
The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution located at 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in what has been called America's most historic square mile. The center is an interactive museum that serves as a national town hall, hosting government leaders, journalists, scholars, and celebrities for public discussions, debates, and events relating to the U.S. Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Independence Mall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Address | 525 Arch Street |
| Date opened | 4 July 2003 |
| Size | 160,000 square feet |
| Construction | 85,000 square feet of Indiana limestone, 2.6 million pounds of steel, and a half-million cubic feet of concrete |
| Exhibits | Rare original copy of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, one of only a dozen surviving copies of the original Bill of Rights, 42 life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers, Freedom Rising |
| Visitors | 1 million per year |
| Cost | $19 for adults and $15 for kids |
Explore related products
$22.49 $35
What You'll Learn
- The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia
- It is near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
- It is an interactive museum with exhibits, galleries, and performances
- The museum houses rare documents, including the Bill of Rights
- The center is a non-profit institution devoted to the US Constitution

The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia
The National Constitution Center is located just steps from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell in Historic Philadelphia. It is part of what has been called "America's most historic square mile." The center offers civic learning resources onsite and online and features hundreds of interactive exhibits, engaging theatrical performances, and original documents of freedom. Visitors can explore the Constitution through rare artifacts, historic documents, interactive galleries, and live programming. The center also includes a Starbucks, a bookstore, and a gift shop.
The National Constitution Center has become a cultural landmark in Philadelphia, attracting a million visitors a year. It has been described as a "modernist jewel of America's civic life." The center covers the history of the United States Constitution, focusing on major amendments, civil rights, and women's voting rights. It is home to the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, an annual award recognizing individuals who strive to secure liberty and freedom around the globe.
The center is a large structure, encompassing 160,000 square feet and constructed exclusively with American materials. It features 85,000 square feet of Indiana limestone, 2.6 million pounds of steel, and half a million cubic feet of concrete. The architectural firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners designed the building, with structural engineering by Leslie E. Robertson Associates. The center opened on July 4, 2003, and has since become a prominent educational and cultural destination in Philadelphia.
Constitution of 1917: Land Reform and Agrarian Rights
You may want to see also

It is near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
The National Constitution Center is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 525 Arch Street in Independence Mall. The address was chosen because May 25 (5/25) was the date that the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia. The center is near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, in what has been called "America's most historic square mile".
The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution devoted to the study of the Constitution of the United States. It is an interactive museum that serves as a national town hall, hosting government leaders, journalists, scholars, and celebrities for public discussions, Constitution-related events, and presidential debates. 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.
The center was created by the Constitution Heritage Act, which was approved on September 16, 1988, and signed by President Ronald Reagan. The act defined the National Constitution Center as "within or in close proximity to the Independence National Historical Park". The center is committed to disseminating information about the United States Constitution in a non-partisan manner to increase awareness and understanding among the American people.
The National Constitution Center brings the Constitution to life through interactive exhibits and constitutional conversations. It inspires active citizenship by celebrating the American constitutional tradition. The museum features hundreds of interactive exhibits, engaging theatrical performances, and original documents of freedom. Visitors can view exhibits and artifacts, take in the 360-degree live theatrical production Freedom Rising, and walk among 42 life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers in Signers' Hall. The museum also includes a rare original copy of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and one of only a dozen surviving copies of the original Bill of Rights.
The Constitution: How to Get a Copy
You may want to see also

It is an interactive museum with exhibits, galleries, and performances
The National Constitution Center is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at 525 Arch Street in Independence Mall. The address was chosen because May 25 (5/25) was the date that the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia. The center is just steps away from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. It is part of what has been called "America's most historic square mile".
The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution devoted to the study of the Constitution of the United States. It is an interactive museum with exhibits, galleries, and performances. Visitors can explore the history of the United States Constitution, with a focus on major amendments, including the Bill of Rights, civil rights, and women's voting rights. The museum offers a range of interactive exhibits, including high-tech displays, artifacts, and multimedia productions. One such production is Freedom Rising, a 360-degree live theatrical performance combining film, a live actor, and video projection on a 360-degree screen. The museum also features the American National Tree, an interactive exhibit with touch screens that provide information on influential American citizens.
The museum is home to rare and significant documents, including an original copy of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and one of only a dozen surviving copies of the original Bill of Rights. It also houses the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, an annual award recognising individuals who strive to secure liberty and freedom around the globe. The center hosts constitutional debates, seminars, and discussions, serving as a national town hall for government leaders, journalists, scholars, and celebrities.
The National Constitution Center is committed to accessibility and safety for all visitors. It offers a range of civic learning resources, including videos, podcasts, blog posts, and historical documents, both onsite and online. The center has attracted a diverse audience, from scholars and media elites to families with children, all of whom can engage with the constitution and America's founding principles through the center's interactive and educational offerings.
Examining Congress' Effectiveness in Upholding Constitutional Responsibilities
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$1.5

