National Constitution Center Quarterly Events Calendar, January - March 2018

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Constitution Center kicks off 2018 by bringing the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits and invites visitors to enjoy discounted admission through March. Winter programs for students and families include a full day of service projects and special performances in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the opening of an original exhibit by the National Constitution Center, Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation.

Through its popular America's Town Hall program series, the Center continues to bring the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to explore the most important constitutional issues facing our country. Winter 2018 program topics include the constitutional legacy of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and the contested history of the Second Amendment.

New this year, the National Constitution Center now offers Continuing Legal Education credit in-person at America's Town Hall programs and on-demand online. Programs are available for CLE credit in various states. Visit constitutioncenter.org/CLE for additional information.

The National Constitution Center is located at 525 Arch Street on Philadelphia's Independence Mall. The Center is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

PLEASE NOTE: On Sunday, February 18, the museum's hours will be extended, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., in celebration of Presidents Day Weekend. 

The National Constitution Center's Winter Warm Up sale will run now through March 31, 2018. Admission prices will be discounted to $10 for adults (usually $14.50) and $7.50 for youth ages 6-18 (usually $11). This promotion is valid online only; tickets must be purchased in advance.

General admission includes access to the National Constitution Center's interactive main exhibit, the signature multimedia, theatrical performance of Freedom Rising presented in the Sidney Kimmel Theater, and the iconic Signers' Hall.

Visitors also have access to the Center's feature exhibits, including American Treasures: Documenting the Nation's Founding, an intimate look at the rarest early drafts of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and Constituting Liberty: From the Declaration to the Bill of Rights, highlighting the three most important documents in American history. Beginning March 23, visitors can also enrich their visit with the National Constitution Center's riveting new exhibit, Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation, which highlights the competing ideas of Alexander Hamilton and his legendary rivals.

January Events
Revisiting the Founding Era 
6 p.m., Wednesday, January 10
Free
Historians Carol Berkin and Denver Brunsman, community leader Farah Jimenez, and Constitutional Sources Project's Executive Director Julie Silverbrook, discuss priceless documents from the Founding era, highlight the enduring importance of America's Founding, and explore how Founding era documents and debates can help guide conversations that resonate today within communities often left out of the Founding narrative, including minorities, women, and others. In partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History as a part of the new National Endowment for the Humanities funded initiative, Revisiting the Founding Era. CLE credit available. 

School Supplies Drive 
Through Monday, January 15
$2 off admission
Through Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 15, 2018, the National Constitution Center invites visitors to donate school supplies such as pens, pencils, crayons, copy paper, and folders for Philadelphia schools. Visitors making a school supply donation will receive $2 off admission through Sunday, January 14. Donations can be dropped off at the Center's box office and will become part of the Center's activities marking Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service 
Monday, January 15
$5 admission courtesy of Macy's
The National Constitution Center on January 15 will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s lifelong dedication to justice, equality, and service for the greater good with community service projects, special performances, and fun for the whole family. In addition, the Center is organizing the donation of books and school supplies for Philadelphia school students. Visitors will be invited to help museum staff and Alex Holley, co-host of FOX 29's "Good Day Philadelphia," sort the supplies in preparation for delivery to the schools and other facilities. Items can be dropped off at the Center's box office through January 15.

For Debate: Can a Baker Refuse to Create a Cake for a Same-Sex Wedding? 
6:30 p.m., Thursday, January 25
Free for 1787 Society Members – $10 Members, teachers & students – $18 Non-Members
The National Constitution Center hosts a debate on one of the most-watched Supreme Court cases this term – Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission – involving free speech, religious liberty, and equal rights. Experts include, Stephanie Barclay of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Paula Greisen, one of the attorneys representing the same-sex couple at center of the case, and Brendan O'Niell, editor of Spiked Online. In partnership with spiked. CLE credit available.

Mayor Michael Nutter: My Life in Public Service 
6:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 31
Free for 1787 Society Members – $10 Members, teachers & students – $18 Non-Members
Two-term Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, author of Mayor: The Best Job in Politics, shares anecdotes and insights from his time in office about the challenges and rewards of a life in public service. Includes book sale.

February Events
African American History Month
Throughout February, the National Constitution Center will host a variety of programs in honor of African American History Month. Visitors can explore the museum's The Story of We the People exhibit to discover key milestones in African-American history and then test their knowledge at the Center's giant game board activity. Visitors will learn about the history of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Civil War, and the background of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments.

Armed in America: A History of Gun Rights from Colonial Militias to Concealed Carry 
12 p.m., Monday, February 5
Free for Members – $5 Teachers & students – $8 Non-Members
Historian Patrick Charles joins legal scholar Brannon Denning for a sweeping historical discussion and debate about how the right to bear arms has been interpreted from America's Founding to today. Includes book sale. CLE credit available.

