Thanks to a generous $15 million gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, the largest single gift in our history, the National Constitution Center will open a new gallery on America’s founding in February 2026, as well as a new gallery on the separation of powers in May 2026. Learn more | | A More Perfect Union: Inspiring Civic & Civil Conversations Across America, a new special produced by WETA and taped at the National Constitution Center, will explore America’s founding values. The one-hour special featuring Ken Burns in conversation Jeffrey Rosen, Melody Barnes, Yuval Levin, and others premieres this November. Learn more | |
Flag Day
Saturday, June 14 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Celebrate the birthdays of the American flag and the U.S. Army with programs from the National Constitution Center. Learn about the creation of the American flag, participate in flag raising ceremonies, speak with Army veterans, and fold our giant flag! Learn about Flag Day celebrations
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Juneteenth
Thursday, June 19 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free admission
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
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Wawa Hoagie Day®
Thursday, June 26 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free admission courtesy of Wawa
Join Wawa for historic Hoagie Day®, honoring local heroes, and building and serving Wawa Shorti Hoagies. Hoagies will be served free at noon along Arch Street between 5th & 6th Streets in the Independence Mall area. Guests can enjoy a performance by the Six String Soldiers, along with free admission all day to the National Constitution Center courtesy of Wawa Hoagie Day®. Learn about Wawa Hoagie Day®
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Red, White, & Blue To-Do
Wednesday, July 2 | 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Join the National Constitution Center and partners from Philadelphia’s Historic District for the second annual Red, White, & Blue To-Do on July 2, which will take place throughout America’s most historic square mile with a Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade, festooned decor, concerts, games, extended visitation hours at area historic attractions, restaurant specials, and much more. Learn more about Red, White, and Blue To-Do
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Red, White, & Blue To-Do Decorating Days
Saturday, June 28–Tuesday, July 1
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 parade!
Wagon decorating will take place at the National Constitution Center from June 28–July 1. The activity is free, but space is limited, so advance registration is strongly encouraged.
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Pomp & Parade
Wednesday, July 2 | 11 a.m.
Philadelphia Historic District partners are thrilled to invite community members to participate in the Red, White, & Blue To-Do Pomp & Parade! We encourage all participants to dress in festive clothing of red, white, and blue, carry flags or other fun flair, and come ready to smile, wave, sing, dance, or otherwise show off your patriotic spirit as we process through the Historic District.
The parade begins on July 2 at 11 a.m. at the National Constitution Center, and will conclude around noon at 3rd and Chestnut Streets. Participation is free, advance registration is required.
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Taste of History Trivia Night
Wednesday, July 2 | 5–7 p.m.
Free admission
Join us for a night of food, friends, and of course, history. Grab a bite, explore exhibits, and show off your trivia skills in the birthplace of American democracy. We’ll have free food, games, exhibit tours, and a trivia contest with prizes, presented in partnership with Made By Us.
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Independence Day
Friday, July 4 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Free admission courtesy of Citizen Travelers
The National Constitution Center celebrates Independence Day by offering free museum admission to all visitors on July 4, courtesy of Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.
