Dear Friends,
As we approach Independence Day weekend, I wanted to share our just posted July 4th podcast about the meaning and influence of the Declaration of Independence on the U.S. Constitution and constitutions around the world. After exploring the Declaration’s history and meaning, Akhil Amar and Steve Calabresi, two great scholars and friends, conclude by encouraging all Americans to read and discuss the Declaration on the Fourth with their friends and families. I was choked up by the end; I hope you’ll find it meaningful as well.
As the pandemic lifts and America opens up again, it was wonderful to see our building come alive yesterday with nearly 8,000 visitors for our signature free admission day in partnership with Wawa. As the museum of “We the People,” the NCC’s free admission days are an important part of our commitment to making the Center accessible to all Americans.
And it’s great that the Center can once again host special events, like this inspiring wedding in May. As reported in the New York Times Vows section, the bride and groom, Cheri Spigner and Tracey Syphax, “chose the National Constitution Center, a Philadelphia museum focused on the history of the Constitution of the United States, as their spot. It was a meaningful choice for both of them: They were drawn to the idea of celebrating Black love in a building devoted to a foundational American document, in a city that houses both the Liberty Bell and sites that were once stops on the Underground Railroad.” As Ms. Spigner put it, “Being at the National Constitution Center, in the center of the start of this country, was really symbolic of American history and African-American history, and the integration of that.”
Finally, our just-released FY2020 Annual Report is available here. As the pages of the report detail, with the onset of the pandemic, we quickly pivoted our programming to reach record numbers of learners online, across America, and around the globe. The Center served as America’s leading nonpartisan resource on the Constitution for diverse audiences of all ages and as a result improved civic literacy and elevated civil discourse during a year of extraordinary interest and debate about the Constitution.
Have a wonderful Independence Day weekend reading and debating the meaning of the Declaration and the Constitution with your friends and families—there’s so much to learn and discuss!
Jeff
Jeffrey Rosen
President and CEO
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The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate fulfilling our mission to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
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For more information on how you can support the National Constitution Center, contact us at 215-409-6767 or [email protected].
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