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Black History Month

Name: Black History Month
Start: 2026-02-01T00:01:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-28T23:59:00+00:00
Location: National Constitution Center

Date: Sunday, February 1 - Saturday, February 28
Time: All Day

During the month of February, the National Constitution Center honors the achievements and rich heritage of Black Americans and the impact their stories have had on constitutional history. Commemorate Black History Month by diving into the lives of Revolutionary-era Black American figures, the continued fight for freedom and equality during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the inspirational work of Black suffragists, politicians, students, and more!

On February 13, celebrate America’s 250th anniversary year with a dynamic, interactive exploration of the American Revolution and the creation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights in our new exhibit, America’s Founding. Continue the story by exploring America’s second founding era, in Civil War & Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality.

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Programs at the Museum

The Four Harriets of History Program

10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m., Kenneth C. Griffin Great Hall Overlook
Explore the lives of four American women—Harriet Robinson Scott, Harriet Tubman, Harriet Jacobs, and Harriet Beecher Stowe—who confronted slavery through literature, lawsuits, and direct action in their efforts to free themselves and others from bondage. 

Emancipation Proclamation and the 54th Massachusetts Regiment

11:45 a.m., Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality
Join us for an inside look at why President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, what it meant for over four million Americans then held in bondage, and how it led to the creation of the first Black regiments in the war. This 5-10 minute talk examines a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation and special artifacts, including a ladder badge worn by a volunteer infantryman in the 54th Massachusetts Regiment.

AKA Sorority Suffrage Letter

1:45 p.m., The 19th Amendment: How Women Won the Vote
Learn about the first Black sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded at Howard University in 1908, and their fight for equal rights. This 5-10 minute program looks at a letter from the sorority’s founder and incorporator, Nellie M. Quander, and discusses how Black women fought for equal suffrage and equal rights within the nation’s suffrage movement.

Trading Stories Craft

10 a.m.–4 p.m., Kenneth C. Griffin Great Hall
Explore the lives of influential Black American figures while creating and collecting your own trading cards. See the American Revolution through the stories of James Armistead Lafayette, Phillis Wheatley, and Salem Poor, and beyond!

Black History Trivia Wheel

10 a.m.–4 p.m., Kenneth C. Griffin Great Hall
Come spin the wheel and test your knowledge of key moments and figures in Black history like Hiram Rhodes Revels, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and Misty Copeland.

Self-Guided African American Artifact Scavenger Hunt

Pick up a special Black History Month brochure for a self-guided tour of the museum’s exhibitions, focusing on rare artifacts. These include a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, a pen and inkwell used by Fredrick Douglass, and an original pennant from the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 

Virtual Museum Programs

Live From the Museum: The Heroes of Reconstruction

Tuesday, February 3 | Noon ET
Explore Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality with one of our museum educators. Learn how abolitionists, soldiers, and politicians transformed the Constitution after the war during the Reconstruction period, expanding the meaning of “We the People.”

Live From the Museum: First Look at the America’s Founding Gallery

Tuesday, February 17 | Noon ET
Join a museum educator for a first look at the National Constitution Center’s newest exhibit! The America’s Founding gallery tells the story of the nation’s founding principles, exploring how we declared independence, fought a revolution, learned from early challenges, and ultimately developed a new form of government that changed the world.

Virtual Student Programs

Scholar Exchange: Civil Rights and Liberties

In this Scholar Exchange program, students examine the civil rights and liberties in the U.S. Constitution through a guided conversation facilitated by a judge, constitutional scholar, or practicing attorney. Together, students and scholars explore the concept of natural rights, analyze key constitutional amendments, and review landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped the meaning and scope of civil rights and liberties over time—particularly through the experiences of African Americans whose struggles and advocacy expanded liberties for all. Teachers select dates and times that best fit their classroom schedules.

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Civic Stories: Courage in the Classroom

Bring Black history into your classroom through artifacts and the stories they tell. In this Civic Stories program, students examine an artifact connected to the integration of public schools and the remarkable story of a young girl who showed extraordinary bravery in the face of injustice. During the experience, students uncover how individuals and communities shaped history and begin to see where they fit into the American story. Teachers select dates and times that best fit their classroom schedules.

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Free Admission