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Raymond Smock, consulting historian for the Signers' Hall exhibit at the Constitution Center, and former Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives, hosted Real American Idols: The Making of Signers' Hall on Saturday, March 5. Smock gave visitors a “behind the scenes” look at the
creation of Signers’ Hall, featuring the statues of the 42 men who were present
at the signing of the Constitution.
Smock explained the ways in which he and the designers
researched
historical letters and written descriptions to determine not only the physical characteristics
of the Founding Fathers, but also their personalities, in order to design the
scene of Signers’ Hall.
Smock was also featured on CSPAN's Washington Journal show on March 4, shot live from the National Constitution Center with host Brian Lamb.
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| NCC Senior Director of National Programming Tony Green moderates a panel including (L to R): Watkins, Chirls, Reinstein and McKee. |
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Members of the community met at the Constitution Center on March 5, 2005 for the second of four Town Meetings, one of the Center’s key Lincoln
exhibit-related education and outreach efforts held in partnership with the
Mural Arts Program and Lincoln Financial Group Foundation. At this meeting, members of the community discussed the Mural Arts
Program’s Lincoln Legacy Mural Project, reflecting Lincoln’s
values and legacy. The public also participated in a
discussion with Andrew
Chirls, chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association,
Robert Reinstein, Dean
of Temple Law School, Third Circuit Judge Theodore McKee and WPHT host
Joe Watkins on the
appropriate balance between security and individual freedoms in our
time. Following the
discussion, participants created Justice Squares – 4’x4’ mini-murals which
will be hung in places throughout the city, as well as in the Constitution
Center’s new changing exhibits gallery, the home of the Center’s new Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil
War exhibit.
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A little George Washington savors a slice of birthday cake during Presidents' Day Weekend. |
On Presidents' Day Weekend, February 19 - 21, the Constitution Center threw a birthday party to honor our nation's presidents! Visitors enjoyed free cake and party favors, and signed a GIANT birthday card!
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| Joseph Ellis and Walter Isaacson discuss the Founding Fathers. |
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Award-winning biographers Joseph Ellis and Walter Isaacson convened at the Constitution Center on February 17 to discuss America's famous Founding Fathers: George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. Richard Stengel, President and CEO of the Center, moderated the program, which was followed by a book signing.
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The Cumberland Blues civil war band performs before the press conference. |
On February 9, a press conference was held to announce the content and design of Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War, on display at the National Constitution Center June 10 - November 4, 2005. The event was preceded by a performance by the Cumberland Blues civil war band, and Abe Lincoln himself even made an appearance! A joint program honoring Lincoln's legacy with the Mural Arts Program was also announced. The exhibit is made possible by a gift from Lincoln Financial Group.
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| Ed Trotta, better known as Abraham Lincoln, speaks at the event. |
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From L to R: Jon Boscia, Chairman and CEO, Lincoln Financial Group; Dr. Steven Frank, Vice President of Exhibits and Research, NCC; Jane Golden, Director, Mural Arts Program; Richard Stengel, President and CEO, NCC. |
On January 17, the National Constitution Center hosted a Kids' Carnival in collaboration with the Martin Luther King Day of Service. The festivities included kids crafts, a reading of the "I Have a Dream" speech, a performance by musical duo Two of a Kind, and a VIP Story Time featuring District Attorney Lynne Abraham and WPVI Anchorman Rick Williams.
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District Attorney Lynne Abraham reads a story about Martin Luther King, Jr. aloud to children during the Kids' Carnival. |
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| Two of a Kind husband-and-wife musical duo perform in the Kirby Auditorium with students from Arcadia University. |
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For the second year in a row, the Naval Academy won the Army/Navy Patriot Games History Competition at the National Constitution Center on December 4, 2004. The competition took place in anticipation of the Army/Navy football game held at Lincoln Financial Field that afternoon.
