National Constitution Center Unveils 'America's Founding' Gallery

New interactive exhibit features rare artifacts and everyday stories ahead of America's 250th birthday.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia is opening a new interactive gallery called 'America's Founding' that explores the early conflicts and debates leading up to the creation of the U.S. Constitution. The exhibit features rare 18th-century artifacts, including a first-print copy of the Constitution and a rare printing of the 17 amendments that became the Bill of Rights. The gallery aims to tell the story of America's founding through the experiences of everyday people, highlighting how the debates from that era are still relevant today.

Why it matters

As the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the 'America's Founding' gallery provides an immersive look at the pivotal moments and everyday people who shaped the nation's early history. By showcasing rare artifacts and interactive elements, the exhibit brings this critical period to life and explores how the founding debates continue to resonate in modern times.

The details

The new gallery features a variety of 18th-century artifacts, including a first-print copy of the U.S. Constitution provided by Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, as well as a rare printing of the 17 amendments that later became the Bill of Rights, also donated by Griffin. Other highlights include a pay voucher for a Black soldier dating back to 1782 and everyday items like children's toys and dinnerware unearthed from the site where the National Constitution Center now stands. The exhibit aims to present the history with enough depth and clarity so that all visitors can understand how the country moved through that era to achieve independence.

  • The 'America's Founding' gallery officially opens on Friday, February 13, 2026, ahead of Presidents' Day weekend.
  • The new exhibit is being unveiled as the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday.

The players

National Constitution Center

A museum in Philadelphia that explores the history and continuing relevance of the U.S. Constitution.

Ken Griffin

The CEO of Citadel, a hedge fund, who has donated rare founding-era artifacts to the 'America's Founding' gallery.

Elena Popchock

The senior manager of exhibit content at the National Constitution Center, who oversaw the development of the 'America's Founding' gallery.

Sarah Winski

The senior director at the National Constitution Center, who is excited to unveil the new exhibit ahead of America's 250th birthday.

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What they’re saying

“People were at the heart of it all and had really difficult decisions to make. They ultimately did the best they could with what they felt like could work and didn't always know if it would work out.”

— Elena Popchock, Senior Manager of Exhibit Content (whyy.org)

“Those documents are really just a critical part of that because it is something tangible, something real. It's not just words that you might see on a screen nowadays. It's actually something that got printed out, that got held, that got distributed and it's how people learned about these documents.”

— Sarah Winski, Senior Director (whyy.org)

What’s next

The National Constitution Center plans to unveil a second new gallery later in 2026 as part of the lead-up to America's 250th birthday celebration.

The takeaway

The 'America's Founding' gallery at the National Constitution Center provides a unique opportunity for visitors to engage with the pivotal moments and everyday experiences that shaped the early days of the United States. By showcasing rare artifacts and interactive elements, the exhibit brings this critical period of history to life and explores how the founding debates continue to resonate in modern times.