Civic Holidays | In Person

Independence Week Celebrations

Date
Thursday, June 27 - Thursday, July 4
Time
All Day
price
Free with Admission; Discounted or Free Admission Available on Select Days and Times
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Join the National Constitution Center for an array of patriotic festivities surrounding Independence Day, exploring the history of the Declaration of Independence and how the definition of “We the People” has expanded since Thomas Jefferson penned the famous words “…all men are created equal…” in 1776. Visitors can attend the interactive Independence Day show and American Flag History and Etiquette workshops, as well as create Colonial-era arts and crafts and stop by the Revolutionary War encampment on the museum’s front lawn. Throughout the week, visitors can also attend special scholarly talks that explore the expanded understanding of Independence Day. 

Adjusted Hours and Pricing for Independence Week 
The National Constitution Center will observe the following hours and pricing from Thursday, June 27 to Thursday, July 4, 2024:

  • June 27: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Free Admission, courtesy of Wawa
  • June 28–July 1: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Standard Admission Rates
  • July 2: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Standard Admission Rates 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Free Admission After 5 p.m.
  • July 3: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; Standard Admission Rates
  • July 4: 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Free Admission in honor of Independence Day

Regular hours and admission rates will resume on Friday, July 5.


 
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Daily Programs

Flag Ceremonies

10 a.m. and 5 p.m.; Front Lawn
Join the National Constitution Center staff each morning as we raise the American flag over our building on Independence Mall, and then again in the evenings as we reverently lower it.

History of Independence Day Show

*Check Visitor Guide for Showtimes
From parades to protests, cannons to flag waving, explosive words to fiery demonstrations, this show takes an in-depth look at this exciting celebration of freedom from the early days of American independence to the present day.

American Flag History and Etiquette Workshop

*Check Visitor Guide for Showtimes
At special workshops, discover the history and symbolism of the American flag and learn all about the proper way to treat it.

The Four Harriets of History Program
The Four Harriets of History Program

*Check Visitor Guide for Showtimes
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. 

Family Fun Activities
Family Fun Activities

10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Front Lawn
Join us on the Front Lawn to play graces, hoop and stick, nine pin, and other games popular during the Revolutionary era as well as make-and-take craft projects for visitors to create!

Special Days

Wawa Hoagie Day

June 27 | The hoagie giveaway begins at noon on Independence Mall.
Celebrate Wawa Hoagie Day at the National Constitution Center—a highlight of the Wawa Welcome America Festival. As always, Hoagie Day is a celebration of the love, precision, and passion that Wawa associates put into building and serving every Wawa Hoagie. During Hoagie Day, Wawa associates will assemble and distribute more than 25,000 hoagies with total ingredients weighing more than seven tons! Wawa invites all visitors to enjoy a free admission day at the National Constitution Center, featuring educational programs, trivia and games, craft activities, and more.

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Pomp & Parade Decorating Days

June 29 – July 1 | Free, Registration Required
To prepare for the upcoming Red, White, & Blue To-Do, Philadelphia’s Historic District will host Decorating Days, where community members are welcome to join us to help create the official wagon floats for the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade! Wagon decorating will take place at the National Constitution Center from June 29 to July 1. The activity is free, but space is limited, so advance registration is strongly encouraged.

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Revolutionary War Encampment

July 2- 4 | Free with Admission
Join Revolutionary War reenactors as you step into a re-created military encampment right on the National Constitution Center’s front lawn. Stop by the medical tent to visit the surgeon, meet 18th-century artisans and learn more about their trades, and see Continental Army soldiers march and drill on the grounds. You can even practice being with a wooden musket and find out if a soldiers’ life is for you! The National Constitution Center is pleased to once again partner with the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment to present our annual Revolutionary War encampment.

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Red, White, & Blue To-Do

July 2 | Free with Admission
Join the National Constitution Center and partners from Philadelphia’s Historic District for the first annual Red, White, & Blue To-Do on July 2. John Adams declared that July 2 should be a day of “pomp and parade” from one end of the continent to the other. The Red, White, & Blue To-Do will take place throughout America’s most historic square mile with the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, festooned decor, concerts, games, extended visitation hours at area historic attractions, restaurant specials, and much more.

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“Declaring Independence:” Myths and Realities Behind the Signing Featuring Dr. Stuart Leibiger

July 2 | 12:45 p.m., Kirby Auditorium, Second Floor
Join us for a conversation with author and professor, Dr. Stuart Leibiger, chair of the history department at La Salle University, as he examines the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, specifically the myths and realities behind the signing and the signers, and what did and did not happen on July 4, 1776.

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Taste of History Trivia Night

July 2, 5–7 p.m.,| Grand Hall Overlook, Free
Grab a bite, explore exhibits, and show off your trivia skills in the birthplace of American democracy. The National Constitution Center and Made by Us are hosting a Taste of History Trivia Night to kick off Civic Season 2024. We’ll have free food, games, exhibit tours, and a trivia contest with prizes.

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Free Speech and the K-DOT Revolution: “They not like U.S.” Featuring Dr. Aaron X. Smith
Free Speech and the K-DOT Revolution: “They not like U.S.” Featuring Dr. Aaron X. Smith

Wednesday, July 3 | 12:45 p.m., Kirby Auditorium, Second Floor

Aggressive emancipatory declarations have shaped both the country and the current state of hip-hop music. Contentious rhetorical sparring has marked several periods of American evolution towards a “more perfect Union.” The origin of this unique democratic American experiment bears many peculiar and profound parallels to recent track releases from rapper Kendrick Lamar. Join us for a presentation and conversation with Temple University Professor Aaron X. Smith on the hottest topic in hip-hop culture from a completely new patriotic perspective. The event will posit the artistry and impact of Kendrick Lamar within the larger context of Constitutional freedoms and the artistic agency that has played an interictal part in the shaping of our beautifully diverse and independent republic.

Independence Day with Free Admission
Independence Day with Free Admission

July 4 | Free
The National Constitution Center celebrates Independence Day by offering free museum admission to all visitors on July 4. Attend the interactive Independence Day show and American Flag History and Etiquette workshops, as well as create Colonial-era arts and crafts and stop by the Revolutionary War encampment on the museum’s front lawn. Visitors can also attend special scholarly talks that explore the expanded understanding of Independence Day.

Learn More
More from the National Constitution Center
Constitution 101

Explore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.

Media Library

Search and browse videos, podcasts, and blog posts on constitutional topics.

Founders’ Library

Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.

Calendar