FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Annie Stone, 703-217-1169 [email protected]
Merissa Blum, 215-370-0387 [email protected]
NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER’S 2021 CONSTITUTION DAY CELEBRATION FEATURES ON-SITE AND ONLINE PROGRAMMING FOR STUDENTS IN PHILADELPHIA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Special guests include authors Gordon Wood and Emily Pears, historians Edward Larson and Lucas Morel; School District of Philadelphia’s Dr. William R. Hite, iCivics’ Louise Dubé, Khan Academy’s Sal Khan; Third Circuit Judges Marjorie Rendell, Cheryl Ann Krause, and Stephanos Bibas; professors Martha S. Jones and Hasan Kwame Jeffries; and others
Admission to the museum on Constitution Day will be free thanks to support from PECO
Philadelphia, PA (September 7, 2021) – On Friday, September 17, 2021, the 234th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, the National Constitution Center will host a hybrid, online and on-site, celebration featuring special guests and programs. Free museum admission and online programming on Constitution Day is made possible thanks to support from PECO. A full list of programs, including registration information, is available here.
Programming highlights include a conversation on the state of civics education in the United States with the School District of Philadelphia’s Dr. William R. Hite, iCivics’ Louise Dubé, Khan Academy’s Sal Khan, and President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen, as well as a discussion with U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Judges Marjorie Rendell, Cheryl Ann Krause, and Stephanos Bibas on how they approached some of the most significant appellate cases on last term’s docket, including Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L. (2021), Fulton v. City of Philadelphia (2021), and Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. v. Boockvar.
On the evening of Constitution Day, the Center will present a special Constitution Day America’s Town Hall program exploring how to understand the legacy of the American Revolution and the founders in the 21st century. Best-selling historian Gordon Wood will be joined at the National Constitution Center in person by fellow historian Edward Larson and virtually by author Emily Pears and scholar Lucas Morel to discuss Wood’s newest book Power and Liberty: Constitutionalism in the American Revolution.
Additionally, the National Constitution Center will kick off its schedule of 2021-2022 live classes on the Constitution for middle school, high school, and college students with a special All-Star Edition of its Fun Friday classes, featuring some of last school year’s most popular constitutional experts, including professors Martha S. Jones and Hasan Kwame Jeffries. In preparation for Constitution Day, on September 9, the Center will host a professional development session for educators on the state of civics education in Pennsylvania and how to incorporate civics in the classroom and beyond. United States Court of Appeals Judge Marjorie Rendell will moderate. Additional details here.
On-site at the National Constitution Center, museum admission will be free on Friday, September 17, in honor of Constitution Day thanks to support from PECO. Special programming includes a Naturalization Ceremony during which 50 individuals will take the oath of allegiance and become U.S. Citizens, a Preamble reading, a Kids Town Hall with favorite historical figures, and more. Advanced tickets are encouraged and visitors can reserve them here.
A full schedule of online and on-site programming, including links to register for all virtual programs, is available here.
The National Constitution Center’s Interactive Constitution is America’s leading platform for nonpartisan constitutional education. The free online platform offers extensive primary and secondary sources and a content-rich media library with videos, podcasts, blog posts, and lesson plans, at no cost and available with no login or password required. The Interactive Constitution has received over 45 million views since it launched in 2015.
The National Constitution Center is committed to the health and safety of visitors, staff, and volunteers and is welcoming visitors Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in accordance with local, state, and federal health guidelines. As a GBAC STAR™ accredited facility, the Center is proud to be recognized for cleaning and disinfecting to a higher standard. More information on health and safety policies is available here.
###
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.