On September 6, 2023, the National Constitution Center will open our newest gallery, The First Amendment. Protecting some of our most cherished freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, a free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition—the First Amendment is a pillar of democracy and the American way. The gallery will offer a fresh perspective on the history of the First Amendment and how it impacts us today. Learn more about the gallery

Flag Day

Wednesday, June 14 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m

Celebrate the birthdays of the American flag and the U.S. Army with programs at the National Constitution Center and across Independence Mall as part of Philadelphia’s annual Stripes and Stars Festival. Learn about the creation of the American flag, participate in flag-raising ceremonies, speak with Army veterans, and help us fold our giant flag. Learn about Flag Day celebrations

Juneteenth

Monday, June 19 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free admission courtesy of Citizens

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending slavery in the United States. Visitors can commemorate this historic event with special tours of the Center’s exhibit, Civil War and Reconstruction: The Battle for Freedom and Equality or additional programs highlighting freedom fighters from the Reconstruction era like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, and more. Learn about Juneteenth celebrations

Free admission on Juneteenth is made possible through the generous support of Citizens.

Welcome America: Wawa Hoagie Day®

Wednesday, June 28 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free admission courtesy of Wawa

The National Constitution Center joins Wawa for its annual Hoagie Day® tradition of building and serving 25,000 Shorti® Hoagies to honor those who serve!

Plus 1,000 Wawa stores chainwide will celebrate Hoagie Day in their local communities by building and donating an additional 30,000 hoagies to local first responders serving their neighborhoods – all in one day.

Wawa also invites visitors to enjoy free admission to the National Constitution Center on June 28, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., along with an array of patriotic festivities surrounding Independence Day. Visitors can attend special scholarly talks, the interactive Independence Day show, and American flag history and etiquette workshops, as well as create Colonial-era arts and crafts. Learn about Wawa Hoagie Day®

Free admission to the National Constitution Center on Hoagie Day® courtesy of Wawa.

Independence Week Celebrations

Wednesday, June 28 – Tuesday, July 4

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. Learn about the Independence Week celebrations

Finding the Founders

Sunday, July 2 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Free admission courtesy of Citizen Travelers

The National Constitution Center is partnering with neighboring sites throughout Historic Philadelphia for our Finding the Founders scholarly series. Learn about Finding the Founders

Free admission on July 2 is made possible through the generous support of Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.

Independence Day

Tuesday, July 4 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

The museum is open outside of normal operating hours on Independence Day, Tuesday, July 4. Admission to the Center is free in recognition of Independence Day. Learn more about Independence Day

Debate at America’s Town Hall

Deliberation and Democratic Norms in America

Tuesday, June 13 | Noon ET 

In today’s polarized political climate, how can Americans foster constructive conversations and compromise across the political spectrum to address the nation’s most pressing issues? Ronnie Janoff-Bulman, psychologist and author of The Two Moralities: Conservatives, Liberals, and the Roots of Our Political Divide; Matthew Levendusky, political scientist and author of Our Common Bonds: Using What Americans Share to Help Bridge the Partisan Divide; and Kenji Yoshino, legal scholar and author of Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice, join for a conversation exploring the roots of America’s political divide, various strategies for overcoming partisan gridlock, and how and why to engage in difficult discussions to secure the future of democracy. Thomas Donnelly, chief content officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates.

This program is made possible through the generous support of Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.

Clarence Thomas and the Constitutional Stories That Define Him

Monday, June 19 | Noon ET 

Join Judge Amul Thapar and former Judge Bernice Donald, both of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, for a conversation on Thapar’s new book, The People’s Justice: Clarence Thomas and the Constitutional Stories that Define Him. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

The Modern History of Originalism

Wednesday, June 28 | Noon ET 

Join a panel of libertarian and conservative scholars—J. Joel Alicea of The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, Anastasia Boden of the Cato Institute, and Sherif Girgis of Notre Dame Law School—for an in-depth comparative look at the different strands of originalism as a constitutional methodology. They will also explore originalism’s modern history and application by current members of the Roberts Court through the examples of recent cases, and how originalism intersects with textualism and other interpretive approaches. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates.

Join Us for the Summer of Red, White, and YOU

It’s a celebration, and all are welcome! Come cool off at the National Constitution Center for a summer of interactive programs and special events to celebrate Red, White, and YOU! With engaging offerings, explore how YOU are a part of the story of “We, the People.” Through a combination of in-person and online experiences, travel back in time to the writing of the Constitution, meet freedom fighters who ensured the rights prescribed in the Constitution extend to all, and explore what YOU can do with freedom to build a more perfect union. Learn more about the Summer of Red, White, and YOU

WATCH

Supreme Court Cases to Watch Featuring MSNBC’s Ali Velshi

Run time: 54 minutes

MSNBC’s Ali Velshi joins Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the Supreme Court and some of the biggest cases the justices are considering this term. Watch now

LISTEN

The Shadow Docket Debate

Run time: 57 minutes

Adam Liptak and Jennifer Mascott join Stephen Vladeck for a conversation on Vladeck’s new book, The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic, exploring the history and role of the shadow docket and the current debates surrounding the Court’s emergency rulings. Listen now

Sal Khan on Civics, AI, and the Constitution

Run time: 45 minutes

Jeffrey Rosen sits down with Khan Academy founder and CEO Sal Khan for a podcast discussion on the state of civics in America today; the NCC and Khan Academy partnership and the Constitution 101 course; the role of AI in education; and more. Listen now

READ

Two Unusual Murder Cases and the Death Penalty’s Constitutionality

by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 7 minutes

“Eight years ago, a divided U.S. Supreme Court rejected death row inmate Richard Glossip’s claim that a drug used in Oklahoma executions violated the Eighth Amendment’s ban on cruel and unusual punishment. In a remarkable turn of events, Glossip is back before the justices with new legal issues...” Read more

May 30, 1860: A Future American President’s Deadly Duel

by NCC Staff | Read time: 4 minutes

“On May 30, 1806, future President Andrew Jackson nearly died in a duel when he killed his opponent, a fellow plantation owner. While the deadly duel two years earlier between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton is the most famous in American history, Jackson was a frequent dueler among the prominent politicians of the dueling age, which lasted up until the Civil War era. ...” Read more

All of the latest constitutional content from the National Constitution Center is available on our website! America’s Town Hall programs and Constitution 101 classes, as well as the videos for our new Constitution 101 course, are also available on our YouTube channel.

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