National Constitution Center Thanksgiving Family Weekend

About this adventure

Over Thanksgiving weekend, the National Constitution Center on Independence Mall hosts a weekend of family-oriented living history and educational activities exploring the rich history of Thanksgiving. Through engaging interactive theater presentations and artifact talks, visitors learn how the 1621 harvest feast between the Wampanoag and Pilgrims evolved into a national holiday shaped by George Washington's 1789 proclamation and Abraham Lincoln's 1863 wartime declaration. Kids can participate in hands-on Thanksgiving craft workshops, including making traditional corn husk dolls, writing thank-you letters to active military service members overseas, and learning about the quirky White House tradition of the presidential turkey pardon. Families also explore Signers' Hall to pose alongside 42 life-sized bronze statues of the Founding Fathers.