On December 15, 2016, Americans everywhere will celebrate the 225th anniversary of the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights, added to the Constitution in 1791 as the first ten amendments, protects rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the freedom to freely practice religion. The Constitution gives the government power; the Bill of Rights protects individual liberties. These two ideas have helped to make our Constitution the longest lasting of any nation in the world.
Indiana Humanities is partnering with the National Archives and Records Administration to help award nonprofits with a small pop-up exhibit on the Bill of Rights to commemorate the anniversary. The exhibit is available for free to libraries, schools, museums and other community organizations through an application process.
A total of 38 organizations were awarded the pop-up exhibit (see the list here). Organizations must display the exhibits from Dec. 15, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016 at minimum, and are encouraged to create public programs about the Bill of Rights and their continuing importance today. The National Archives is creating a program guide and curriculum materials which will be available by mid-November. Additionally, each awarded site in Indiana will receive a set of pocket Constitutions to distribute to the general public.
