National Constitution Center
Coordinates: 39°57′12″N 75°08′56″W / 39.953406°N 75.148952°W
| National Constitution Center | |
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 Exterior of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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 Location within Pennsylvania
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| Established | 17 September 2000 |
| Location | Independence Mall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Type | History Museum |
| Director | David Eisner |
| Public transit access | Septa Market–Frankford Line, Septa Bus Routes 38, 44, 48, 121 |
| Website | http://constitutioncenter.org/ |
The National Constitution Center is an organization that seeks to expand awareness and understanding of the United States Constitution and operates a museum to advance those purposes.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the museum was held on September 17, 2000–213 years to the day after the original Constitution was signed. On July 4, 2003, it was opened and the National Constitution Center joined other notable sites and iconic exhibits in what has been called "America's most historical square mile" because of the proximity of historical landmarks such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell.[citation needed] Then-Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, officiating at the opening ceremonies, said, "It will contribute each and every day to the reinforcement of the basic principles that bind us together as a nation and a people."[citation needed]
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[edit] Exhibits
The institute's theater presentation is Freedom Rising which explains the history of the U.S. Constitution, and how the definition of "We the People" has expanded over time.
The main exhibit hall presents a chronology of constitutional history featuring artifacts and original documents, interactive exhibits based on the preamble to the Constitution, and "talk backs" and ways to discuss the Constitution.
Other exhibits are dedicated to the right to vote and divisive issues such as intelligent design or the death penalty.
"Signers' Hall" features life-sized, cast-bronze sculptures of the 39 signers of the Constitution and the three dissenters.
[edit] Army art
In September 2010, the National Constitution Center will host an exhibit entitled "Art of the American Soldier" featuring more than 300 works from the U.S. Army Art Collection.[1] In addition to the 300 works, soldier/artists were also given the opportunity to submit works to be part of digital kiosks at the exhibit. The exhibit was designed to contain highly realistic works, such as those of U.S. Army artist, Master Sergent Marin Cervantez. Cervantez commented on his pieces on display in Reuters on the nature of the exhibit "If a soldier takes his family to the museum, I want them to be able to say, 'That's what it was like'."[2]
[edit] Events
The museum hosts speakers and events on historic and current constitutional topics. The center hosts a yearly program, the "Peter Jennings Project for Journalists and the Constitution", which puts a select group of very accomplished midcareer journalists through an immersion experience in constitutional issues. Jennings Fellows participate in case law workshops, witness a vibrant moot court featuring the nation’s top litigants as they grapple with a thorny contemporary topic, and engage in dynamic programming that shows the Constitution as the foundation of American life, rather than a legal document understood only by judges and constitutional scholars.
[edit] NCC and Presidents
Former President George H.W. Bush served as chairman of the center’s Board of Trustees for the year 2007;[3] it is the only organization for which Bush had served as chairman. His successor as president, Bill Clinton, served in 2009.[4]
On March 18, 2008, Senator Barack Obama delivered a speech on race issues entitled "A More Perfect Union" at the center, while campaigning for the presidency.
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[edit] See also
- Philadelphia Liberty Medal - An annual award administered by the Center
- Constitution Day (United States)
[edit] References
- ^ "Art of the American Soldier". National Constitution Center. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/ncc_press_Art_of_the_American_Soldier.aspx. Retrieved June 29, 2010.
- ^ Hurdle, Jon (Jul 19, 2010). "U.S. Army unveils a trove of soldiers' war paintings". Reuters. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66I3AF20100719.
- ^ Constitution Center press release
- ^ "Bill Clinton named chairman of Constitution Center". USA Today. 9 September 2008. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-09-1645677038_x.htm. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
[edit] External links
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