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Civic Holidays | In Person

Memorial Day Weekend

Date
Saturday, May 25 - Monday, May 27
Time
All Day
price
Free, Courtesy of Citizen Travelers
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The National Constitution Center will be open with Free Admission from Saturday, May 25, through Monday, May 27!

All weekend long, the National Constitution Center will honor the nation’s fallen servicemembers by highlighting the history of Memorial Day, taking a closer look at famous memorials and monuments, and uncovering the complexities of how a nation remembers. In addition to access to all the Center’s exhibits and artifacts, programming includes flag ceremonies, discussions on U.S. memorials through history and across the country, family friendly workshops and lectures as well as crafts for learners of all ages.

Free admission to the National Constitution Center for Memorial Day Weekend, Saturday, May 25, through Monday, May 27, is made possible through the generous support of Citizen Travelers, the nonpartisan civic engagement initiative of Travelers.

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Programs at the Museum

Memorial Day: American Made and Re-Made Featuring Robert J. Kodosky

12:45 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 25
For many Americans, Memorial Day signifies the “unofficial start of summer.” It begins the season of “baseball, hot dogs and apple pie.” The holiday is rooted though in somber grounds. It began as Decoration Day to memorialize America’s Civil War dead, which resulted in both reconciliation and division. The history of Memorial Day provides insight into our own time and affords us chance for reflection about the power of the past, the costs of liberty and the enduring struggle for civil liberties, as well as offering insights to inform our commemoration of Memorial Day today. Robert J. Kodosky chairs the department of history at West Chester University where he teaches courses in American military and diplomatic history and serves as the faculty adviser for the Student Veteran Group. He is also the author of Psychological Operations American Style: The Joint United States Public Affairs Office, Vietnam and Beyond, Tuskegee in Philadelphia: Rising to the Challenge, and co-author of Construction Ahead: Making American History Since 1865.

Memorials: How A Nation Remembers
Memorials: How A Nation Remembers

*Check Visitor Guide for Daily Showtimes
Explore some of the most recognizable memorials and monuments in the United States, from the Lincoln Memorial and Little Bighorn, to the Vietnam War Memorial and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Learn about the history of memorials, how memorials and monuments remember and honor the past, and consider why these memorials are important.

The History of Memorial Day: Trivia Game
The History of Memorial Day: Trivia Game

*Check Visitor Guide for Daily Showtimes
This trivia-based program explores the history of the Memorial Day observances in the U.S. Discover the holiday’s origins during Reconstruction—when it was known as “Decoration Day”—its expansion following World Wars I and II, and how it became an official holiday in the 1970s. The program also highlights how communities across the country observe Memorial Day.

The American Flag: History and Etiquette
The American Flag: History and Etiquette

*Check Visitor Guide for Daily Showtimes
How much do you know about the Stars and Stripes? Discover the history of the American flag during our interactive flag show. Together we’ll uncover the flag’s symbolism and learn how to properly raise, display, and fold the flag during a flag raising ceremony.

Make a Memorial Craft
Make a Memorial Craft

10 a.m.-4 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby
Can you think of a figure or event from history that needs to be remembered? Visit our creation station to design your own memorial for historic figures and events.

Poppy Pins

10 a.m.–4 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby 
How did poppies become the symbol of Memorial Day? Stop by our poppy pin station to uncover the connection between the poppy and the armed forces. Create your own poppy pin to honor those who have served and died for our country. 

Flag Folding Craft

10 a.m.–4 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby 
Learn how to properly fold an American flag with our make-and-take craft! Color your own flag and then fold it up into the traditional triangle.

Memorials Scavenger Hunt

10 a.m.–3 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby
Take this map of Philadelphia memorials with you as you explore the city! Discover the stories of the soldiers, presidents, and historical freedom fighters memorialized in these statues.

Online Programs

Friday, May 24

Live From the Museum: The Unknown Soldier Aboard Olympia
Live From the Museum: The Unknown Soldier Aboard Olympia

Friday, May 24 | Noon ET
Join us and learn the story of the Unknown Soldier aboard Olympia, led by Independence Seaport Museum's Manager of Historic Ships, Greg Williams. Discover the story about the unspeakable perils of World War I and follow along as we share the drama of the return of the Unknown Soldier's remains and how this story had fallen into obscurity, until now. Presented in partnership with the Independence Seaport Museum.

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Civic Story: How America Remembers
Civic Story: How America Remembers

Friday, May 24 | 11 a.m. ET
Live ASL Interpretation Available
Join in a lively conversation and explore some of the most recognizable memorials and monuments in the United States, from the Lincoln Memorial and Little Bighorn, to the U.S.S. Arizona and the Vietnam War Memorial. Learn about the history of memorials, how memorials and monuments remember and honor the past, and consider why these memorials are important.

Register Now
More from the National Constitution Center
Constitution 101

Explore our new 15-unit core curriculum with educational videos, primary texts, and more.

Media Library

Search and browse videos, podcasts, and blog posts on constitutional topics.

Founders’ Library

Discover primary texts and historical documents that span American history and have shaped the American constitutional tradition.

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