The National Constitution Center (NCC) is an independent, non-partisan, and non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public understanding of, and appreciation for, the Constitution, its history, and its contemporary relevance, through an interactive, interpretive facility within Independence National Historical Park and a program of national outreach, so that We the People may better secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.

Description:
The National Constitution Center, located on Philadelphia's Independence Mall, opened its doors to the public on July 4, 2003. The NCC is the first ever museum devoted to the United States Constitution, a Center that provides an interactive, educational experience for approximately one million visitors per year.

History:
The National Constitution Center was established by the Constitution Heritage Act of 1988. Passed by Congress and signed by President Ronald Reagan, the Act created the Center as an organization and first established building the National Constitution Center as an important national goal.

Over the next several years, the Center developed programs such as I Signed the Constitution in honor of National Constitution Week (September 17-23). The Center also honored Americans like Congressman John Lewis; Benjamin C. Bradlee, vice-president at large and former executive editor of the Washington Post; and the late Ambassador Walter Annenberg, with the We the People Award. In addition, the Center commissioned national polls that surveyed Americans' knowledge of the Constitution.

On September 14, 1998, the architectural firm of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners and the exhibit design firm Ralph Appelbaum Associates were chosen as the design "dream team" for the 160,000 square foot Center. Architect Henry N. "Harry" Cobb has designed dozens of international projects including the recently completed and nationally acclaimed United States Courthouse in Boston and Commerce Square in Philadelphia. Ralph Appelbaum Associates is best known for museums with complex educational content like the future Constitution Center. Appelbaum's interpretive museum design is at the core of the most important museums in recent history, including the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, DC and the Museum of African American History, Detroit, Michigan.

One year later, on September 16, 1999, Academy Award-winning actor, civic activist and National Constitution Center Trustee Richard Dreyfuss hosted the public presentation of the design for the first-ever museum dedicated to the US Constitution.

On September 17, 2000, 213 years to the day the U.S. Constitution was signed, the National Constitution Center broke ground. President Bill Clinton presided over the official groundbreaking ceremonies, which included the naturalization of 75 new American citizens and the announcement of a $10 million gift from the Annenberg Foundation. In honor of the gift, the interactive outreach wing of the Center is named the Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach.

On July 4, 2003, the elegant, two-story National Constitution Center opened its doors to teh public. Located on the third block of Independence Mall and serving as the northernmost anchor of the Mall complex, the Center will tell the story of the U.S. Constitution through more than 100 interactive and multimedia exhibits, photographs, sculpture, text, film and artifacts. Millions more across the country and around the world will also visit the Center through the Web site http://www.constitutioncenter.org

Contact person: Karen Fink, Volunteer Manager, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (215) 409-6650

Address:

525 Arch Street Independence Mall Philadelphia, PA 19106 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.constitutioncenter.org

Miscellaneous Information

Are court referrals welcomed?
	Yes

Overall Experience   
Computer/Office Support (or Assistant). Became a cool team player!

Employers were very cool and very friendly. I met new friends and worked together in a team. Stuffing envelopes and other special projects. Employers and employees know American Sign Language/Signed English to communicate Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing. Very rewarding to be a volunteering at National Constitution Center. You can't beat it! posted by REPJR on June 4, 2005