Dear Friends, 

We’ve just finished an exciting week celebrating Constitution Day and the opening of the NCC’s new First Amendment exhibit. It was so inspiring to see the NCC full of learners of all ages, uplifted by the First Amendment Tablet, the First Amendment gallery, and the greatest view of Independence Hall in America. I’m writing to share some links to the superb Constitution week programs in case you missed them. 

On September 6, under the shining words of the First Amendment Tablet, we welcomed 200 guests for the opening of the exhibit. I’m so proud to be part of the amazing team that produced it and I can’t wait for you to see it: No other museum in America is creating physical exhibits about the principles of the Constitution in such a rigorous, nonpartisan, and inspiring way. The opening generated several great stories, including in WHYY, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Philly Voice. Thanks to the George Family Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and The McLean Contributionship for making the gallery possible.

On September 13, more than 230 people joined us in person and another 1,200 on Zoom for a National First Amendment Summit, co-hosted by the Freedom Forum, FIRE, the First Amendment Watch at NYU, PEN America, and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. The multi-panel event began with a keynote conversation with Salman Rushdie and featured America’s leading First Amendment thinkers—Floyd Abrams, Akhil Reed Amar, Bruce Brown, Will Creeley, Jameel Jaffer, Lyrissa Lidsky, Jacob Mchangama, Suzanne Nossel, Stephen Solomon, Nadine Strossen, and Jeannie Suk Gersen. It was inspiring to sit under the words of the First Amendment Tablet, gazing on Independence Hall, and talking about the urgent importance of protecting freedom of conscience, which is under siege in America and around the world. 

On September 17 and 18, the NCC celebrated Constitution Day with free admission courtesy of PECO.

• We welcomed 48 new citizens from 27 countries during a moving naturalization ceremony.
• Read the Preamble to the Constitution with students across America.
• Judge Cheryl Krause and her Third Circuit colleagues discussed the First Amendment in the courts.
• Simon Tam of the band The Slants sang a powerful song about his landmark Supreme Court patent case.
• Colleen Sheehan, William Allen, and Jonathan Gienapp discussed the constitutional philosophies of Madison, Hamilton, Morris, and Wilson.
• Michael McConnell and Marci Hamilton ended with an illuminating discussion in our newly and beautifully renovated Kirby Auditorium about the constitutional scope of religious exemptions. It was a vigorous debate about the history and current controversies over the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses and a great example of the kind of rigorous civil dialogue that we’re proud to host at the Constitution Center.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to start work on the next phase of our planned renovation of our core exhibit space, a new gallery focused on America’s founding principles, which will open in 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. We just issued a press release about Judge J. Michael Luttig and Elizabeth A. Luttig’s leadership gift for this exhibit as well as their ongoing loan to the NCC of a rare first-edition, two-volume set of The Federalist and rare original printing of the Acts of the First Session of the First Congress.

This is such a meaningful time for constitutional education at the NCC. I’m so grateful for your support of our mission and to all we will accomplish together in the months and years ahead!

With appreciation,

Jeff

Jeffrey Rosen

President and CEO

National Constitution Center

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