National Constitution Center
{{About|the museum in Philadelphia|the Washington, D.C. office building, see|Constitution Center (Washington, D.C.)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox museum
| name = National Constitution Center
| image = National Constitution Center - 2 (53586570586).jpg
| imagesize = 275
| caption = Exterior of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia
| map_type = Pennsylvania
| map_caption = Location of the National Constitution Center in Pennsylvania
| coordinates = {{coord|39.9536|-75.1491|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-|display=ti}}
| map dot label = Philadelphia
| established = September 17, 2000
| dissolved =
| location = Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
| type = History museum
| visitors = 817,000 (2011)
| director = Jeffrey Rosen
| curator =
| publictransit = {{Unbulleted list
| {{ric|SEPTA Metro}} {{ric|SEPTA Metro|L}} {{stn|5th Street/Independence Hall}}
| {{rint|Philadelphia|PATCO}} {{stn|Franklin Square}}
| {{bus icon}} SEPTA: {{SEPTA bus link|38|44|48}}
| {{bus icon}} Philly PHLASH
}}
| website = {{URL|https://constitutioncenter.org/}}
}}
The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution that is devoted to the study of the Constitution of the United States. Located at the Independence Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the center is an interactive museum which serves as a national town hall, hosting government leaders, journalists, scholars, and celebrities who engage in public discussions, including Constitution-related events and presidential debates.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 17, 2000, the 213th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The center opened on July 4, 2003,{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/22/travel/travel-advisory-constitution-center-to-open-in-philadelphia.html | title=TRAVEL ADVISORY; Constitution Center To Open in Philadelphia – New York Times | access-date = 28 March 2013 | work=The New York Times | date=22 June 2003}} joining other historic sites and attractions in what has been called "America's most historic square mile",{{cite web|title=Independence Visitor Center|url=http://phlvisitorcenter.com/attraction/independence-visitor-center|access-date=9 August 2013}} because of its proximity to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The center offers civic learning resources onsite and online. It does not house the original Constitution, which is stored at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C.
Background
File:National_Constitution_Center-exterior.jpg" inscription at the National Constitution Center]]
The center was created by the Constitution Heritage Act.{{cite web | url=http://www.theconstitutional.com/about/abou-enable.html | title = The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia | access-date = 28 March 2013}} Approved on September 16, 1988, and signed by President Ronald Reagan,{{cite web | url=http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/uphp/indnoll2/linked%20pages/INHP%20HISTORY.htm | title=Summary of INHP and Independence Mall Evolution | access-date=28 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121128184221/http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/uphp/indnoll2/linked%20pages/INHP%20HISTORY.htm | archive-date=2012-11-28 | url-status=dead }}{{cbignore}} the act defined the National Constitution Center as "within or in close proximity to the Independence National Historical Park. The Center shall disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a non-partisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people."{{cite web |title=H.R. 1939 (100th): Constitution Heritage Act of 1988 |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/100/hr1939/text/enr |website=GovTrack |publisher=www.govtrack.us |access-date=26 July 2019}} The center is at 525 Arch Street, an address chosen because May 25 (5/25) was the date that the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia.{{citation needed|date=July 2019}}
The architectural firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners designed the center,{{cite web | url=http://www.pcf-p.com/a/p/9810/r0.html | title = Pei Cobb Freed & Partners | access-date = 28 March 2013}} and Leslie E. Robertson Associates were the structural engineers for the project. Witold Rybczynski of The New York Times wrote, "Quiet but assertive, respectful of its surroundings, considerate of its public, this building is destined to take its place among the nation's leading public monuments."{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/08/arts/architecture-review-more-perfect-union-of-function-and-form.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm | title = ARCHITECTURE REVIEW; More Perfect Union Of Function And Form – New York Times | access-date = 28 March 2013 | work=The New York Times | first=Witold | last=Rybczynski | author-link=Witold Rybczynski | date=8 July 2003}}
Ralph Appelbaum Associates designed the center's visitor experience and exhibition hall. The public space is {{convert|160000|sqft|m2}}, including galleries. The center has {{convert|75785|sqft|m2}} of exhibit space. The center is made of American products, including {{convert|85000|sqft|m2}} of Indiana limestone, 2.6 million pounds of steel, and a half-million cubic feet of concrete. Construction of the center was overseen by project manager Hill International.