Justice Antonin Scalia: Life and Legacy 
6-7:45 p.m., Wednesday, February 7
Free for 1787 Society Members – $10 Members, teachers & students – $18 Non-Members
The Center commemorates the constitutional legacy of the late Justice Antonin Scalia two years after his death. Edward Whelan, leading Supreme Court commentator and editor of Scalia Speaks, will present Justice Scalia's opinions in his own words. A conversation with Rick Hasen, author of The Justice of Contradiction, and Kannon Shanmugam, leading Supreme Court advocate and former Scalia law clerk, will follow. Includes book sale. CLE credit available.

A Conversation with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
6 p.m., Monday, February 12
Open to 1787 Society Members only. Tickets are limited and will be available on January 11
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a wide-ranging conversation in celebration of the 25th anniversary of her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. In partnership with the University of Pennsylvania Law School as the Owen J. Roberts Memorial Lecture in Constitutional Law.

Presidents Day Weekend
Regular museum hours, Saturday, February 17 and Monday, February 19
Extended museum hours, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday, February 18
General admission
Visitors can celebrate Presidents Day Weekend, February 17 – February 19, at the National Constitution Center with a variety of special family-friendly programs and activities, including arts and crafts, games, and interactive shows. Visitors will learn about the role of the president and what it takes to be commander in chief.

Dissent: The History of an American Idea 
6:30 p.m., Wednesday, February 21
$30 with Membership
Ralph Young, Temple University history professor, explores the key role dissent has played in shaping the U.S. — from colonial days to the present. Admission includes one drink ticket, light fare, a copy of Young's book Dissent, and a book signing.

March Events
Women's History Month 
Throughout March, the National Constitution Center will host a variety of special programs in honor of Women's History Month. Visitors can explore the museum's The Story of We the People exhibit to discover defining moments in women's history and then test their knowledge at the Center's giant game board activity. Visitors can also participate in a music video workshop that looks at the Women's Suffrage Movement, inspired by Lady Gaga. Artifact highlights include a collection of items from the movement for women's suffrage and the effort to pass an Equal Rights Amendment. 

How the Right and Left Can Unite Around Federalism 
6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 1
Free for 1787 Society Members – $10 Members, teachers & students – $18 Non-Members
Yale Law School dean and constitutional law scholar Heather Gerken explores how federalism can become an extraordinarily powerful bi-partisan tool and a source for compromise when searching for a workable approach to some of today's most contentious policy issues, including policing, health care, and immigration, among others. In partnership with Yale Law School. CLE credit available.

Girl Scout Day 
8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Saturday, March 10
Scouts $14, Adults $12, one free chaperon for every 10 scouts
Girl Scouts can participate in fun and engaging programs designed to meet requirements for their Citizen Legacy Badge, as well as select Journey requirements. The museum's education staff will also take scouts on a journey back in time to learn about our nation's greatest women heroes, from suffragists to Supreme Court justices. Girl Scouts of all ages can participate in women's history programs, including interactive trivia games, exclusive exhibits, and a one-of-a-kind music video workshop. All scouts will receive a National Constitution Center Scout Day Fun Patch.

National History Day: Citywide Competition 
9 a.m. – 1:15 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, and Thursday, March 15
The National Constitution Center will host this year's citywide National History Day competition for Philadelphia. Each year, thousands of middle and high school students and teachers across the United States participate in National History Day, a yearlong educational program that culminates in a national contest every June. Students compete in a local contest, the winners move on to a state competition, and those winners move on to the national competition in Washington, D.C. Along the way, every participant gains first-hand experience conducting historical research and producing a documentary, exhibit, essay, performance, or website.

Renewing the Founders' Promise 
8-9:30 p.m., Thursday, March 15
Free
America's leading historians, including Joseph Ellis and Jon Meacham, will join Issue One co-founder and CEO Nick Penniman, for an important discussion about the Founders' vision for American democracy, our shared national values, and how to restore the Founders' vision in our own time. In partnership with Issue One. CLE credit available.

William Howard Taft and the Constitution 
6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 20
Free for 1787 Society Members – $10 Members, teachers & students – $18 Non-Members
National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen argues that William Howard Taft was our most judicial president and presidential chief justice, and explores Taft's crucial role in shaping how America balances populism with the rule of law. Rosen will be interviewed by Judge Douglas Ginsburg, who calls Taft "the most under-appreciated constitutional figure since George Mason." Includes book sale. CLE credit available.

The Case for Big Government 
12 p.m., Wednesday, March 21
Free for Members – $5 Teachers & students – $8 Non-Members
Jon Michaels, law professor and author of Constitutional Coup: Privatization's Threat to the American Republic, presents a case for the federal administrative state that will engage its defenders and critics alike. Includes book sale. CLE credit available.

Press Preview for Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation 
9 a.m., Thursday, March 22
The National Constitution Center opens Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation, a riveting new exhibit highlighting the competing ideas of Alexander Hamilton and his legendary rivals. Press are invited to a breakfast and sneak preview.

