A History of In-Person Major Events at the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center has played host to numerous public events since its dedication on July 4, 2003.
On Sept. 10, 2024, the Center will be the location of ABC News’ broadcast of the debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump. It is not the first time the Center has played host to significant events.
Since October 2006, when former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton received the Liberty Medal in front of the Constitution Center’s entrance, the venue has served its purpose as a public venue for important civic purposes.
Annually, the Center hosts in-person and virtual events as part of its America’s Town Hall series. In the past year, guests have included Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer (Ret.); Salman Rushdie (virtual); landmark constitutional figures Simon Tam and Mary Beth Tinker; and acclaimed Lincoln historians Sidney Blumenthal and Harold Holzer.
And in September 2024, Supreme Court Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch will be at the Center as part of our Constitution Day programming, while filmmaker Ken Burns will receive the 2024 Liberty Medal at a ticketed event.
Links: Get Tickets for Gorsuch Event | Paid Tickets for the Liberty Medal
Here is a short list of significant civic and political events either hosted by the Center, or offered as part of the Center’s mission to “disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.”
Events
July 4, 2003: Dedication Ceremony with Justice Sandra Day O’Connor
October 5, 2006: George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Liberty Medal*
October 17, 2006: Bob Casey and Rick Santorum, Pa. General Election Senate Debate
May 8, 2007: Philadelphia Democratic Mayoral primary debate
March 18, 2008: Barack Obama “A More Perfect Union” speech
April 16, 2008: Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama, Pa. Primary Debate
June 11, 2008: John McCain Town Hall, Presidential Election
September 18, 2008: Mikhail Gorbachev, Liberty Medal*
October 21, 2008: Cindy McCain rally for John McCain, Presidential Election
October 8, 2009: Steven Spielberg, Liberty Medal*
September 13, 2010: Tony Blair, Liberty Medal*
October 21, 2010: Pat Toomey and Joe Sestak, Pa. General Election Senate Debate
September 22, 2011: Robert Gates, Liberty Medal*
June 6, 2012: Michelle Obama rally for Barack Obama, Presidential Election
September 13, 2012: Muhammad Ali, Liberty Medal*
September 10, 2013: Hillary Clinton, Liberty Medal*
October 10, 2014: Tom Wolf rally, Pa. Governor’s race
October 21, 2014: Malala Yousafzai, Liberty Medal*
April 26, 2016: Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders Town Halls (taped), Presidential Election
September 19, 2016: John Lewis, Liberty Medal*
October 16, 2017: John McCain, Liberty Medal*
November 12, 2018: George W. Bush and Laura Bush, Liberty Medal*
October 27, 2019: Anthony M. Kennedy, Liberty Medal*
February 2, 2020: Michael Bloomberg rally, Presidential Election
March 10, 2020: Joe Biden rally, Presidential Election
September 15, 2020: Donald J. Trump Town Hall, Presidential Election
October 15, 2020: Joe Biden Town Hall, Presidential Election
June 25, 2022: Josh Shapiro rally, Pa. Governor’s race
September 19, 2021: Loujain al-Hathloul and Jimmy Lai, Liberty Medal*
October 9, 2023: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rally, Presidential Election
October 27, 2023: Judy Woodruff and David Rubenstein, Liberty Medal*
September 10, 2024: Kamala Harris and Donald J. Trump Debate, Presidential Election
September 24, 2024: Ken Burns, Liberty Medal*
*Program offered by the National Constitution Center