FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Merissa Blum, 215-370-0387 [email protected]
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER ANNOUNCES SPECIAL PROGRAMMING AND FREE ADMISSION DAYS, EXPANDED MUSEUM EXPERIENCE, AND EXTENDED MUSEUM HOURS FOR SUMMER 2021
Free admission on June 19, in honor of Juneteenth; July 1, courtesy of Wawa for Wawa Welcome America's Wawa Hoagie Day; and on July 4, in honor of Independence Day
Philadelphia, PA (June 10, 2021) – Today, the National Constitution Center announced special programs and free admission days, an expanded museum experience, and extended museum hours for summer 2021. This summer, the National Constitution Center will host special programming and free admission on June 19 in honor of Juneteenth; July 1, courtesy of Wawa for Wawa Welcome America's Wawa Hoagie Day; and July 4, in honor of Independence Day. A full schedule of programming can be found below.
In May, the National Constitution Center expanded its museum experience, inviting visitors to access signature exhibit spaces and performances. The Center resumed offering live performances of Freedom Rising in the Sidney Kimmel Theater and reopened its main exhibit, The Story of We the People, and its rare document galleries.
Beginning June 16, the National Constitution Center will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Summer 2021 Museum Programming
Flag Day
Monday, June 14 *Museum closed
Free programs on Independence Mall and online resources available
From star-spangled banners to five-star generals, the National Constitution Center and partners in the historic district celebrate the shared birthday of two of America’s greatest institutions—the American flag and the U.S. Army. Special events on Independence Mall include flag raising ceremonies, a swearing-in of Army recruits, displays and demonstrations of U.S. Army equipment, and a moving naturalization ceremony. These events will be outdoors and free to the public; no reservations are required. Online resources available here.
Virtual Tour of Civil War and Reconstruction Exhibit
Friday, June 18, 12:30 p.m. ET
Free on Zoom
Ahead of Juneteenth, the National Constitution Center will host a live guided tour of Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality. Virtual visitors can learn how constitutional clashes over slavery set the stage for the Civil War, and how the nation transformed the Constitution after the war during the Reconstruction period by taking a close look at the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. A museum educator will highlight special artifacts on display and stories of people like Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, and other figures central to the conflict over slavery. Members of the public can register here.
Juneteenth With Free Admission
Saturday, June 19
Free museum admission
The National Constitution Center offers many ways to celebrate Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the end of slavery in America in 1865. On June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and nearly five months after the 13th Amendment was passed (six months before it would be ratified), enslaved people in Texas learned that they were free and that slavery in America had officially been abolished. The National Constitution Center will commemorate this anniversary with online resources, free museum admission, and special programs in conjunction with its feature exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality.
Wawa Hoagie Day With Free Museum Admission
Thursday, July 1
Free museum admission
As part of Wawa Welcome America, Wawa invites all visitors to enjoy free admission at the National Constitution Center and an array of patriotic festivities surrounding the Fourth of July—including the interactive Independence Day show, exploring the history of the Declaration of Independence and how the definition of “We the People” has expanded since Thomas Jefferson penned the famous words “…all men are created equal…” in 1776.
Independence Weekend
Thursday, July 1 – Sunday, July 4
Free museum admission on July 1 and July 4
In celebration of Independence Day, the National Constitution Center will host special events and programming, including shows, craft activities, trivia games, and more. Special events include:
Finding the Founders Scholarly Talks
Friday, July 2, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., sites throughout the Historic District
The National Constitution Center is partnering with neighboring sites throughout Historic Philadelphia for its annual Finding the Founders event. Visitors can join conversations with scholars who 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. Scholars and topics include Revolutionary women with historian Sandra Lloyd, the Dred and Harriet Scott landmark Supreme Court case with Dr. Mathew Pinsker
Revolutionary War Encampment
Friday, July 2 – Sunday, July 4, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Main Lobby and Front Lawn
At a re-created military encampment on the National Constitution Center’s front lawn, visitors can join Revolutionary War re-enactors and visit the surgeon in the medical tent, watch the blacksmith forge steel, see Continental Army soldiers march and drill on the grounds, and practice being a soldier with a wooden musket. The National Constitution Center is pleased to once again partner with the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment.
Independence Day With Free Museum Admission
Sunday, July 4, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The National Constitution Center’s Independence Week programming continues with free museum admission on July 4, plus an array of patriotic festivities including the interactive Independence Day show and family-friendly programs including craft activities, trivia games, and more.
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 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Beginning June 16, the National Constitution Center will be open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays.
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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.
Download Press Release
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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.
