The National Constitution Center (NCC) is an American organization that seeks to expand awareness and understanding of the United States Constitution and operates a museum to advance those purposes. The Center is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan institution. Governance of the Center includes a five-year plan published in December 2010, a Board of Trustees, a CEO and COO. The CEO as of 2012 is David Eisner, who has held this position since November 2009 and has tendered his resignation, effective October 31, 2012.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the museum was held on September 17, 2000–213 years to the day after the original Constitution was signed. On July 4, 2003, it was opened and the National Constitution Center joined other notable sites and iconic exhibits in what has been called "America's most historical square mile" because of the proximity of historical landmarks such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Then-Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, officiating at the opening ceremonies, said, "It will contribute each and every day to the reinforcement of the basic principles that bind us together as a nation and a people."
The cost of construction for the Center up to its opening in 2003 was US$137 million. Annual attendance had its peak during the first couple of years after opening, at ~1 million visitors; In 2011, the Center had 817,000 visitors.
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