Thanksgiving Weekend Programming
Over Thanksgiving Weekend, visitors to the National Constitution Center will explore the origins of this national holiday and learn about the Wampanoag people who lived in what is now New England. Special programming will examine the history of Thanksgiving as well as some of the myths surrounding the holiday. Visitors can also stop by arts and craft stations to create festive wreaths. See a full list of programming below.
Note: The National Constitution Center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25.
Thanksgiving Weekend Programming
Thanksgiving: Deconstructing the Myths
11 a.m., Grand Hall Lobby
Visitors can join the Center’s education staff to discuss and deconstruct images of Thanksgiving from different periods of American history, considering the historical context of each period. This program will unravel some of the myths surrounding the holiday by presenting a more holistic view of the past, which considers multiple perspectives and tells the story of the Wampanoag people. The program will also examine how the nation’s relationship with Native Americans has shaped contemporary understandings of the Thanksgiving holiday.
History of Thanksgiving Program
2 p.m., Grand Hall Lobby
Visitors are invited to join in the interactive “History of Thanksgiving” program, which explores the origins and importance of this national holiday. Learn about the Wampanoag people who lived in what is now New England, and the historic meal they shared with European settlers in 1621. The Center’s education staff will explore more about the Wampanoag and their culture, the events that led up to the harvest feast that year, and what food they would have eaten. Visitors are encouraged to participate as they learn about the roles presidents have played in creating the Thanksgiving holiday, and also popular Thanksgiving traditions, including the presidential turkey pardon.
