Countdown to Constitution Day

Each year, the National Constitution Center commemorates the signing of the Constitution on September 17, in 1787, by hosting a festive day that combines in-person and virtual educational programming.

This year, we will also kick off celebrations for America’s upcoming semiquincentennial in 2026. We will debut our new America at 250 CivicToolkit, featuring an Interactive Declaration Independence, an essential guide for learners of all ages to engage with America’s founding principles. Be sure to register yourselves and your students now for these exciting events to learn more.

Virtual Program Highlights

Student Town Hall: A Conversation with Benjamin Franklin Featuring Carol Berkin

September 17 | 11:15 a.m. ET

Historian and author Carol Berkin will lead a discussion with one of history’s favorite founding figures: Benjamin Franklin. This special program will explore Franklin’s life, his contributions to our nation’s founding documents, and the impact that our founders’ legacies have on America 250 years later. Birkin has contributed biographies on the founders to the Center’s forthcoming Interactive Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin will be portrayed by a professional reenactor.

Launch of the America at 250 Civic Toolkit

September 17 | 1:30 p.m. ET

National Constitution Center Vice President of Civic Education Julie Silverbrook is joined by historian and author Carol Berkin and legal scholar Mary Sarah Bilder to launch the NCC’s newest resource, the America at 250 Civic Toolkit. The resource will offer a trusted, non-partisan framework—rooted in primary sources—to frame conversations at this crucial moment in America history and explore key constitutional ideas and principles through a new Interactive Declaration of Independence.

In-Person Events for Students

If your school is local to Philadelphia, we welcome you to bring your students to the Center to celebrate. Advanced reservations to the following events are strongly encouraged:

• Preamble reading on the museum's Front Lawn
• A Kid's Town Hall, featuring famous figures from the Revolutionary era
• Constitutional trivia
• A Constitution birthday celebration with cake cutting
• Festive make-and-take crafts

Space is limited. Contact Group Sales or call 215-409-6800 to reserve spots. Admission is free courtesy of PECO.

Your Go-To Classroom Companion for America’s 250th

Looking for one place to support your lesson planning all year long in the lead up to Americas 250th birthday? Say hello to your new favorite planning tool—our free 2025–2026 Civic Calendar.

This isn’t just a calendar. It’s your month-by-month guide to weaving the founding stories of the United States into your lessons in a way that’s timely, meaningful, and complimentary to your existing plans. Each month spotlights revolutionary moments and themes that helped shape the road to 1776, with ready-to-use discussion questions and links to related free resources from our forthcoming Interactive Declaration of Independence and America at 250 Civic Toolkit.

Let our Civic Calendar be your MVP in lesson planning for celebrating America’s 250th — one month and one powerful story at a time. Requests can be made now, and calendars will be shipped out to classrooms in September.

You're Invited: September Events

🗓️ Live from the Museum: Virtual Tour of Signers’ Hall

Tuesday, September 16 | Noon & 2 p.m. ET

A museum educator will take students on a tour of Signers’ Hall, the iconic exhibit featuring life-size statues of the 42 men who gathered in Philadelphia for the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787.

🗓️ America's Town Hall: Born Equal: America’s Founding Promise and the Fight for Equality

Tuesday, September 16 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET

In Person and Online

On the eve of Constitution Day, constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law School discusses his new book, Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840–1920, which explores the transformative amendments that redefined freedom, equality, and voting rights in the post–Civil War era.

🗓️ America's Town Hall: An Evening With Justice Amy Coney Barrett

Wednesday, September 17 | 6:30–7:30 p.m. ET

Register to View Online

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett joins National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen for a special Constitution Day conversation to discuss her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and the Constitution. Justice Barrett reflects on her journey to the Court and offers a glimpse into her role (and daily life) as a justice, including her deliberative process and how she approaches interpreting the Constitution.

Connect With Us

Constitution 101 | Professional Learning | Virtual Student Programs | Events Calendar 

About the National Constitution Center’s Educational Resources 

The National Constitution Center provides K-12 curriculum, professional learning, and student programs that make constitutional education engaging and relevant. Learn more at: constitutioncenter.org/education.

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