Be a Civic Hero! Playful Learning Installation
Opening September 16, 2026
The National Constitution Center is proud to partner with Playful Learning Landscapes, a national initiative that transforms everyday public spaces into opportunities for learning, play, and connection, and Watchdog Project Management to present Be a Civic Hero!, the Center’s first dedicated experience created especially for young children and their families.
Opening September 16, 2026, as one of 11 Play Places located at iconic destinations across Philadelphia, Be a Civic Hero! invites families to discover their civic strengths and explore the ideas and values that help communities thrive. Located on the Center’s front lawn, the free outdoor experience uses play, storytelling, and shared exploration to introduce young children to civic life in ways that connect to their everyday experiences.
Families can create their own civic heroes inspired by figures from the American Revolution, connect constitutional principles to everyday life, and explore the historic landmarks of Independence Mall through playful activities. A new little free library will invite families to browse and share children’s books about history, the Constitution, and civic life.
The inaugural collection of the little free library includes more than 100 children’s books donated by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, including titles from its America’s 250th Anniversary collection, as well as additional books donated by HarperCollins Children’s Books, with Freedom Forum contributing copies of We Are Free: Our First Amendment by their fellow Allison Matulli.
Through thoughtfully designed opportunities for children and caregivers to play and learn together, Be a Civic Hero! encourages young learners to practice civic strengths like kindness, courage, curiosity, teamwork, communication, and problem solving and to discover how their choices can make a difference in their communities.
Be a Civic Hero! is free and open to the public on the National Constitution Center’s front lawn. The installation was created in partnership with FIFTEEN Architecture + Design, Masters Group Design, and Weston Design & Fabrication Studio, and made possible with support from the William Penn Foundation.
Graphic courtesy Masters Design Group.
Celebrate the Opening
Join us on September 16 from 2–4 p.m. for Be a Civic Hero!: A Family Celebration, a free community event featuring outdoor story time, civic hero crafts, cooperative lawn games, and other playful activities for young children and their families.
Family Learning Resources
The National Constitution Center offers family learning experiences at the Center in Philadelphia, in homes, and in communities nationwide. Through hands-on, play-based activities, engaging videos, and onsite and digital programs, families explore constitutional history and civic questions together in joyful, social, and inspiring ways.