Member's Guided Tour: New Exhibit on Alexander Hamilton
1 p.m. and 3 p.m., Thursday, March 22
Free with Membership
National Constitution Center Members can get a sneak preview of the National Constitution Center's newest exhibit before it opens to the public with a private tour. Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation explores Hamilton's fraught relationships with James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Aaron Burr.

NEW EXHIBIT: Public Opening
Friday, March 23 – Monday, December 31
General admission
The National Constitution Center's riveting new exhibit highlights the competing ideas of Alexander Hamilton and his legendary rivals. Created by the National Constitution Center, Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation, explores Hamilton's fraught relationships with James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Aaron Burr. Examining the personalities and constitutional rivalries that shaped America – including the scope of the national government, the establishment of a standing army, the creation of a federal banking system, and more – the exhibit provides unique insight into Alexander Hamilton's enduring role in the constitutional and political arguments that continue to create sparks to this day.

Boy Scout and Cub Scout Day 
8 a.m. – 3 p.m., Merit Badge Counseling: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 24
Scouts $14, Adults $12, one free chaperon for every 10 scouts
At the National Constitution Center, scouts can enjoy an action-packed day learning about American history and the importance of good citizenship—all while meeting merit badge or adventure requirements. All scouts will receive a National Constitution Center Scout Day Fun Patch.

Spring Break Programming
Monday, March 26 – Friday, April 6, 2017
General admission
This Spring Break, the National Constitution Center celebrates Constitution signer, Father of American Banking, and the inspiration behind the smash-hit Broadway musical, Hamilton: An American Musical. The day will feature special exhibit tours, Decoding the Document workshops, arts and crafts activities, and more, all centered around Hamilton's life and legacy.

Save the Date – April
Living News Spring 2018 
Available between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, Monday, April 9 – Friday, June 15
Free with general admission, group reservations recommended
In Living News, today's headlines are brought to life in a dynamic performance incorporating video, contemporary music, and current news broadcasts. Featuring three actors playing multiple roles, Living News introduces controversial constitutional issues and encourages audience members to explore their own points of view during a post-show discussion.

Please note: All programs are subject to change. Please call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org for the most up-to-date program information.

Feature Exhibits
OPENING MARCH 23, 2018
Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation
The National Constitution Center's riveting new exhibit highlights the competing ideas of Alexander Hamilton and his legendary rivals. Created by the National Constitution Center, Hamilton: The Constitutional Clashes That Shaped a Nation, explores Hamilton's fraught relationships with James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Aaron Burr. Examining the personalities and constitutional rivalries that shaped America – including the scope of the national government, the establishment of a standing army, the creation of a federal banking system, and more – the exhibit provides unique insight into Alexander Hamilton's enduring role in the constitutional and political arguments that continue to create sparks to this day.

American Treasures: Documenting the Nation's Founding illuminates the founding era through the rarest early drafts of the U.S. Constitution, including Pennsylvania delegate James Wilson's own handwritten drafts. The exhibit provides an intimate look at the path the Framers took to create our founding document. Created by the National Constitution Center in partnership with the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, this exhibit explores the momentous constitutional events in this early period of American history. Among the gallery's many priceless treasures is the very first handwritten draft of the U.S. Constitution and a display of rare newspaper printings of the text of the Bill of Rights. The drafts showcase how James Wilson's original proposals became the U.S. Constitution.

Constituting Liberty: From the Declaration to the Bill of Rights 
The Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are the three most important documents in American history. They express the ideals that define "We the People of the United States" and inspire free people around the world. The National Constitution Center is proud to display a first edition Stone Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, a rare copy of the first public printing of the U.S. Constitution,  and a reproduction of one of the 12 surviving copies of the Bill of Rights in the George H.W. Bush Gallery. The original Bill of Rights, which was exhibited at the Center between 2014 and 2017, was preserved as part of The New York Public Library's renowned research collection. It will be return to the National Constitution Center after 2020 and be displayed on a rotating basis to the public in both Pennsylvania and New York for the next 100 years.

Ticket Information
General Admission: Adults $14.50; Youth (6-18) $11; Students w/ID and Seniors $13. Members, active military personnel, and children ages 5 and under are free.
Admission for 15 or more is $7.50 for student and youth groups; $9 for adult and senior groups.

About the National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia inspires citizenship as the only place where people across America and around the world can come together to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America's leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its Congressional charter "to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis." As the Museum of We the People, the Center brings the Constitution to life for visitors of all ages through interactive programs and exhibits. As America's Town Hall, the Center brings the leading conservative and liberal thought leaders together to debate the Constitution on all media platforms. As a center for Civic Education, the Center delivers the best educational programs and online resources that inspire, excite, and engage citizens about the U.S. Constitution. For more information, call 215-409-6700 or visit constitutioncenter.org.

SOURCE National Constitution Center