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Museum of the American Revolution: “State Constitutions-Palooza Weekend” with Various Activities, September 17-18

September 15, 2022 - September 18, 2022

State constitutions have been in the news lately, but it’s not the first time they’ve been center stage. Since the nation’s founding, state constitutions have been a testing ground for democracy, featuring radical experimentation, careful conservatism, and everything in between. But with a federal constitution, why do states need their own in the first place?

Join us at the Museum for two days, including Constitution Day on Sept. 17, of interactive, family-friendly activities that delve into the curious, creative, and challenging aspects of these fascinating documents. Explore how early state constitutions were adopted, why they varied from state to state, and how they impact our lives today.

State Constitutions Palooza is sponsored by the Jack Miller Center for Teaching America’s Founding Principles and History.

Constitutions Constitutional: A Revolutionary Philadelphia Walking Tour
Daily at 2 p.m.
$28 for non-members (includes Museum admission), free for members

Philadelphia was at the heart of constitutional conversations – for Pennsylvania and the nation. Join a Museum educator to explore the streets of Revolutionary Philadelphia, stopping outside iconic sites where commoners and congressmen debated and decided on the ideas that would shape the state and federal constitutions. This one-hour guided tour covers about a mile and features sites such as Carpenters’ Hall, City Tavern, and Independence Hall. Make sure to leave time before or after your tour to participate in the rest of State Constitutions Palooza.

Civics on Tap
Cross Keys Café | Saturday, Sept. 17, 5-8 p.m.
Civics on Tap is a monthly hands-on lesson in participatory democracy – with beer! Join us for this special return of a fun Philadelphia tradition as your fearless host Grace Palladino leads us in learning and laughing about state constitutions. Get a lightning-fast intro to the highs and lows of constitution-making, then get your team ready for three rounds of State Constitutional Quizzo! Drinks and refreshments will be sold by Cross Keys Café.

Trivia & Activity Stations
Onsite | Daily from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

How much do you know about state constitutions, past and present, and their relationship to the U.S. Constitution? Come spin the trivia wheel and see if you can win a prize! Plus, create your own constitution on our Velcro constitution board, color in your own “Flat Judge” from the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, try on 1770s and 1790s clothing in our hands-on discovery center, and more at activity stations throughout the Museum.

Special Edition Constitution Chocolate Bars
Cross Keys Café | Daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Need a sweet treat to get you through your day? Visit the Museum’s Cross Keys Café to grab a special constitution-shaped chocolate bar, produced by Best of Philly award-winning local chocolatiers Good Good Chocolates. These special treats will make their debut at State Constitutions Palooza and will only be available at the Cross Keys Café.

Giveaway: Free Pocket-Sized U.S. Constitution
Onsite | Daily

“We the people …” Experimentation in Revolutionary-era state constitutions directly influenced the ideas of the U.S. Constitution. Carry the results of those experiments right in your pocket, with a perfectly portable U.S. Constitution, free for all guests during State Constitutions Palooza Weekend, courtesy of the Jack Miller Center.

USCIS Naturalization Ceremony
Onsite | Thursday, Sept. 15, 10 a.m.
Start your weekend early and welcome dozens of new American citizens from across the globe during a naturalization ceremony hosted by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Museum’s Liberty Hall. The ceremony is open to the public.

Discovery Cart: Elizabeth Freeman
Onsite | Daily
The 1780 Massachusetts Constitution didn’t outlaw slavery, but it did help enslaved woman Elizabeth “Mumbet” Freeman to gain her freedom. Join a Museum educator at our Freeman-focused discovery cart to handle replica artifacts that help to tell this powerful story of courage, conviction, and the law.

Constitution-Themed Selfie Station
Onsite | Daily

Snap a photo at a constitution-themed selfie station in the Museum’s atrium and share it on social media using #HowRevolutionary. Be sure to tag @AmRevMuseum on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

When Women Lost the Vote Virtual Exhibit
Online | Anytime

New Jersey’s first constitution contained something radical: In referencing its voters, it did not mention gender, sex or race. Later clarifications were more specific, yet still surprising for the era: voters could be “he or she.” Learn more about this experiment in republican democracy by exploring our online exhibit, When Women Lost the Vote: A Revolutionary Story, 1776-1807. Dig deeper by exploring the accompanying Poll List Interactive, and see real voter rolls of the early 1800s and some of the women and African American men who exercised their right to vote in New Jersey in this time.

Details

Start:
September 15, 2022
End:
September 18, 2022
Event Category: