June 30, 2016
J. Fusco/Visit Philadelphia™
The world’s only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution, the National Constitution Center puts into historical context the most famous four pages ever written through multimedia exhibitions, sculpture, film, artifacts and interactive displays. In Signers’ Hall, visitors walk among the life-sized statues of the 39 signers of the Constitution.
In honor of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the convention's host committee will present PolitcalFest, consisting of nonpartisan exhibits at seven locations. The event will run from July 22 through July 27. During that period, the exhibits will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
The exhibits, displays and interactive activities highlight America's political history, government and the election season in various ways. Each participating location has a different theme.
Tickets for PoliticalFest are $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 17 and under, college students and seniors ages 65 and older. Veterans and credentialed convention attendees can attend for free.
Each ticket is good for all six days of PoliticalFest and grants access to all participating locations. Free Phlash buses will be running between the seven sites throughout the event.
For more information on road closures, protests and the formal agenda of the 2016 Democratic National Convention, check out the PhillyVoice guide to the DNC.
The seven participating locations in PoliticalFest, with their specific exhibits and attractions, are listed below:
The National Constitution Center will serve as the hub for PoliticalFest. After July 22, tickets to the event will only be sold in-person at the Constitution Center or online.
Where: 525 Arch St.
Theme: Headed to the White House
Includes:
- The museum's feature exhibit focuses on the presidential election process
•Political Theater
-PoliticalFeud
-PoliticalTrivia
-One-on-one interviews with actors who have played presidents on-screen
•Political Speech Screenings
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's “I Have a Dream” speech
- President Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” speech
- President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural speech
- President Ronald Reagan “Tear Down This Wall” speech
•C-SPAN Campaign 2016 Bus, located outside the Constitution Center
•An installation from Google's Cultural Institute that showcases American culture and history
Where: 1101 Arch St.
Theme: Politics and You!
Includes:
•C-SPAN exhibit "The American Presidents"
•C-SPAN electoral boards
•Oval Office replica, presented by Facebook
•Photo walls featuring key political features and their impacts on society
•“Voting Through Time”
- An exhibit showing voting booths from the past, present and future
•Air Force One Fuselage replica
•“I Am Democracy Photo Mosaic”
- Guests can take individual photos that will be transformed into a large digital mosaic of an American flag
•Memorabilia Store
- The store will sell merchandise from local designers, like Project Runway winner Dom Streater and local brand Duke & Winston, as well as rare collector’s items
•“Future Leaders Fun Zone”
- An area featuring games and other activities for children.
Where: 312 Chestnut St.
Theme: First Families
Includes:
•“First Ladies: Influence & Image”
- The exhibit will have videos featuring stories of America’s 45 First Ladies
•A display of featured dresses worn by First Ladies dating back to Martha Washington
•White House china, dating back to George Washington
•An exclusive photo exhibit highlighting First Families, provided by National Geographic
•“Larger Than Life”
- A photo wall featuring key political figures and their impact on society
•Johnston & Murphy Presidential Footwear Collection
- The collection highlights 12 former presidents who wore Johnston & Murphy shoes
•The Rendell Center for Civics and Civic Engagement’s Kids Program
- A special, interactive program for K-12 students to encourage civic engagement and explain the process of running for President
Where: 15 S. 7th St.
Theme: Philadelphia and the Presidency
Includes:
•Original election coverage from the Philadelphia Tribune
- View iconic front pages and landmark political moments from the paper’s extensive coverage of national politics
•Philadelphia Gay News interviews with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign
•Philadelphia Memorabilia Perspective
- Pieces from local collectors will be on display that highlight Philadelphia’s political convention history
- Short documentary of local collectors’ historical artifacts described in their own words
•Whistle Stop Philadelphia! will provide guests with a photo-op next to a life-size train replica, like those that were used during historic whistle-stop campaign tours
Where: 1314 Locust St.
Theme: Presidential Archives
Includes:
•"Presidential Libraries"
- An exhibit featuring writings, photographs and artifacts from the museum’s own collection
- A life mask of George Washington
- A death mask of Abraham Lincoln
• Rare books, graphics, and manuscripts on the founding of the nation, women in politics and 19th century African-American political conventions
Where: 1300 Locust St.
Theme: Founding Documents
Includes:
•“Behind The Ballot”
- An interactive exhibit provided by the city of Birmingham, Alabama, that highlights the Civil Rights Act and the Voters Rights Act
•Proof of the Declaration of Independence
•Samples from Articles of Confederation
•Draft of the Constitution of the United States
•“We the People” collection
- Constitution of Women’s Suffrage Association with a note by Susan B. Anthony
- Lithograph of the Emancipation Proclamation
- Map of part of Bucks County released by the Indians to the “Proprietaries of Pennsylvania” in September 1737
Where: 140 S. Broad St.
Theme: Political Conventions in Philadelphia
Includes:
•"Sweep the Country: Political Conventions in Philadelphia"
- An exhibit that tells the stories of the 11 conventions held in Philadelphia
