Museum · 4 blocks from Society Hill Hotel
National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center is the country's only museum devoted to the Constitution itself — its drafting, its arguments, and its ongoing interpretation. Four blocks from Society Hill Hotel, it sits at the north end of Independence Mall.
Walking distance
7 min on foot
4 blocks from 301 Chestnut
Address
525 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Hours
Typically Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, with later hours some evenings. Closed Monday/Tuesday much of the year. Check constitutioncenter.org for the current schedule.
Admission
Paid admission — adult general admission around $14.50 at last check; discounts for students, seniors, military, and youth.
Hours and admission change seasonally. For the authoritative schedule and any day-of closures, check the official site.
What to expect
What a visit actually looks like.
The centerpiece experience, Freedom Rising, is a 17-minute live theatrical presentation that covers the Constitution's origin in under 20 minutes and runs throughout the day. Beyond it: Signers' Hall, where 42 life-size bronze statues of the Constitutional Convention delegates stand around a table, is a genuinely affecting room. Rotating exhibits in recent years have covered voting rights, the First Amendment, and presidential power. Plan 2–3 hours.
A short history.
Authorized by Congress in 1988 and opened on July 4, 2003, the Center is chartered as a nonpartisan educational institution. Its programming spans the full political spectrum and is widely used by schools, courts, and journalists as a reference. The building itself is a 2003 design by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners — clean limestone, intentional sightlines toward Independence Hall.
Tips for visiting
- 01Check the daily schedule — Freedom Rising runs multiple times but fills up.
- 02Buy tickets online in advance for a small discount and to skip the counter.
- 03The upper-floor café has good city views over Independence Mall if you want a mid-tour break.
- 04Allow 2–3 hours to do it justice; 1 hour if you're only here for Freedom Rising and Signers' Hall.
While you’re in the neighborhood
Three more within a few blocks.
Staying in Old City?
Society Hill Hotel is 4 blocks from National Constitution Center.
Twelve rooms in an 1832 building at 301 Chestnut, in the heart of Old City. Walk everywhere you came to Philadelphia to see — National Constitution Center is a 7-minute walk from our front door. Mobile keycode check-in. No front desk. Piccolina, a contemporary Italian restaurant, on the ground floor.
- · Walk to Independence Hall in 4 min
- · Restaurant downstairs
- · Mobile check-in, no desk
- · 1832 building, fully restored
Reserve a room
Mobile keycode check-in. No front desk.