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| Midshipmen and Cadets listen closely as moderator Benjamin Franklin tests their knowledge of American History. |
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On November 11, 2004, enlistees from New Jersey's Fort Dix Army Base were sworn in at the National Constitution Center as part of the Veterans' Day observances. The men and women were sworn in
by General George Joulwan (Ret.) former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
(SACEUR). The ceremony was followed by a wreath-laying and the playing of "Taps."
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| Army, Navy and Air Force enlistees are sworn in during an Enlistment Ceremony on Veterans' Day. |
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NBC 10's Renee Chenault-Fattah broadcasts live from the NCC on Election Day. |
On Election Day 2004, the National Constitution Center served as the operating site of InfoVoter Technologies' 1-866-MYVOTE1 Voter Alert Line, a national, toll-free voter hotline that allowed voters who were experiencing difficulty in the voting process to record a brief statement of their problem, and transfer, at no cost, to their local county/municipal board of elections. Live broadcasts throughout the day aired on NBC, MSNBC and Telemundo.
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| Howard Cain (L), Michael Smerconish, and Joe Watkins "Debate the Debate" on The Big Talker 1210 AM-WPHT |
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The National Constitution Center played host to a LIVE broadcast of The Big Talker 1210 AM - WPHT on October 14 in a "Debate the Debate" special with Michael Smerconish. Leading Democratic consultant Howard Cain and Joe Watkins, White House aide to George H.W. Bush, gave their feedback on the third presidential debate and answered questions from the audience.
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Natanya Apfelbaum, the Millionth Visitor to the National Constitution Center |
On October 13, Natanya Apfelbaum, 17, of the Germantown section of Philadelphia, became the Millionth Visitor to the National Constitution Center! Apfelbaum was greeted with a trumpet fanfare, confetti, balloons and cheers by NCC staff. She was presented with a boquet of roses, balloons, a gift bag filled with merchandise from the Museum Store, and a one-year Family Membership to the museum.
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| Class of 2004/2005 Americorps team members are inducted at the National Constitution Center. |
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On October 11, Americorps City Year program and PennSERVE (the Governor's Office for Volunteerism) inducted 500 new members. The inductees took an oath of active national service, dedicating themselves to community service in the Philadelphia community.
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Turzanski (L) listens as Scarborough (R) gives The Real Deal. |
Constitution Week continued with a conversation between MSNBC's Joe Scarborough and Assistant Vice President of La Salle University, Edward Turzanski. The former Florida Senator and host of "Scarborough Country" discussed his new book, Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day: The Real Deal on How Politicians, Bureaucrats and Other Washington Barbarians are Bankrupting America. Scarborough signed copies of the book following the program.
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| Stengel (L) and Cuomo (R) converse during "What Would Abe Say?" |
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Former New York Governor Mario Cuomo stopped at the National Constitution Center on Constitution Day, September 17, to participate in a "Constitutional Conversation" about his new book, Why Lincoln Matters: Today More Than Ever. Richard Stengel, President and CEO of the Center, moderated the discussion, which included insights on Lincoln's philosophys and ideals and their relevance in the present context.
Watch for the Center's upcoming exhibit, Lincoln and the Constitution, opening in June 2005. The exhibit is made possible by a gift from Lincoln Financial Group.
On September 17, the National Constitution Center kicked off a week-long celebration of the 217th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution with "America Reads the Constitution," a public reading of our founding document from the Preamble to the 27th Amendment. Members of the Philadelphia community, from the Phillie Phanatic to newly naturalized citizens, took their turn reading sections of the Constitution. The event was broadcast live on the Internet, and is now available for viewing online in the multimedia archives.
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| Slade Gorton (left) and Bob Kerrey (right) respond to questions from the audience. Richard Stengel moderates. |
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Former Senators Gorton (R-Washington) and Kerrey (D-Nebraska), both members of the 9/11 Commission, led a discussion about the findings of the 9/11 Commission Report on Thursday, August 26 at the Center. President and CEO Richard Stengel moderated the discussion, which was followed by roundtable discussions with the editorial staff of the Philadelphia Inquirer. The program was broadcast live on C-Span.