The museum houses rare documents, including the Bill of Rights
The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is within or in close proximity to the Independence National Historical Park, joining other historic sites and attractions in what has been called "America's most historic square mile". The center is an interactive museum wholly devoted to honouring and exploring the U.S. Constitution.
The museum offers a range of exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays that bring the Constitution to life. Among its rare documents is one of only a dozen surviving copies of the original Bill of Rights. This is one of the most powerful pages in America's history. The museum also houses a rare original copy of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, a four-story-tall stone panel inscribed with the text of the First Amendment, and over 150 other primary source documents that inspired the Founders and defined modern thought about rights and liberties.
The National Constitution Center is the first and only institution in America established by Congress to disseminate information about the United States Constitution on a nonpartisan basis in order to increase the awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people. The center offers civic learning resources onsite and online, serving as a national town hall for constitutional debates and discussions.
The museum features a variety of engaging experiences, including the Kimmel Theatre, a 350-seat, star-shaped theater that presents Freedom Rising, a multimedia production combining film, a live actor, and video projection on a 360-degree screen to tell the story of "We the People". Visitors can also explore the American National Tree, an interactive exhibit with touch screens that provide information on citizens who have profoundly impacted the country.
The National Constitution Center has become a cultural landmark in Philadelphia, attracting a million visitors annually and hosting notable events such as the Philadelphia Liberty Medal and presidential debates.
Eat More: Your Guide to Five-a-Day
You may want to see also

The center is a non-profit institution devoted to the US Constitution
The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution located at 525 Arch Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is devoted to the US Constitution and was created by the Constitution Heritage Act, which was approved on September 16, 1988, and signed by President Ronald Reagan. The act defined the center as "within or in close proximity to the Independence National Historical Park." The center's mission is to disseminate information about the US Constitution in a non-partisan manner to increase awareness and understanding among Americans.
The center is an interactive museum that serves as a national town hall, hosting government leaders, journalists, scholars, and celebrities for public discussions, including Constitution-related events and presidential debates. It offers a range of exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays that explore the history of the US Constitution and its major amendments. Visitors can view rare documents such as an original copy of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation and one of only a dozen surviving copies of the original Bill of Rights. The museum also features the American National Tree, an interactive exhibit with touch screens providing information on influential American citizens.
The National Constitution Center is also home to the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, an annual award established in 1988 to recognize individuals who strive to secure liberty and freedom around the globe. The center has become a cultural landmark in Philadelphia, attracting over a million visitors annually and offering a variety of educational and civic engagement programs. It provides civic learning resources onsite and online, including videos, podcasts, blog posts, and primary texts related to the Constitution and America's founding principles.
The center's design is notable, with an exterior made of American materials, including Indiana limestone, steel, and concrete. The architectural firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners designed the building, which has been praised for its respectful and considerate integration into its historical surroundings. The center's groundbreaking ceremony was held on September 17, 2000, the 213th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, and it opened its doors to the public on July 4, 2003.
The Constitution: Foundation of Our Republic
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street in Independence Mall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The National Constitution Center is a non-profit institution devoted to the study and celebration of the U.S. Constitution. It is the only institution in America established by Congress to increase awareness and understanding of the Constitution among Americans.
The museum features interactive exhibits, rare artefacts, historic documents, and galleries. Visitors can also take in the 360-degree live theatrical production, Freedom Rising, and walk among 42 life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers in Signers' Hall.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the center was held on September 17, 2000, the 213th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. It opened to the public on July 4, 2003.

