Prior to its closure in December 2019, the Newseum, a journalism-themed museum in Washington D.C., had featured a four-story-tall stone panel inscribed with the text of the First Amendment as part of its exterior design. The Freedom Forum, a nonprofit organization that created the museum, announced in March 2021 that the panel would be dismantled and donated to the National Constitution Center for display in its second-floor atrium.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/newseum-first-amendment-tablet-relocate/2021/03/17/9cdef064-874c-11eb-8a8b-5cf82c3dffe4_story.html | title = Newseum donates its distinctive First Amendment facade to Philadelphia history center | access-date = 1 January 2022 | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Peggy | last=McGlone | date=18 March 2021}}
Leadership
The National Constitution Center board of trustees appointed law professor, legal commentator, and former visiting scholar Jeffrey Rosen to serve as president and chief executive officer of the center;{{cite web | url=http://constitutioncenter.org/about/board-of-trustees/jeffrey-rosen | title=President and CEO – National Constitution Center | access-date = January 26, 2025}} Rosen began his tenure in June 2013.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} The honorary board chairs of the center include:{{cite web | url=http://constitutioncenter.org/about/board-of-trustees | title=Board of Trustees – National Constitution Center | access-date = January 26, 2025}}
| class="wikitable"
! Chairman !! Period | |
| John C. Bogle | 1999{{endash}}2007{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} |
| George H. W. Bush | 2007{{endash}}2009{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} |
| Bill Clinton | 2009{{endash}}2012{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} |
| Jeb Bush | 2013{{endash}}2017{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} |
| Joe Biden | 2017{{endash}}2019{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} |
| Neil Gorsuch | co-chair |
| Stephen G. Breyer | co-chair |
Civic education
Through its Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach, the center offers onsite and online civic-education programs and a study center which develops and distributes teaching tools, lesson plans and resources.{{cite web | url=http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/news/story.jhtml?id=133200008 | title = Annenberg Foundation Awards $6.4 Million to National Constitution Center PND Foundation Center | access-date = 28 March 2013}}{{Cite web |title=Education {{!}} Constitution Center |url=https://constitutioncenter.org/education |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org |language=en}}
Public engagement
The center has hosted several debates, including a 2008 Democratic presidential primary debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama,{{cite web | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/DemocraticDebate/story?id=4670271&page=1#.T-InzphTYTA | title = Transcript: Obama and Clinton Debate – ABC News | website = ABC News | access-date=28 March 2013}} a town hall meeting with Senator John McCain,{{cite web | url=https://6abc.com/archive/6199863/ | title=McCain's town-hall meeting at Constitution Center 6abc.com | access-date=28 March 2013}} and a 2006 Pennsylvania Senatorial debate between Republican incumbent Rick Santorum and Democratic challenger Bob Casey.{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/politics-federal/santorum-on-the-attack-in-final-debate-with-casey-455094/?print=1 |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126104502/https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-federal/2006/10/17/Santorum-on-the-attack-in-final-debate-with-Casey/stories/200610170237 |archive-date=2022-01-26 |title=Santorum on the attack in final debate with Casey |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |last=O'Toole |first=James |author-link=James O'Toole (reporter) |access-date=6 May 2023}}{{cbignore}}
The center hosted the second 2024 Presidential debate on September 10, 2024.{{Cite web |title=Presidential debate to be held at National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, ABC News announces |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/presidential-debate-held-national-constitution-center-philadelphia-abc/story?id=112900463 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=ABC News |language=en}} It was the first debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, after President Joe Biden exited the race in the weeks following the first debate of the cycle.{{Cite web |date=2024-07-22 |title=President Joe Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/president-joe-biden-drops-2024-presidential-race-rcna159867 |access-date=2024-08-17 |website=NBC News |language=en}} Ironically, no mention was made of the US Constitution by either candidate during the entire 90 minute debate.
Liberty Medal
In 2006, the center became home to the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, an annual award established in 1988 to recognize "men and women of courage and conviction who strive to secure the blessings of liberty to people around the globe."{{cite web | url=http://constitutioncenter.org/libertymedal/about.html | title = THE LIBERTY MEDAL | access-date = 28 March 2013}}
Reception
George Will wrote for The Washington Post, "At the other end of the mall sparkles a modernist jewel of America's civic life, the National Constitution Center".{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/12/AR2005081201409.html | title = George F. Will – Sense From the Hall of Framers | access-date = 28 March 2013 | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=14 August 2005}} Jason DeParle wrote for The New York Times Learning Network, "Since opening in 2003, [the National Constitution Center] has put forward a vision of constitutional history both left and right have embraced."{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20050912monday.html | title = Constitutional Lessons, Old and New, on Display | access-date = 28 March 2013 | work=The New York Times}} According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, "The National Constitution Center has established itself as one of the city's cultural celebs, attracting a million visitors a year, putting pizzazz into civic and educational offerings, hosting blockbuster exhibitions, and attracting the nation's intellectual cognoscenti and media elite like bears to honey."{{cite web | url=http://articles.philly.com/2006-06-13/news/25402331_1_national-constitution-center-joseph-torsellaconstitutional-issues | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130620202837/http://articles.philly.com/2006-06-13/news/25402331_1_national-constitution-center-joseph-torsellaconstitutional-issues | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 20, 2013 | title = Philadelphia does history right So far, so good for the National Constitution Center. - Philly.com | access-date = 28 March 2013}}
Gallery
File:2012-07 ncc 01.JPG|alt=Large lobby, with state flags and bunting|State flags in the lobby
File:2012-07 ncc 06.JPG|alt=Models of the U.S. Capitol and another building|Exhibits
File:Statues of Constitution signers at the National Constitution Center.jpg|alt=See caption|Life-sized statues of the signers of the Constitution in Signers' Hall
See also
{{Portal|Philadelphia}}
- Philadelphia Liberty Medal – An annual award administered by the Center
- Constitution Day (United States)
- Independence National Historical Park
- Founding Fathers of the United States
- Landmark Cases: Historic Supreme Court Decisions, 2015 TV series
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{official website|https://constitutioncenter.org/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070525222134/http://www.constitutioncenter.org/jennings/ Peter Jennings Project for Journalists and the Constitution]
- [http://speakingofhistory.blogspot.com/2007/07/podcast-109-interview-with-eli-lesser.html Podcast interview with Eli Lesser – Director of Education for the National Constitution Center from the Speaking of History podcast, July 2007]
- [http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/ Constitution Daily blog of the National Constitution Center]
{{Museums in Pennsylvania}}
{{Philadelphia}}
{{US Constitution|state=expanded}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2004 establishments in Pennsylvania
Category:Buildings and structures in Independence National Historical Park
Category:Constitution of the United States
Category:History museums in Pennsylvania
Category:Independence National Historical Park
Category:Museums established in 2004
Category:Museums in Philadelphia