1700s—where they can print a copy of the Preamble in the same way as the Constitutional Convention’s printers John Dunlap and David C. Claypoole. Plus, take part in arts and crafts projects, join in a calligraphy demonstration, and learn the copperplate script used to pen the Constitution.
- Delegates Trading Cards – From 9:30 am t0 5:00 pm. Learn all the stats on our constitutional MVPs with our Delegates Trading Cards, featuring favorite Founders like Ben Franklin and George Washington. Packs of the Trading Cards will be available at various places throughout the Center.
September 17, Monday – Constitution Day
- Preamble – Starts at 8:30 am on the front lawn of the National Constitution Center. 225 students will present a stirring reading of the first words written in our nation’s founding document: the Preamble.
- I Signed the Constitution – From 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on the front lawn. Visitors can check out the giant version of the U.S. Constitution and sign their names alongside Washington, Franklin, and Madison.
- Live Floral Art – From 9:30 am to 5:00 pm on the front lawn. A huge, unique monument of Live Floral Art will “sprout” on the lawn of the National Constitution Center on Constitution Day. This imaginative sculptural design will be created in public for all to watch by Schaffer Designs and it will only be on view for the day.
September 20, Thursday
- Is the World Rejecting American Constitutionalism? From 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Professors Richard Beeman, David Law, Akhil Amar, and David Armitage—to discuss the global influence of the U.S. Constitution and what’s at stake for constitution-making today. The program is free but advance reservations are required, so order online. More info; click here.
September 21, Friday
- Akhil Reed Amar: America’s Unwritten Constitution Starts at 1:00 pm. Join renowned constitutional scholar and Yale Law Professor Akhil Reed Amar to explore the little-understood relationship between the written Constitution and the many traditions, practices, standards, and sources that shape our interpretation of the nation’s founding document. The program is free but advance reservations are required, so order online. More info; click here.
All Events & Activities for Constitution Week at the National Constitution Center | Click Here
10 fun facts about the Constitution and Constitution Day | Click Here
Location
525 Arch St. in Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Dates
September 16 – 23
Cost
Free
Hours
Monday – Friday | 9:30 am – 5:00 pm
Saturdays | 9:30 am – 6:00 pm
Sundays | 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Phone
(215) 409-6700
Web Site
photos courtesy of National Constitution Center
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