Philadelphia, PA (September 14, 2022) – In September 1787, the Founders signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution. Every year, the National Constitution Center hosts the best Constitution Day celebration in the country, with events throughout the week highlighting our favorite founding document.
This Constitution Day, the Center celebrates the opening of our newest gallery, The First Amendment. Protecting some of our most cherished freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition—the First Amendment is a pillar of democracy and the American way. The gallery offers a fresh perspective on the history of the First Amendment and how it impacts us today.
The year the Center’s Constitution Day Celebration will be held on Monday, September 18 from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. with free museum admission courtesy of PECO. Admission is also free on Sunday, September 17, in honor of the 236th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, which includes activities and a noon Scholar Talk.)
Constitution Day Programming
Monday, September 18 | 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
Virtual Preamble Reading
8:30 a.m. ET
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Happy Constitution Day! Join the staff of the Constitution Center, live from iconic spots inside the museum, as we read the Preamble to the Constitution and explore the core principles at the heart of our democracy.
Constitution Day Naturalization Ceremony
9:30 a.m. ET, F.M. Kirby Auditorium
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On Constitution Day we also celebrate Citizenship Day, a holiday meant to honor and celebrate the privileges and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship for both native-born and naturalized citizens. In recognition of this special observance the National Constitution Center hosts an annual naturalization ceremony, during which 50 immigrants from across the globe will take the Oath of Allegiance to officially become citizens of the United States. The Honorable John R. Padova, senior judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will preside over the ceremony. National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen will offer remarks and Colin Diver, formerly of Reed College and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, will give the keynote address.
Judges on Judging Program
11 a.m. ET, F.M. Kirby Auditorium
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Judges Marjorie Rendell, Cheryl Ann Krause, and Stephanos Bibas, all of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, discuss how judges approach cases, using recent and historic cases involving the First Amendment as examples. The judges will also explain how the federal courts of appeal work and their role in the federal court system. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.
Kids Town Hall: The Constitution and the First Amendment
11:30 a.m. ET, First Amendment Tablet Stage
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Written in 1787 by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention, the Constitution has been impacted by many people and events over the last 236 years. One of our best tools to facilitate change is through the First Amendment. During this special program, visitors will have the opportunity to “meet” famous figures who used the First Amendment to ensure “We, the People” includes all the people. Historic figures will be portrayed by reenactors.
Student Town Hall With Simon Tam
Noon ET, F.M. Kirby Auditorium
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Students will join a discussion with musician Simon Tam, who, along with his bandmate, was originally denied a trademark for his band’s name. The trademark office determined that the band’s name, The Slants, contained a racial slur. The band appealed the decision to the Supreme Court and won. Tam’s story is highlighted in the Center’s new exhibit, The First Amendment.
The Constitution’s Birthday Celebration—With Preamble Reading and Cake Cutting
12:45 p.m. ET, First Amendment Tablet Stage
Join the National Constitution Center to wish the Constitution a happy 236th birthday LIVE in front of the recently installed First Amendment Tablet! After a lively reading of the Preamble to the Constitution the celebration will conclude with birthday cake cutting and fanfare.
Virtual Student Town Hall With Mary Beth Tinker
1 p.m. ET
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Students will join a discussion with Mary Beth Tinker. In 1969, at the age of 13-years-old, Tinker wore a black armband to school to protest the Vietnam War. A few other students, including her brother, joined her. The students were suspended for their actions; however, they believed their protest was a form of free speech. They took their case at the Supreme Court—and won. Tinker's story is highlighted in the Center’s new exhibit, The First Amendment.
Virtual Scholar Exchange: The Constitutional Convention
2 p.m. ET
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A group of notable Center scholars including William Allen, Colleen Sheehan, and Jonathan Gienapp join National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a discussion of the issues and events in early America that led to the Constitutional Convention. They’ll explore the major debates at the Convention and how those discussions shaped the future of the United States. Panelists will also discuss their careers as writers and historians, as well as answer questions from participants.
Virtual First Amendment Reading
3:30 p.m. ET
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Happy Constitution Day! We’ll wrap up the day with a reading of the First Amendment to the Constitution, live from museum.