Attend the interactive Independence Day show, participate in American flag history and etiquette workshops, create Colonial-era crafts, and stop by the Revolutionary War encampment on the museum’s Front Lawn. Learn more about Independence Day
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Debate at America’s Town Hall
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W.E.B. Du Bois and His Impact on America With David Levering Lewis
Thursday, June 19 | Noon ET
In celebration of Juneteenth, Pulitzer Prize–winning historian David Levering Lewis, author of the definitive two-volume biography of W.E.B. Du Bois, explores Du Bois’ life, legacy, and enduring impact on American history, while also discussing his own new memoir, The Stained Glass Window. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more
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IN PERSON AND ONLINE
The Story of the U.S. Constitution: Past and Present
Monday, June 23 | 6:30 p.m. ET
Akhil Reed Amar and David Blight of Yale University and Annette Gordon-Reed, president of the Organization of American Historians and Harvard professor, join National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a sweeping conversation about the Constitution and the debates that have shaped America—from the founding era to today. They’ll examine transformative moments in American history and landmark Supreme Court decisions. Learn more
| | This program is presented in partnership with the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute and the Organization of American Historians. | | |
IN PERSON AND ONLINE
2025 Supreme Court Review: Key Rulings, Public Perceptions, and Constitutional Debates
Tuesday, July 8
Reception: 5–5:45 p.m.; Program: 5:45–8 p.m. ET
The National Constitution Center and the Center on the Structural Constitution at Texas A&M University School of Law present a U.S. Supreme Court review symposium featuring leading constitutional law scholars and commentators who will analyze the Court’s most significant rulings of the term. Participants include Jonathan Adler of Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal, Jan Crawford of CBS News, Daniel Epps of Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, Sarah Isgur of The Dispatch, Frederick Lawrence of Georgetown University Law Center, Fred Smith Jr. of Emory University School of Law, Stephen Vladeck of Georgetown University Law Center, Daniel Walters of Texas A&M University School of Law, and Keith Whittington of Yale Law School. In addition to discussing recent decisions, panelists will explore the role of the media, the president, and other political actors in shaping public perceptions of the Court. Moderators include Katherine Mims Crocker of Texas A&M University School of Law, Neil Siegel of Duke Law School, and Jeffrey Rosen of the National Constitution Center. Learn more
| | This program is presented in partnership with the Center on the Structural Constitution at Texas A&M University School of Law. | | Learn About the Constitution | |
Live From the Museum: Heroes of Reconstruction
Tuesday, June 17 | Noon ET
Explore the Center’s compelling exhibit, 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.” Register now
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Democracy in France and America With Justice Stephen Breyer and Minister Christiane Taubira
Run time: 1 hour
The Honorable Stephen G. Breyer joins Christiane Taubira, former French justice minister, for a conversation on democracy, the rule of law, and constitutional traditions from French and American perspectives. Watch now
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Constitutional Meaning in the Shadow of the Articles of Confederation
Run time: 4 hours, 12 minutes
The Brennan Center for Justice and the National Constitution Center present a symposium exploring how the Articles of Confederation shaped the U.S. Constitution, examining the legacy of the Articles of Confederation, the founding debates over federal power, and the lasting influence of these debates on constitutional interpretation today. Watch now
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The History of Jews in the American South
Run time: 55 minutes
In celebration of Jewish American Heritage Month, Richard Kreitner and Shari Rabin join Jeffrey Rosen for a wide-ranging discussion on the Southern Jewish experience from the Revolutionary era to the Civil War. Listen now
Executive Power in the Trump Era
Run time: 45 minutes
Constitutional scholars Ilya Shapiro, Stephen Vladeck, and Adam White join Jeffrey Rosen to debate whether the Trump administration has overreached on executive power, analyze the relationship between the federal courts and the president, and put the present moment in historical context. Listen now
The Legacy of Justice Souter
Run time: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter’s former clerks Kevin Newsom and Jeannie Suk Gersen join Jeffrey Rosen for a conversation on Justice Souter’s life, legacy, and constitutional impact. Retired Justice Stephen Breyer also shares memories of his former colleague. Listen now
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Moving Trump’s birthright citizenship order from off-the-wall to on-the-wall at the Supreme Court, or not
by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 5 minutes
“How does an “off-the-wall” interpretation of the Constitution, such as President Trump’s narrow view of birthright citizenship, become “on the wall,” taken seriously or adopted by the U.S. Supreme Court? …” Read more
Will the justices get to the meat of the birthright citizenship controversy?
by Marcia Coyle | Read time: 5 minutes
“Although the special U.S. Supreme Court argument on Thursday involves the technical issue of the scope of an injunction blocking President Donald Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order, don’t be surprised if we learn something more about how the Justices view the merits of that controversial executive order. …” Read more
Did the founders consider adding Canada to the United States?
by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 6 minutes
“The topic of President Donald Trump’s desire for Canada to become part of the United States is very much in the news, but about 249 years ago a similar discussion was under way. …” Read more
| | Our 2024 Annual Report is now available. Look back with us on highlights from a memorable milestone year, and preview what’s ahead for the Center as we prepare for America’s 250th birthday. Read the report | | |
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