This week at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, we are celebrating Constitution Day, which officially takes place on Tuesday, September 17. The Constitution was signed 237 years ago in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to establish the framework of our government.

Constitution Day has taken place annually since 2004 to honor this document and the critical role it plays in the United States. As we commemorate this date in history, we’re sharing some fun facts about the Constitution:

  • The Constitution is the oldest and shortest written national constitution.
  • The Constitution was signed in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the same location where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
  • 55 delegates attended the Constitutional Convention, but only 39 delegates signed the Constitution.
  • While the Constitution was signed in 1787, the government did not operate under the Constitution until 1789.
  • The first national “Thanksgiving Day” was created as a way of “giving thanks” for the Constitution.
  • The original, handwritten Constitution is on display at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Source: National Constitution Center