Email from National Constitution Center Explore our new permanent gallery and discover the dramatic story of how a new nation was born.   America’s Founding Artifact Spotlight First official printing of the U.S. Constitution, 1787 After the delegates signed the Constitution, Philadelphia printers John Dunlap and David Claypoole produced roughly 500 copies at their nearby shop on Second and Market Streets. Delegates, members of Congress, state governors, and even foreign ministers received the printings. See one of the 14 copies known to still exist in America’s Founding, opening Friday, February 13 for a special Presidents Day opening weekend. Loan made possible by Kenneth C. Griffin and Griffin Catalyst   Debate at America’s Town Hall   NEW DATE: Thomas Paine and the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense Monday, February 9 | Noon ET Gary Berton, the president of The Thomas Paine Historical Association, joins award-winning historian Jack Kelly, author of Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder of Our Time, to discuss the revolutionary life, ideas, and legacy of Thomas Paine in celebration of the 250th anniversary of his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Learn more Please note, if you were registered for the previous date you have already been re-registered for February 9. If you cannot attend the program live, you will receive the recording in your inbox after the event. REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE This program is generously sponsored by Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers. The Declaration at 250: Examining the Historical and Contemporary Relevance of the Grievance Section Friday, February 27 | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 3501 Sansom St. Philadelphia, PA 19104 The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School Journal of Constitutional Law in partnership with the National Constitution Center present a symposium that will explore the historical and contemporary relevance of the grievance section of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar of the National Constitution Center, moderates a panel on the legislative power of the purse. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates a conversation with Jack Rakove, professor of history, Stanford University. The symposium also features scholars from the Center’s Interactive Declaration of Independence, including Rosemarie Zagarri, George Mason University, and Akhil Reed Amar, Yale Law School. The symposium will take place in person at the University of Pennsylvania Law School and virtually via Zoom. Learn more REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON OR ONLINE   Visit the Center   BUY TICKETS PLAN YOUR VISIT Black History Month This February, honor Black History Month by exploring the central role Black Americans have played in shaping constitutional history—from the Revolution to Reconstruction and beyond. Commemorate by diving into the lives of Revolutionary-era Black American figures, the continued fight for freedom and equality during the Civil War and Reconstruction, and the inspirational work of Black suffragists, politicians, and students. Learn more Presidents Day Weekend Friday, February 13–Monday, February 16 Celebrate Presidents Day Weekend at the National Constitution Center by exploring Article II of the Constitution, the role of the executive branch, and the individuals who have held the office of the president throughout American history. Also, be the first to explore the Center’s newest gallery, America’s Founding, and experience the story of how an ambitious experiment in self-government was launched. Admission is free on Presidents Day—Monday, February 16—thanks to the generous support of Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers. Learn more Black History Month Family Fun Night Saturday, February 21 | 5–8 p.m. ET Free admission Bring the whole family to celebrate Black History Month at the Center with crafts, activities, and workshops throughout the evening highlighting Black history, local Black artists, and Black-owned businesses. Experience a night at the museum while exploring the Center’s galleries, including the new America’s Founding exhibit, and a guided flashlight tour of Signers’ Hall. This fun and interactive night will be educational and entertaining for the whole family. Learn more   Learn About the Constitution   The State of the Union Address The latest edition of Constitution in the Headlines helps educators connect a high-profile civic moment to enduring constitutional principles, including separation of powers, political norms, and Article II authority. This timely resource centers on a big constitutional question: Can Congress delay the president’s State of the Union address? Using a recent debate over the timing of the address, students explore what the Constitution requires, what it leaves undefined, and how tradition, procedure, and power shape one of the most visible events in American government. Learn more   In Case You Missed It   IN THE NEWS Once Again, Philadelphia Can Show America the Way by Vince Stango, Interim President & CEO at the National Constitution Center Read time: 4 minutes “America has reached turning points before, and more than once, Philadelphia has helped show the way forward. We are making our resolutions for 2026, a year when the nation will celebrate its 250th anniversary, and many Americans are questioning whether our civic bonds can hold. But this city has a tradition of meeting division with imagination and responding to uncertainty with bold ideas. The new year gives us a chance to do it again. Philadelphia has always been a place where bold ideas are born and shared. The ideals debated and drafted here in 1776 and 1787 didn’t live on parchment alone. They shaped a civic culture that expected citizens to learn, argue, organize, vote, serve, and imagine a future better than the present. That legacy isn’t nostalgia. It’s a call to action. ...” Read more WATCH The Declaration of Independence and the Push for Racial Equality Run time: 59 minutes In celebration of Black History Month, scholars Lucas Morel and Melvin Rogers join to discuss how African American leaders and citizens, such as Prince Hall, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. have invoked the ideas and principles of the Declaration of Independence throughout American history to push for a more free and equal America. Thomas Donnelly, chief scholar of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Watch now The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution Run time: 58 minutes Legal scholar William Ewald joins Jesse Wegman to discuss Wegman’s new book, The Lost Founder: James Wilson and the Forgotten Fight for a People’s Constitution, which explores the influence and legacy of forgotten founder and Supreme Court Justice James Wilson. Julie Silverbrook, vice president of civic education of the National Constitution Center, moderates. Watch now LISTEN The Story of the U.S. Constitution: Past and Present Run time: 1 hour, 3 minutes Akhil Reed Amar, David Blight, and Annette Gordon-Reed join for a sweeping conversation about the Constitution and the debates that have shaped America—from the founding era to today. They examine transformative moments in American history and landmark Supreme Court decisions. Listen now READ A brief history of the annexation of foreign territories by the United States by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes “President Donald Trump’s recent talk of potentially acquiring Greenland has sparked a new debate about questions that pre-date the Constitution: the ability of the United States to annex territories. ... ” Read more Unpacking the transgender athletes’ case at the Supreme Court by Scott Bomboy | Read time: 5 minutes “One of the biggest cases in the Supreme Court’s current term involves the constitutional rights of transgender school students to compete in sports competitions. After more than three hours of arguments earlier this month, the outcome remains uncertain. …” Read more     Support the Center Your generous support enables the National Constitution Center to thrive as America’s leading platform for nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue. SUPPORT Connect With Us Update your email preferences using the Update Profile link below to subscribe to other National Constitution Center newsletters and manage how often you hear from us.   National Constitution Center | Independence Mall, 525 Arch St | Philadelphia, PA 19106 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Our Privacy Policy | Constant Contact Data Notice