NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER OPENS IN PHILADELPHIA ON JULY 4^TH
Week-long Patriotic Fun & Festivities in America’s Birthplace

PHILADELPHIA, June 2, 2003 – It doesn’t get any better than this year’s Fourth of July bash in Philadelphia. In addition to the annual Sunoco Welcome America! festivities, the city is celebrating the grand opening of the National Constitution Center, the first museum in the world dedicated to honoring the U.S. Constitution and yet another milestone in the redevelopment of Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park. This monumental opening includes a weekend filled with Constitution-themed parades, events and performances throughout the region – making Philadelphia a once-in-a-lifetime destination this Fourth of July.

Visitors can get into the swing on July 2 with an All-American Evening on the Mall, featuring free dance and music performances on the National Constitution Center’s lawn. Nearby sites and attractions will join in the celebration by keeping their doors open after hours. Festivities continue on July 3 with The Red, White and Blue To-Do, a late-evening reception.

At 2 p.m. on July 4, following the building's dedication ceremony, visitors can wander through more than 100 multimedia exhibits. Live actors share slices of late-18th-century life as film, music and audio recreate historic events, bringing the Constitution – and its impact on American life – alive. The highly interactive museum offers visitors the chance to take the presidential oath of office, cast their votes for their favorite president and sign today’s Constitution.

For more information about the Center and to find out where to pick up the Grand Opening Guide, listing opening events in detail, general information and special discounts, call (215) 409-6600 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org. For a high-resolution version of the rendering, contact Liz Barszczewski at (215) 409-6636 or Kristen Ciappa at (215) 599-2004.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

Note to Editors: For story angles and photographic images of Philadelphia and its surrounding countryside, visit gophila.com/pressroom.     June 2003

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