Jonah Patel
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It outlines the frame of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Constitution is also responsible for the creation of the office of the President of the United States, outlining the powers, qualifications, and duties of the position. The National Constitution Center serves as America's leading platform for constitutional education and debate, providing an opportunity to experience the Constitution through rare artifacts, historic documents, and interactive galleries. The Center is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the Constitution and its impact on the nation's history and present-day life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | National Archives Building, Washington, DC |
| Address | 700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington DC |
| Nearby landmarks | Federal Trade Commission, US Department of Justice, National Mall |
| Display | Displayed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom |
| Accessibility | Open to the public with ticket purchase |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution is located at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C
- The National Constitution Center is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Constitution is displayed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom
- The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution
- The Center is located at 525 Arch Street
The US Constitution is located at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C
The US Constitution is located in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. The Rotunda is the permanent home of the original Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. The Charters of Freedom, as they are collectively known, have secured the rights of the American people for over two and a quarter centuries. They establish the principles of the United States and have inspired the American people to pursue a more perfect union.
The Constitution of the United States is the oldest and longest-standing written and codified national constitution in force in the world. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, on March 4, 1789. The drafting of the Constitution was completed at the Constitutional Convention, which assembled at Independence Hall in Philadelphia between May 25 and September 17, 1787. Delegates to the convention were chosen by the state legislatures of 12 of the 13 original states; Rhode Island refused to send delegates.
The Constitution was originally written on five pages of parchment by Jacob Shallus. It has been amended 27 times since it became operational in 1789. The first ten amendments, known collectively as the Bill of Rights, offer specific protections of individual liberty and justice and place restrictions on the powers of the government within the U.S. states. The majority of the 17 later amendments expand individual civil rights protections, address issues related to federal authority, or modify government processes and procedures.
The Constitution establishes the federal government, which is divided into three branches: the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Congress (Article I); the executive, consisting of the President and subordinate officers (Article II); and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts (Article III).
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The National Constitution Center is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The National Constitution Center is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of the United States Constitution. The Constitution, which came into effect on March 4, 1789, is the supreme law of the land, superseding the Articles of Confederation. It outlines the framework of the federal government, including the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legislative branch consists of the bicameral Congress, while the executive branch is led by the President, and the judicial branch comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Constitution has undergone preservation efforts to ensure its longevity. In 1952, it was hermetically sealed between glass plates and filled with inert helium gas to protect it from corrosion. However, white spots began to appear, and with the help of NASA, it was discovered that this was due to humidity interacting with the glass. The document was then carefully unsealed, treated, and transferred to modern encasements in 2003, where humidity is controlled, and argon gas is used.
The original copy of the Constitution is now kept at the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom. It is displayed alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, attracting millions of visitors annually. The National Archives Museum offers public access to these pivotal documents, providing a unique opportunity to witness the foundation of American governance.
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The Constitution is displayed in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom
The United States Constitution is one of the most important documents in the world. It defines the framework of the federal government of the United States. The original copy of the Constitution is kept in the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, alongside the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. These three documents are collectively known as the Charters of Freedom. They are on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, also known as the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom.
The Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom is located on the upper level of the National Archives Museum. It was designed by architect John Russell Pope as a shrine to American democracy. The room features a soaring domed ceiling and two murals by Barry Faulkner, depicting fictional scenes of the "presentations" of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The Charters of Freedom are flanked by additional records from the National Archives, exploring the making of the charters and their influences and impact throughout history.
The National Archives preserves and displays the texts in massive, bronze-framed, bulletproof, moisture-controlled sealed display cases in a rotunda-style room by day. By night, they are stored in multi-ton bomb-proof vaults. Visitors to the Rotunda will notice the cool temperature and low lighting, which are designed to reduce the effects of heat and light on the precious records.
The preservation of the Charters of Freedom is of utmost importance. In 2002, the documents were removed from their original encasements and placed in newly constructed, hermetically sealed encasements in an argon atmosphere with a relative humidity of only 25 to 35%. In 2003, the Constitution was moved to more modern encasements, fixing many of the issues of the 1952 cases. A gap was created between the surface of the document and the top layer of glass, and the humidity was properly controlled.
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The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution
The National Constitution Center is an interactive museum that 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 center offers civic learning resources onsite and online, including live virtual classes and interactive online events, educational videos, and primary source documents. It does not house the original Constitution, which is stored at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C. However, the center features rare artifacts, historic documents, and interactive galleries related to the Constitution.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the National Constitution Center was held on September 17, 2000, the 213th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. The center opened on July 4, 2003, joining other historic sites and attractions in what has been called "America's most historic square mile", due to its proximity to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The center has established itself as a cultural destination in Philadelphia, attracting a million visitors a year with its civic and educational offerings, blockbuster exhibitions, and interactive programs.
The center has hosted notable events such as the 2024 Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris and has been home to the Philadelphia Liberty Medal since 2006. The National Constitution Center is led by law professor, legal commentator, and former visiting scholar Jeffrey Rosen, who serves as its president and chief executive officer.
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The Center is located at 525 Arch Street
The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The address was specifically chosen because May 25 (5/25) was the date that the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia in 1787. The center is situated within Independence National Historical Park, just steps away from Independence Hall, where the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence were signed.
The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution dedicated to the study of the Constitution of the United States. It serves as a national town hall, bringing together people of all ages and perspectives to learn about, debate, and celebrate the Constitution. The center hosts government leaders, journalists, scholars, and celebrities for public discussions, Constitution-related events, and presidential debates. It also offers civic learning resources, both onsite and online, including interactive programs and exhibits that bring the Constitution to life for visitors.
The center is more than just a museum; it is a cultural destination that has attracted a million visitors a year. The building itself has been praised for its design, constructed from American products, including Indiana limestone, steel, and concrete. The center features Signers' Hall, where visitors can sign the Constitution alongside 42 life-size, bronze statues of the Founding Fathers. The statues were created by artists at Studio EIS in Brooklyn.
The National Constitution Center was established by the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988 and approved by President Ronald Reagan. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on September 17, 2000, and the center opened its doors on July 4, 2003. The architectural firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners designed the center, with structural engineering by Leslie E. Robertson Associates. The original design of the visitor experience was produced by Ralph Appelbaum Associates.
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Frequently asked questions
The U.S. Constitution is not housed in an office but in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
The U.S. Constitution is kept in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC.
The National Archives are America's founding documents that establish the principles of the United States.
The founding documents are known collectively as the Charters of Freedom.
The Charters of Freedom are the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
