- June 11, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
- Museum of the American Revolution
-
Get tickets
$25 onsite simulcast and $12 remote livestream access now available.
Onsite ticketholders are invited to a complimentary reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with access to The Declaration's Journey.
The formal program and livestream access will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Join The Atlantic Across America tour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 11, in partnership with the Museum of the American Revolution and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism for an evening of reflection on the enduring and evolving American idea.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, what does the Constitution mean today and what might it mean for the generations ahead? The program will feature a conversation with elected officials including Representative Madeleine Dean on the state of Pennsylvania—examining the issues, ideas, and communities shaping the commonwealth at this pivotal moment, and the role Pennsylvania continues to play in the life of the nation.
Then, in a wide-ranging assessment of the promises, paradoxes, and possibilities of America’s founding documents, Atlantic staff writer Clint Smith, Atlantic contributing writer Jeffrey Rosen, CEO emeritus of the National Constitution Center, and Melissa Murray, Professor, Constitutional Law, New York University, and Co-Host, Strict Scrutiny, will sit down with The Atlantic’s managing director, Evan Smith, to explore how the country’s defining ideals have been contested and reimagined across generations—and how to carry that legacy forward. More speakers to be announced soon.
$25 onsite simulcast and $12 remote livestream access now available.
Onsite ticketholders are invited to a complementary reception from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with access to the Museum's current special exhibition, The Declaration's Journey. The formal program and livestream access will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Speakers
Clint Smith
Clint Smith is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America. He is also the author of two books of poetry, the New York Times bestselling collection Above Ground as well as Counting Descent. Both poetry collections were winners of the Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and both were finalists for NAACP Image Awards.
Jeffrey Rosen
Jeffrey Rosen is a contributing writer for The Atlantic and a professor of law at George Washington University. He is the author, most recently, of The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America.
Melissa Murray
Melissa Murray is the Frederick I. and Grace Stokes Professor of Law at NYU School of Law, where she teaches constitutional law, family law, and reproductive rights and justice. She is a co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Trump Indictments: The Historic Charging Documents with Commentary, and The U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader.
Evan Smith
Evan Smith is managing director of events at The Atlantic, overseeing live journalism and other public programming produced by the award-winning 169-year-old magazine. He’s also a senior advisor at Emerson Collective, working closely with journalists and funders around the country to support local news.
Madeleine Dean
Madeleine Dean was born and raised in Glenside, Pennsylvania. She graduated from La Salle University and earned her law degree at Widener University. After practicing law in the Philadelphia region, she returned to LaSalle as a professor of writing. Congresswoman Dean then served as a state Representative before being elected to Congress in 2018 to represent Pennsylvania’s Fourth District, suburban Philadelphia.
Now in her fourth term, Congresswoman Dean serves on the Appropriations and Foreign Affairs Committees. In Congress, Madeleine remains focused on decency and the common good.
Learn More
The Declaration’s Journey
October 18, 2025 - January 3, 2027
Plan Your Visit
