FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Merissa Blum, 215-409-6645
[email protected]
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER HOSTS SPECIAL THANKSGIVING WEEKEND PROGRAMMING
Philadelphia, PA (November 19, 2019) – Over Thanksgiving weekend, the National Constitution Center invites visitors to enjoy a variety of special programs and activities that highlight the history of Thanksgiving.
The interactive “History of Thanksgiving” program explores the origins and importance of this national holiday. At special talk-back discussions led by the Center’s education staff, visitors will learn about the Wampanoag people who lived in what is now New England and their culture, as well as the historic meal they shared with European settlers in 1621 and the events leading up to the harvest feast that year. The talk will highlight key people and moments in Native American history from a constitutional perspective. The program also touches on the role Presidents Washington and Lincoln played in making Thanksgiving a national holiday and looks at some favorite Thanksgiving traditions such as the annual turkey pardon.
FOURTEEN, the moving theatrical performance which sheds light on the Reconstruction era and the ratification of the 14th Amendment, will be offered Thanksgiving week, Monday, November 25, through Wednesday, November 27, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m., and Friday, November 29, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. The performance is presented in conjunction with the Center’s newest exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality. Performances are subject to availability. Please check the daily program guide upon arrival to confirm that day’s show times.
Thanksgiving weekend programs will be offered Friday, November 29, through Sunday, December 1. Please check the daily visitor guide upon arrival for show times.
Thanksgiving Weekend Programs
History of Thanksgiving Program
The interactive “History of Thanksgiving” program invites visitors to explore the origins and importance of this national holiday. Visitors will learn about the Wampanoag people who lived in what is now New England and their culture, as well as the historic meal they shared with European settlers in 1621 and the events leading up to the harvest feast that year.
Thanksgiving: Deconstructing the Myth
Visitors can join the Center’s education staff to discuss and deconstruct images of Thanksgiving from different periods of our country’s history, taking into account the historical context of each period. This program will unravel some of the myths surrounding the holiday by presenting a more holistic view of the past, which considers multiple perspectives and tells the story of the Wampanoag people. The program will also examine how the nation’s relationship with Native Americans has shaped contemporary understandings of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Growing Up, American Style
Visitors can learn about growing up in different eras of American history through a costume runway show, featuring traditional-style dress from historical periods, like Washington and Lincoln’s presidencies.
Corn Husk Doll Making Station and Activity Table
Visitors can create corn husk dolls and leaf wreaths at craft tables while learning about traditional games children played in different eras, including marbles, whirligigs, bilobo catchers, tops, nine pins, and other popular games.
Admission during Thanksgiving weekend includes access to the National Constitution Center’s new permanent exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality; the interactive main exhibit, The Story of We the People; the signature multimedia, theatrical performance of Freedom Rising presented in the Sidney Kimmel Theater; and the iconic Signers’ Hall, featuring 42 life-size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers.
Admission also includes FOURTEEN, the moving theatrical performance which sheds light on the Reconstruction era and the ratification of the 14th Amendment, which will be offered Thanksgiving week, Monday, November 25, through Wednesday, November 27, at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m., and Friday, November 29, at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. The performance is presented in conjunction with the Center’s newest exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality. Performances are subject to availability. Please check the daily program guide upon arrival to confirm that day’s show times.
Visitors also have access to the Center’s feature exhibit, Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation exhibit, which highlights the competing ideas of Alexander Hamilton and his legendary rivals, and the Center’s rare documents galleries.
###
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.
###
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.
