{"id":1039315,"date":"2026-09-02T18:06:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T18:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1039315\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T18:06:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T18:06:18","slug":"this-weeks-philly-first-celebrates-the-u-s-constitutions-birthplace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/1039315\/","title":{"rendered":"This week\u2019s Philly first celebrates the U.S. Constitution\u2019s birthplace"},"content":{"rendered":"

Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 17, 1787, 39 delegates at Independence Hall in Philadelphia signed the U.S. Constitution.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Philadelphians were left in the dark on the delegations for some time and didn\u2019t at first understand what the document signing meant, said Lane Norris, a Once Upon a Nation storyteller.\u00a0<\/p>\n

However, Norris said one Philadelphia woman, Elizabeth Powell, was determined to find out. She asked around and found her answer in Benjamin Franklin \u2014 who was one of the signers of the Constitution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cElizabeth Powell asked Benjamin Franklin the simplest yet most important question: What government had he just helped to draft?\u201d Norris said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd Dr. Franklin tells Elizabeth and the world that we the people will not have a monarchy, but a republic. A republic built on three branches of government: the executive, a Congress, and the Supreme Court.\u201d<\/p>\n

The document, which is still the \u201csupreme law of the land\u201d and the framework of American government, has continued to preside over U.S. law and government since its signing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1787, the United States was a republic, but far from a perfect one,\u201d he said. \u201cBut this brand new Constitution lays the foundation for building a new nation and an ever more perfect union for all its citizens.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Two important documents came before the Constitution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Declaration of Independence<\/a> was a formal declaration of grievances against the King of England designed to justify separation from British rule. It was signed in 1776 and was the first document<\/a> to refer to the colonies as the United States of America.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Articles of Confederation<\/a> was America\u2019s first charter of government for the first 13 states in 1777. But over time, many Americans expressed that the document<\/a> had created a weak, ineffective central government.\u00a0<\/p>\n

From there, delegates met to decide how to move forward with a new document.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Constitutional Convention happened in Philadelphia in 1787,\u201d said Jenna Winterle Kehres, the associate vice president of museum experience at the National Constitution Center. \u201cOver the course of the summer, the delegates debated and argued, compromised and then eventually came together and created the governing document that we know today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The U.S. Constitution features a preamble and seven articles essential to the U.S. government.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018We the people\u2019 is kind of like the mission statement of the Constitution, so I think it really clearly defines what the Constitution is going to do,\u201d she said. \u201cCreate this government, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense. I think starting with those three words, \u2018We the People,\u2019 shows exactly what the Constitution is: it\u2019s a government created by the people and it\u2019s for the people.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first three articles<\/a> establish the three branches of government: the legislative branch (Congress), the executive branch (president and their office) and the judicial branch (federal court system). The remaining articles detail the amendment and ratification process, declare that federal law is superior and explain the states\u2019 powers toward each other and the federal government.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The signing of the Constitution was historic<\/a> in that it created a government that no country had ever seen before.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O\u2019 Connor said<\/a> the document was concise and had a unique vision of freedom. She emphasized this was the first time citizens were allowed to select their own form of government \u2013 and put that government in the hands of the people.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Modern-day impact<\/p>\n

This document has remained the U.S. governing charter for almost 250 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile everything kind of began in 1787 with that first signing, I think we, as future generations, also kind of signed the Constitution ourselves by putting our mark on it,\u201d Winterle Kehres said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

She said part of what has made it so successful is its flexibility over time, in terms of amendments and ratification.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat amendment process, the fact that it can grow, it can change, it can respond to the needs of each generation, and each generation can change it \u2014 I think is what has made it last over time,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The first Signing of the Constitution will be the subject of this weekend\u2019s Philly \u2018Firstival,\u2019<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kat Black, an artist based between Philly and Mexico, created this week\u2019s firstival statue. She said she was inspired by the U.S. Constitution Center\u2019s exhibits and 250th anniversary elements.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey have this cool room in the Constitution Center that has these life-sized statues of all of the men together in one room and it looks like they\u2019re all talking and discussing all the things they want to put in the Constitution,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I took all those photos, made them into silhouettes and then added a few more elements like the actual hand signing of the Constitution, there\u2019s the map again and the colonies and the men sitting at the table and I decided to put half of them in red and half of them in blue.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"The National Constitution Center\u2019s \u2018Signers\u2019 Hall,\u2019 which includes life-size, bronze statues of the framers of the Constitution (Violet Comber-Wilen\/Billy Penn)<\/p>\n

This week\u2019s Firstival will feature family-friendly activities, a fife and drum performance, an appearance by a Benjamin Franklin reenactor and personal copies of the U.S. Constitution.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the National Constitution Center at 525 Arch St.<\/p>\n

Below is more info on all of this year\u2019s Firstivals \u2013 including where you can find this upcoming Saturday\u2019s Firstival dates and location.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Completed<\/strong><\/p>\n

Week 1: \u00a0Successful balloon flight in America (1793)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation\u2019s first folk parade (1901)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 7: Abolitionist society in America<\/a> (1775)<\/p>\n

Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America<\/a> (1984)<\/p>\n

Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America<\/a> (1688)<\/p>\n

Week 10: Flower Show<\/a> (1829)<\/p>\n

Week 11: Women\u2019s medical college<\/a> (1850)<\/p>\n

Week 12: Matchbook<\/a> (1892)<\/p>\n

Week 13: Medical school<\/a> (1765)<\/p>\n

Week 14: Stadium<\/a> (1895)<\/p>\n

Week 15: Circus performance<\/a> (1793)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 16: Botanical garden<\/a> (1728)<\/p>\n

Week 17: Postmaster<\/a> (1737)<\/p>\n

Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone<\/a> (1775 and 1893)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 19: Mother\u2019s Day<\/a> (1908)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 20: Hospital in America<\/a> (1751)<\/p>\n

Week 21: World\u2019s Fair on American soil<\/a> (1876)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight<\/a> (1787)<\/p>\n

Week 23: American flag<\/a> (1777)<\/p>\n

Week 24: U.S. Army<\/a> (1775)<\/p>\n

Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration<\/a> (1965)<\/p>\n

Week 26: Paper maker in America<\/a> (1690)<\/p>\n

Week 27: Bank of the United States<\/a> (1791)<\/p>\n

Week 28: Organized baseball team<\/a> (1831)<\/p>\n

Week 29: Ice cream soda<\/a> (Oct. 1874)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 30: American art school<\/a> (1805)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 31: Scientific Society of Natural History<\/a> (1812)<\/p>\n

Week 31: Zoo in America<\/a> (1874)<\/p>\n

Week 32: U.S. Mint<\/a> (1793)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 33: Selfie<\/a> (1839)<\/p>\n

Week 34: Slinky<\/a> (1943)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Upcoming<\/p>\n

\u2022 Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Sept. 5, National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Continental Congress (1774)
Sept. 12 at Carpenters\u2019 Hall, 320 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Naming of the United States (1776)
Sept. 19, Independence Hall<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022 University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Children\u2019s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. On Sept.…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1039316,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5132],"tags":[231950,5229,25417,32328,407,1322,231952,292651,472,229082,1448,2830,1311,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-1039315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-52-weeks-of-firsts","tag-america","tag-america-250","tag-constitution","tag-education","tag-featured","tag-firstival","tag-firstivals","tag-history","tag-national-constitution-center","tag-pa","tag-pennsylvania","tag-philadelphia","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1039315","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1039315"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1039315\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1039316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1039315"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1039315"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1039315"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}