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Bill of Rights exhibit opens at Fort Saturday

STEUBENVILLE — “The Bill of Rights & You,” created by the National Archives Traveling Exhibits Service, will be on display as part of the annual Celebrate the Constitution exhibit sponsored by Historic Fort Steuben and the Fort Steuben Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at the Fort Steuben Visitors Center.

The exhibit that opens Saturday highlights the history of America’s founding document, which is commemorated every year on Sept. 17, Constitution Day.

The additional panels on the Bill of Rights were produced with funding from the DAR, the Ohio Valley Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution and a grant from the Gulfport Energy Fund through the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio. The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio is a regional community foundation serving the 32 counties of Appalachian Ohio.

“The importance of the Constitution and of knowing our rights as citizens seems to grow every year,” explained Judy Bratten, executive director of Historic Fort Steuben and the Visitors Center.

“The Bill of Rights, added to the Constitution in 1791 as the first 10 amendments, protects rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the freedom to freely practice religion. The Constitution gives the government power; the Bill of Rights protects individual liberties. These two ideas have helped to make our Constitution the most successful and longest lasting of any nation in the world,” Bratten continued.

“Before our Constitution’s amending process was detailed in Article V, governments generally changed through war or violence, not votes. As Abraham Lincoln said, the Founders truly believed that the government was to be of the people, by the people and for the people. Proposing an amendment is easy, but two-thirds of both houses of Congress and three-fourths of the states must approve the change before it is added to the Constitution. That is why, out of more than 11,000 attempts, only 27 have been successful,” continued Bratten.

“Besides providing information on the history of the document and the men who signed it, the exhibit also offers visitors the opportunity to sign a replica of the Constitution and watch a movie depicting the lively proceedings of the 1787 Constitutional Convention. Activity sheets and Bill of Rights cards are available and pocket constitutions are on sale in the museum shop,” stated Bratten.

Constitution Day was the brainchild of the late Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia who carried a copy of the Constitution with him and was emphatic about making Constitution Day events a requirement for organizations that receive federal funds.

Individuals, families, school groups and civic organizations are invited to visit the free exhibit that runs until Sept. 23.

The visitor center is located at 120 S. Third St. and is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon until 4 p.m. on Sundays.

For information, call (740) 283-1787.

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