The National Constitution Center today opened the doors on its newest exhibit, The First Amendment. Coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Center opening to the public, the First Amendment gallery opened today kicking off a month of special events on the First Amendment, a year of in-person and online programming on the First Amendment, as well as the Center’s long-term plans to reimagine the visitor experience.

“It’s so exciting to open the first permanent addition to the NCC’s core exhibit since we opened 20 years ago,” said National Constitution Center President and CEO Jeffrey Rosen. “The gallery is so inspiring in bringing to life the history of the five freedoms of the First Amendment and why they matter so urgently today through personal stories, artifacts, and interactives. I’m so proud of our amazing team for creating this shining tribute to the importance of freedom of conscience and can’t wait to share it with visitors across America and around the world.”

The 1,500-square-foot exhibit features more than 20 artifacts highlighting the five freedoms—religious liberty, free speech, free press, the freedom of assembly, and the right to petition—including a draft opinion with handwritten edits from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis; an anti-Vietnam War armband worn by the Tinker family and associated with the landmark student speech case, Tinker v. Des Moines; The New York Times’ 1971 publication of the classified “Pentagon Papers;” and a pennant from the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. To highlight the importance of free speech and a free press, the exhibit includes recorded video interviews with the plaintiffs from key First Amendment cases. The exhibit also features interactive elements designed to test visitors’ knowledge of the First Amendment and the protections provided therein.

This exhibit is made possible through the generosity of the George Family Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and The McLean Contributionship.

As America’s leading platform for nonpartisan constitutional education, the Center extends The First Amendment experience beyond the gallery walls with events throughout September, including a National First Amendment Summit at the Center on September 13, featuring a keynote conversation with free speech advocate and author Salman Rushdie. Constitution Day celebrations this year include free admission on both September 17 and 18, and special programming on September 18 featuring First Amendment activists and historical figures, a virtual scholar exchange, Kids Town Hall programs, as well as traditional Constitution Day activities like the reading of the Preamble, signing the Center’s giant Constitution, and hosting a Naturalization Ceremony for 50 immigrants becoming U.S. citizens. That evening, the Center will host an America’s Town Hall program: The History of Religious Liberty in America.

In developing the exhibit, the Center consulted with a Scholarly Advisory Board composed of America’s leading experts on the First Amendment, including religious liberty and free speech scholars of diverse perspectives.

The exhibit was developed and designed in-house with Metcalfe Architecture & Design, media and digital interactive creator Drew Sentivan of Two Left Hands, and exhibit fabricator Hadley Exhibits. The overall renovation and construction of the new gallery was led by project managers Becker & Frondorf, architect Elia Architecture & Interiors, and general contractor Flatiron Building Company. 

Ticket Information

General Admission: As of September 6, 2023: Adults $19; Youth (6-18), Students w/ID, Seniors (65+), and Veterans $15; Members, active military personnel, and children ages 5 and under are free. Admission for 15 or more is $12 for student and youth groups; $14 for adult and senior groups. All museum exhibits and experiences are included in general admission.

The National Constitution Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Visit constitutioncenter.org to purchase tickets and plan your trip.