National Constitution Center

This article is about the museum in Philadelphia. For the Washington, D.C. office building, see, see Constitution Center (Washington, D.C.).

National Constitution Center
Exterior of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia in 2024
Philadelphia
Location of the National Constitution Center in Pennsylvania
EstablishedSeptember 17, 2000
LocationIndependence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Coordinates39°57′13″N 75°08′57″W / 39.9536°N 75.1491°W / 39.9536; -75.1491
TypeHistory museum
Visitors817,000 (2011)
DirectorVince Stango (interim)
Public transit access
Websiteconstitutioncenter.org

The National Constitution Center is an American 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,[1] the 213th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The center opened on July 4, 2003,[2][3] joining other historic sites and attractions in what has been called "America's most historic square mile",[4] 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

The center was created by the Constitution Heritage Act.[5] Approved on September 16, 1988, and signed by President Ronald Reagan,[6] 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."[7] 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.

The architectural firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners designed the center,[8][9] 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."[10]

Ralph Appelbaum Associates designed the center's visitor experience and exhibition hall.[9] The public space is 160,000 square feet (15,000 m2), including galleries. The center has 75,785 square feet (7,040.7 m2) of exhibit space. The center is made of American products, including 85,000 square feet (7,900 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.[11]

Leadership

Jeffrey Rosen served as president and chief executive officer of the center from 2013 until stepping down in January 2026.[12][13][14] Vice president Vince Stango serves as interim president and CEO and Rosen will serve as CEO Emeritus.[13][15]

The honorary board chairs of the center include:[16]

Chairman Period
John C. Bogle 1999–2007[17]
George H. W. Bush 2007–2009[18]
Bill Clinton 2009–2012[19]
Jeb Bush 2013–2017[20]
Joe Biden 2017–2019[21]
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.[22][23]

Public engagement

The center has hosted several debates, including a 2008 Democratic presidential primary debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama,[24] a town hall meeting with Senator John McCain,[25] and a 2006 Pennsylvania Senatorial debate between Republican incumbent Rick Santorum and Democratic challenger Bob Casey.[26]

The center hosted the second 2024 Presidential debate on September 10, 2024.[27] 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.[28] 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."[29]

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".[30] 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."[31] 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."[32]

See also

References

  1. ^ "2000 Public Papers 1859 - Remarks at the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia". govinfo.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  2. ^ "TRAVEL ADVISORY; Constitution Center To Open in Philadelphia – New York Times". The New York Times. June 22, 2003. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  3. ^ "Ken Griffin to loan Constitution, Bill of Rights copies to Philly's National Constitution Center". WHYY. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  4. ^ "Independence Visitor Center". Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  5. ^ "The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia". Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  6. ^ "Summary of INHP and Independence Mall Evolution". Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  7. ^ "H.R. 1939 (100th): Constitution Heritage Act of 1988". GovTrack. www.govtrack.us. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
  8. ^ "Pei Cobb Freed & Partners". Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "The House That Joe Built". The Pennsylvania Gazette. November 2, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  10. ^ Rybczynski, Witold (July 8, 2003). "ARCHITECTURE REVIEW; More Perfect Union Of Function And Form – New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  11. ^ McGlone, Peggy (March 18, 2021). "Newseum donates its distinctive First Amendment facade to Philadelphia history center". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  12. ^ "President and CEO – National Constitution Center". Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Jeffrey Rosen steps down from Philadelphia's National Constitution Center". WHYY. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  14. ^ Prosser, Maggie (January 18, 2026). "The National Constitution Center's head departed after a leadership dispute, The New York Times reported". Inquirer.com. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  15. ^ Savage, Charlie (January 16, 2026). "Leadership Dispute Said to Spur Abrupt Exit at the National Constitution Center". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2026.
  16. ^ "Board of Trustees – National Constitution Center". Archived from the original on October 24, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  17. ^ Carey, Art; Arvedlund, Erin (January 16, 2019). "John Bogle, who founded Vanguard and revolutionized retirement savings, dies at 89". Inquirer.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  18. ^ DAVIES, DAVE (January 12, 2007). "George H.W. Bush named to chair Constitution Center board". Inquirer.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  19. ^ Maykuth, Andrew (September 10, 2008). "Bill Clinton becomes new head of Constitution Center". Inquirer.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  20. ^ Rosenberg, Amy S. (December 6, 2012). "Jeb Bush to chair Constitution Center". Inquirer.com. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  21. ^ "Biden to chair National Constitution Center in Philadelphia". POLITICO. February 15, 2017. Retrieved March 18, 2026.
  22. ^ "Annenberg Foundation Awards $6.4 Million to National Constitution Center PND Foundation Center". Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  23. ^ "Education | Constitution Center". National Constitution Center – constitutioncenter.org. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  24. ^ "Transcript: Obama and Clinton Debate – ABC News". ABC News. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  25. ^ "McCain's town-hall meeting at Constitution Center 6abc.com". Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  26. ^ O'Toole, James. "Santorum on the attack in final debate with Casey". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  27. ^ "Presidential debate to be held at National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, ABC News announces". ABC News. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  28. ^ "President Joe Biden drops out of 2024 presidential race". NBC News. July 22, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  29. ^ "THE LIBERTY MEDAL". Archived from the original on April 29, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  30. ^ "George F. Will – Sense From the Hall of Framers". The Washington Post. August 14, 2005. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  31. ^ "Constitutional Lessons, Old and New, on Display". The New York Times. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  32. ^ "Philadelphia does history right So far, so good for the National Constitution Center. - Philly.com". Retrieved March 28, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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