FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Merissa Blum, 215-409-6645
[email protected]
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER HOSTS SPECIAL WINTER BREAK PROGRAMMING
Receive $2 off admission through December 31 with the Historic Holiday Pass
Philadelphia, PA (December 12, 2019) – This winter break, visitors to the National Constitution Center can experience special Civil War-themed programming in conjunction with the Center’s new exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality. Additional programs include a Civil War encampment, an in-gallery theatrical performance highlighting abolitionist and suffragist Frances E.W. Harper, meet and greets with historic figures like Henry “Box” Brown, as well as Union soldiers and battlefield nurses, and more. Programming is free with general admission and will be available at the Center on Thursday, December 26, through Tuesday, December 31.
Over winter break, visitors to the National Constitution Center will have one last opportunity to see Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation, the Center’s exhibit highlighting the competing ideas of Alexander Hamilton and his legendary rivals, before it closes on December 31, 2019.
The National Constitution Center is participating in the Historic Holiday Pass powered by PECO. The Historic Holiday Pass is available for download on VisitPhilly.com through December 31. Visitors can present the pass from their mobile device at the box office of the National Constitution Center and receive $2 off general admission.
New this winter, visitors to the Historic District can also experience two Arch Street staples, the African American Museum in Philadelphia and the National Constitution Center, with a single ticket that includes admission to both institutions for a discounted price. Joint tickets are now available online or in person at both museums. Adult joint tickets are now available for $24 (savings of $4.50), youth tickets for $18 (savings of $3).
PLEASE NOTE:
- Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24 – Shortened museum hours, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25 – CLOSED
- New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31 – Shortened museum hours, 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1 – CLOSED
Winter Break Programs
Civil War Encampment, Make-and-Take Craft Activities, and 19th Century Lawn Games
Dec. 26 – 28 and Dec. 30 – 31, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Dec. 29, 12 – 3 p.m.
Grand Hall Lobby
At the Civil War encampment in the National Constitution Center’s Main Lobby, visitors can learn about the various types of medicine that were practiced by camp doctors, the harsh conditions of Civil War-era camps, and how President Lincoln tried to raise money to support the troops at Sanitary Fairs. Visitors can then venture into the new Civil War and Reconstruction exhibit to learn about and view some of the items that were auctioned off at Sanitary Fairs. Additionally, daily programs will include arts and crafts activities, a hands-on artifact cart, and 19th century lawn games (weather permitting).
The Road to Freedom: The Story of Slavery in America Program
Dec. 26 – 28 and Dec. 30 – 31, 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 2:15 p.m.
Dec. 29, 2:15 p.m.
Grand Hall Lobby
This interactive program explores the story of slavery in the United States through a constitutional lens, taking visitors on a journey from the time of the Constitutional Convention to the start of the Civil War. It will spotlight historic figures—like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ona Judge, Angelina Grimke, Harriet Tubman, William Still, and Abraham Lincoln—and key events—such as the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850, the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the Dred Scott case, and the secession of the South.
Frances E.W. Harper Theatrical Performance
Dec. 26 – 28, twice an hour between 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dec. 29, twice an hour between 12 – 4 p.m.
As visitors explore Civil War and Reconstruction, they will encounter a one-actor performance in the 14th Amendment section of the exhibit highlighting Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a key African American figure from the Reconstruction era. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a staunch abolitionist, suffragist, poet, teacher, writer, and public speaker, speaks out in this 1875 address to the Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery, outlining the work yet to be done in the cause for African American freedom. This production has been supported by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.
Historic Figure Meet and Greets and Photo Opportunity
Henry “Box” Brown: Dec. 26 – 28, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Civil War Nurse: Dec. 26 – 28, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Union Soldier: Dec. 26 – 28, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Dec. 29, 12 – 3 p.m.
Grand Hall Lobby
At the Center’s recreated encampment, visitors can learn about the Underground Railroad while meeting figures from the 19th century, including Henry “Box” Brown, an enslaved man who shipped himself in a box from Virginia to Philadelphia to escape slavery. Visitors can also hear from a Civil War-era soldier or nurse and learn about his or her experience fighting in the Union Army or working in the battlefields and hospitals.
A Soldier’s Life: Civil War Edition Demonstrations
Dec. 26 – 29, 1 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby
At this activity, visitors can learn about a day in the life of a Civil War-era soldier as he showcases the daily tasks and lifestyle of a typical infantryman in the Union Army. Visitors will have the opportunity to try on replicas of military uniforms and equipment. Presented in partnership with Historic Philadelphia, Inc.
Admission during winter break 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.
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.
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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.
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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.