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Bill Clinton was warmly welcomed by NCC President & CEO Rick Stengel (Left) |
In his only live, public conversation on his national book-signing tour for My Life (Alfred A. Knopf), former President Bill Clinton visited the National Constitution Center on Monday, July 5, to sign copies of his memoir and to participate in a question-and-answer session with Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne. By turns adamant and amused, Clinton discussed everything from his impeachment battle to the war in Iraq to the 2000 election. After an hour of discussion and questions from the audience, Clinton spent nearly two hours signing copies of his book for every ticketed guest who waited in line.
"Former President Clinton has been a part of the National Constitution Center since he attended the ground breaking ceremony in September of 2000," said Richard Stengel, President and CEO of the Center. "So for our first anniversary, it was a perfect book-end to have him for a 'Constitutional Conversation.'" Clinton's appearance at the National Constitution Center generated a great deal of attention in both local and national media.
Following his appearance, Clinton saw "Freedom Rising" and had a brief tour of the museum with Stengel, Governor Edward G. Rendell and National Constitution Center Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellano.
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| Young visitors welcome "Constance the Constitution Cow" |
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"Constance the Constitution Cow," a life-sized, fiberglass replica of a cow painted with the script of the U.S. Constitution, made her debut at the National Constitution Center on Monday, June 14, 2004. "Constance" is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, and is a member of the CowParade Harrisburg 2004 herd of 136 and a half bovines transformed by regional and international artists into magnificent works of art. She was greeted by representatives from the Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association, CowParade, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, the National Park Service, artist Mari Hoggs, a five-piece band, students and vistors.
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Byron Quann, President and CEO of the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, with Richard Stengel, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center. |
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| Artist Mari Hoggs with "Constance." |
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| Gordon Wood shares his thoughts on Benjamin Franklin. |
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Pulitzer-Prize winning author Gordon Wood appeared at the National Constitution Center on Friday, June 4, 2004, for a "Constitutional Conversation," Will the Real Ben Franklin Please Stand Up? The discussion was based on Wood's latest book, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, in which he argues that Franklin's reputation as the "quintessential American" is misleading. Wood signed copies of his book after a question and answer session moderated by President and CEO Richard Stengel.
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Cokie Roberts answers questions from the audience during a "Constitutional Conversation." |
On Thursday, May 27, 2004, political analyst Cokie Roberts led a "Constitutional Conversation," Who Were These Women?, based on her book, Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation. Margaret Carlson, of CNN's "The Capitol Gang," moderated the discussion, which was followed by a book signing.
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President and CEO Richard Stengel with the panelists, from left to right: Bob Barr, Robert H. Bork, Stengel, Karla Drenner, Andrew Sullivan, Matthew Spalding and William Eskridge, Jr. |
Six national experts engaged visitors in the first of the "Great Debate" series, Same Sex Marriage: Do We Need A Federal Marriage Amendment? ,on Friday, May 21, 2004.
President and CEO Richard Stengel moderated the discussion, which included Judge Robert H. Bork, former Georgia State Representative Bob Barr, author of the Defense of Marriage Act; former editor of The New Republic magazine Andrew Sullivan; Yale law Professor William Eskridge, Jr.; Matthew Spalding of the Heritage Foundation; and State Representative Karla Drenner, the only openly gay Georgia legislator.
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2004 Constitution Bowl Winners Upper Dublin High School, Fort Washington, PA. |
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| 2004 Constitution Bowl held in the NCC's Kirby Auditorium. |
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High school students from schools across the region competed in the National Constitution Center's 2004 Constitution Bowl Saturday, April 24. Each member of the winning team, Upper Dublin High School, Fort Washington, PA, was awarded The History Channel® and Comcast® College Scholarship in the amount of $1000. Each member of the second-place team, Deptford High School, Deptford, NJ received $250 courtesy of The History Channel® and Comcast®.
