Two hundred and thirty-nine years ago, on September 17, bells rang out in Philadelphia to announce that, after months of debate, the United States Constitution had been signed. 

This Thursday, September 17, at 4:00 p.m., the Delaware Public Archives will host the Delaware Society, Daughters of the American Revolution for a one-minute ringing of the USS Delaware bell, to commemorate the 239th anniversary of the Constitution’s signing.  

The bell ringing recalls the bells that sounded in Philadelphia following the completion of the Constitution in 1787 and is part of the Archives’ observance of Constitution Week, September 17 – 23.  

Visitors can also explore a special digital display in the Archives lobby throughout Constitution Week highlighting significant Constitution-related records preserved in the Delaware Public Archives. The display traces Delaware’s role from the call for the Constitutional Convention and George Read’s copy of the newly completed Constitution to Delaware’s historic ratification as the First State and its later ratification of the proposed Bill of Rights. 

This bell-ringing event and digital display are free and open to the public.  

For more information about the Delaware Public Archives or to learn more about upcoming events and programs, visit archives.delaware.gov.   

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