National Constitution Center Facts for Kids

This page is about the museum in Philadelphia. For the Washington, D.C., office building recently renamed "Constitution Center", see Nassif Building.

Quick facts for kids
National Constitution Center
Exterior of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia
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Established	September 17, 2000
Location	Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Type	History museum
Visitors	817,000 (2011)
Public transit access	5th Street/Independence Hall: Market–Frankford Line SEPTA bus: 38, 44, 48 Philly PHLASH

The National Constitution Center is a special place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is a museum and a meeting spot where people learn about the Constitution of the United States. This important document is the highest law of the U.S.

The center is located near other famous historical sites. These include Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. This area is often called "America's most historic square mile."

Construction of the center began on September 17, 2000. This date was special because it was 213 years after the Constitution was signed. The center officially opened its doors on July 4, 2003. It offers many ways for people to learn about the Constitution. You can visit in person or explore its resources online. The original Constitution is not kept here. It is stored at the National Archives Building in Washington, D.C..

Why the Center Was Created
Leaders of the Center
Learning About Citizenship
Public Events and Debates
Liberty Medal Award
Gallery
See also

Why the Center Was Created

"We the People" inscription at the National Constitution Center

The National Constitution Center was created by a law called the Constitution Heritage Act. President Ronald Reagan signed this law on September 16, 1988. The law said the center should be near Independence National Historical Park. Its main goal is to share information about the U.S. Constitution. It does this in a fair way, helping Americans understand their country's founding document better.

The center is located at 525 Arch Street. This address was chosen for a special reason. May 25 (5/25) is the date when the Constitutional Convention started in Philadelphia. This was the meeting where the Constitution was written.

A famous architectural firm, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, designed the building. Many people think the building looks great. One writer from The New York Times said it would become one of the nation's most important public buildings.

The inside of the center has large exhibit spaces. It was built using American materials. For example, it used a lot of Indiana limestone and millions of pounds of steel.

In 2021, a special stone panel was moved to the center. This panel has the words of the First Amendment carved into it. It used to be part of the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Now, visitors can see it in the center's second-floor lobby.

Leaders of the Center

The National Constitution Center is led by a president and chief executive officer. This role is currently held by Jeffrey Rosen. He is a law professor and legal expert. He started leading the center in June 2013.

The center also has a board of trustees. Important people have served as chairmen of this board:

Chairman	Period
John C. Bogle	1999–2007
George H. W. Bush	2007–2009
Bill Clinton	2009–2012
Jeb Bush	2013–2017
Joe Biden	2017–2019
Neil Gorsuch	2019–

Learning About Citizenship

The center has a special part called the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach. This part helps people learn about being good citizens. It offers programs both at the center and online. It also creates tools and plans for teachers to use in classrooms.

Public Events and Debates

The National Constitution Center is a place where important discussions happen. It has hosted several debates and town hall meetings. For example, in 2008, it hosted a debate between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They were both running for president at the time. Senator John McCain also held a town hall meeting there. These events help people hear different ideas and learn about important issues.

Liberty Medal Award

Since 2006, the center has been home to the Philadelphia Liberty Medal. This is an important annual award. It started in 1988. The medal honors people who show great courage and work to protect freedom around the world.