America’s Town Hall: The History of Religious Liberty in America
6:30 p.m. ET; F.M. Kirby Auditorium
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How did the America’s founders view religious liberty? And what does it mean today? Join constitutional law experts Marci Hamilton, author of God vs. the Gavel: The Perils of Extreme Religious Liberty, and Michael McConnell, co-author of Agreeing to Disagree: How the Establishment Clause Protects Religious Diversity and Freedom of Conscience, for a special Constitution Day discussion to celebrate the opening of the NCC’s new First Amendment gallery. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. A reception with access to the National Constitution Center’s new First Amendment gallery will take place before the program from 5:30–6:15 p.m.
This Constitution Day program is made possible through the generous support of Lilly Endowment Inc.
Constitutional Trivia
Throughout the Day, First Amendment Tablet Stage Test your knowledge of “We, the People” during a lightning round of Constitution Trivia. Students race against the clock to answer questions about the Constitutional Convention, the amendments, and famous figures in constitutional history during this fast-paced trivia game.
Sign the Giant Constitution
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby Guests can check out our giant version of the U.S. Constitution and sign their names alongside Washington, Franklin, Madison, and the 36 other original signers.
What’s Your 28th Amendment?
10 a.m.–5 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby
It’s been 30 years since the last amendment to the Constitution was added—the 27th Amendment which limits when changes to congressional compensation can take effect. What do you think the 28th Amendment will be?
First Amendment Build-a-Button Station
10 a.m.–5 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby How do you show your support for a cause? Visit our make-and-take craft tables to learn about symbolic speech and design your own buttons supporting a cause important to you.
Find the First Amendment Scavenger Hunt
10 a.m.–5 p.m., Museum Exhibits
Find the First Amendment! Pick up a First Amendment Scavenger Hunt and explore the Center’s exhibits to find your freedoms. Could you be thrown in jail for criticizing the government? The answers to your questions are here, it’s your job to find them.
National Constitution Center Exhibits
Visitors to the National Constitution Center will have the opportunity to explore all of our signature exhibits, including The Story of We the People, Signers’ Hall, American Treasures, Constituting Liberty, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality, The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote, and our newest gallery, The First Amendment; as well as attend live performances of Freedom Rising in the Sidney Kimmel Theater.
236th Anniversary of the Signing of the Constitution
Sunday, September 17, 2023
On September 17, 1787, the Founders signed the most influential document in American history, the U.S. Constitution; 236 years later, the National Constitution Center commemorates this historic event with free admission to the museum, plus special programs including a flag raising ceremony, preamble reading, scholar talks, trivia games, exhibit tours, and more!
Scholar Talk: The Constitutional Convention Featuring Dr. Stuart Leibiger
Sunday, September 17 | Noon ET
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Join professor Stuart Leibiger for fun facts about the Constitutional Convention, followed by a discussion about prominent Convention delegates and the conflicts and compromises that led to the framing of the U.S. Constitution during the summer of 1787. Leibiger is a professor and chair of the History Department at La Salle University and the author of Founding Friendship: George Washington, James Madison, and the Creation of the American Republic.
Constitution Week Virtual Programs
Tuesday, September 19 to Friday, September 22, 2023
Virtual Signers’ Hall Tour
Tuesday, September 19 | Noon ET
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Join one of our Museum Educators for a tour of Signers’ Hall, the iconic exhibit featuring life-size statues of the 42 men who gathered in Philadelphia for the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. We’ll guide you through that historic year as we explore the events that led up to the Constitutional Convention, the debates between the delegates, and the compromises that led to the Constitution that was signed on September 17.
Virtual Program: Battles of the Branches
Wednesday, September 20 | Noon ET
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Experience a crash course on our government! Students will learn the importance of checks and balances and the responsibilities of each branch of government. They can then assume the powers of the presidency, Congress, and the judiciary, and work together to pass a law!
Virtual Program: Constitution Trivia
Thursday, September 21 | Noon ET
Register here to watch online
Test your knowledge of “We, the People” during a lightning round of Constitution Trivia. Students race against the clock to answer questions about the Constitutional Convention, the amendments, and famous figures in constitutional history during this fast-paced trivia game.
Virtual Program: First Amendment Gallery Tour
Friday, September 22 | Noon ET
Register here to watch online
A museum educator will lead a virtual tour of our newest gallery, The First Amendment. Protecting some of our most cherished freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition—the First Amendment is a pillar of democracy and the American way. The gallery will offer a fresh perspective on the history of the First Amendment and how it impacts us today. On Constitution Day, the Center will present a series of programs and events highlighting the history and meaning of the amendment.
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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.