Other schools participating in this year's Constitution Bowl included: Girard Academic Music School, Philadelphia, PA; Oliver High School, Pittsburgh, PA; and Rancocas Valley Regional High School, Rancocas, NJ.
Highlights of the National Constitution Center's 2004 Constitution Bowl can also be seen on the History Channel's website at www.HistoryChannel.com.
Related Links:
HistoryChannel.com
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Dozens of volunteers painted a mural relating to the day's theme of voting rights in the National Constitution Center's school lunchroom. |
On January 19, 2004, the Center was the base of operations for the 9th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. More than 40,000 volunteers took part in more than 600 service projects around the greater Philadelphia area. The national King Day of Service was created in 1994 through federal legislation co-authored by former Pennsylvania U.S. Senator Harris Wofford and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, both veterans of the Civil Rights movement with Dr. King. The act called for the transformation of the King federal holiday from simply a "day off" to a "day on" of active citizenship and service.
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| Children make puppets with volunteers from the Spiral Q Puppet Theater as part of the Kids Carnival. |
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The Chestnut Brothers performed during the Citizens Bank Kids Carnival on the Grand Hall Overlook. |
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| Mayor Street announces plans for King Day of Service. |
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On January 7, Mayor John F. Street joined organizers and partners at the Constitution Center to announce plans for the upcoming 9th Annual Greater Philadelphia Martin Luther King Day of Service. A record 40,000 volunteers are expected to participate in school and community improvement projects on Monday, January 19 in what has become the largest King Day service event in the nation.
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Christine James Brown, President & CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, accepts the 6th annual Harris Wofford Active Citizenship Award. |
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| Children from eight local schools unveiled the annual King Day of Service mural project, led by the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program. |
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Army v. Navy face off in the Grand Hall. |
On Saturday, December 6, the Center hosted a "Constitution Bowl" between the Army and Navy, both in town for the Army v. Navy football game. Visitors to the Center cheered on their favorite branch of the armed forces as Steve Frank, the Center's Director of Research, tested each team on their Constitutional knowledge.
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| Navy keeps the spirit up. |
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| Junior ROTC from Sun Valley High School at remembrance wreath dedication. |
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On Veterans Day - the 11th hour, on the 11th day, of the 11th month - the Constitution Center lay a remeberance wreath and observed a moment of silence in honor of all those who gave their lives in military service. The Junior ROTC from Sun Valley High School provided a Show of Colors and Corporal Phil Demara of the Philadelphia Police Department played "Taps" on his bugle. In honor of National Veterans Awareness Week, all those who have served and continue to serve in our nation's military are invited to tour the Center for free.
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Justice O'Connor presents her robe to Center President and CEO Joseph Torsella. |
On October 23, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor presented the Center with the robe she has worn since she was sworn in as a member of this country's highest court 22 years ago. The robe will be on display at the Center for one year.
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| Justice O'Connor in the Center's exhibit space, The American Experience. |
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Justice O'Connor signing today's Constitution in Signers' Hall. |
There is always something special going on in the Grand Hall lobby. On October 18, visitors enjoyed additional family fun with historical jugglers and face painters.
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Jon Bon Jovi enjoys a moment with the Founding Fathers in Signers' Hall. |
Live from the Center on September 23, Jon Bon Jovi joined NBC's The Today Show with Al Roker to announce the launch of the Philadelphia Soul, a new Arena football team.
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| Al Roker, The Today Show weatherman, enjoys a break in the Llewellyn Citizens' Cafe. |
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Jon Bon Jovi in Signers' Hall. |
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| Lynne Cheney and Secretary Paige take questions from elementary school children. |
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Lynne Cheney, author, scholar and wife of Vice President Dick Cheney celebrated Constitution Day, September 17, with U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige and 200 Philadelphia elementary school students.
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Lynne Cheney addresses 50 new citizens at a Naturalization Ceremony in the Kirby Auditorium. |
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| Lynne Cheney and Secretary Paige celebrate Constitution Day. |
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