Pennsylvania’s Founding Exhibit - Museum Experience Programming

William Penn and the Lenape Gallery Talk
Check Daily Program Guide for Availability
Wampum is an essential part of many Native American cultures and is considered a living record of agreements and history. Join a museum educator for an examination of the relationship between the Lenape people and William Penn. We’ll explore the symbolism of a Wampum belt said to be from the 1682 Treaty of Shackamaxon and its initial goal of unity and equality. We’ll also explore the treaty between William Penn and the Lenape people and how the relationship changed after the Walking Purchase of 1737.

Pieces of Pennsylvania History Bookmark
Available at Box Office and at the entrance to the Pennsylvania’s Founding Gallery
Pick up a special bookmark for a self-guided scavenger hunt in the museum’s newest exhibit, Pennsylvania’s Founding! Discover key moments in the state’s history, like a beaded wampum belt and Ben Franklin’s copy of Magna Carta.

Pennsylvania and the Constitution Museum Guide
Available beginning December 12, 2026. Available at Box Office
Pennsylvania is known as the “Keystone State” for the important role it played during the founding era. Visitors can use this guide to explore the National Constitution Center’s exhibits and find examples of the critical role Pennsylvania has played throughout American history as well as the influence many Pennsylvanians have had on the Constitution since 1787.

“Penn’s Landing” Day
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Commemorate the day in 1682 that William Penn’s landed in America with programs highlighting this pivotal moment in early American history. Special gallery talks will explore why and how people of different faiths and nationalities found their way the Penn’s city of Philadelphia, and also highlight one-of-a-kind artifacts, including maps and drawings of the area from different points in history.

Native American Heritage Month
November
In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, the National Constitution Center is hosting a series of programs and activities highlighting the history of American Indians, tribal governments, and their relationship to the U.S. Constitution and American democracy. Join us for special artifact highlights, including a wampum belt and peace medals in Pennsylvania’s Founding: How a City and a Colony Shaped America’s Civic DNA and moccasins crafted by a Creek or Seminole artisan in Governing the Nation.

November Family Fun Night
Saturday, November 28, 5-8 p.m.
Join us at the National Constitution Center for an unforgettable evening of family-friendly activities, after-hours museum exploration, and hands-on fun. Kids and their families can explore Native American Heritage Month with special themed activities, story time, artifact chats, and more. Discover the Center’s galleries, including our newest exhibit, Pennsylvania’s Founding: How a City and a Colony Shaped America’s Civic DNA, then experience history in a whole new light with a Storytelling Tour of the exhibit.

Pennsylvania Ratification Day
Saturday, December 12
On December 12, 1787, delegates from around Pennsylvania gathered at Independence Hall to ratify the Constitution, which had been signed there less than three months earlier. This historic vote made Pennsylvania just the second state to approve of the proposed Constitution. Join the National Constitution Center and celebrate that historic moment as well as the Keystone State’s importance throughout American history! Programs and activities include gallery talks in Pennsylvania’s Founding, an introduction to Pennsylvania's delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Signers’ Hall, a new Pennsylvania and the Constitution interactive museum guide, and more.