As the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) will commemorate Constitution Day on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with the public showing of a rare draft copy of the US Constitution, containing the handwritten notes of Abraham Baldwin, one of Georgia's signers. One of approximately only twelve in existence, this rare document connects Georgia directly to our nation’s founding.

The exhibition will be free and open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the GHS Research Center in Savannah. In addition to Baldwin’s draft, visitors will encounter other rare documents and artifacts that highlight Georgia’s pivotal role in the founding and evolution of the United States, including a conserved Revolutionary War drum.

“As we begin the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, we invite everyone to take advantage of this rare opportunity to see one of the most significant documents in history,” said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and CEO of the Georgia Historical Society. “The US Constitution codified all that had been won in the Revolutionary War and created the government we enjoy to this day. It is a foundational piece of Georgia and American history and the greatest treasure in the Georgia Historical Society collection.”

Constitution Day serves as the kickoff to the 2025-2026 Georgia History Festival, the Georgia Historical Society’s signature K-12 educational program that reaches nearly 250,000 students statewide each year. This year’s commemoration will also feature materials and activities related to the Festival theme, A Nation of Laws: Courts and the Foundation of Freedom. Through classroom resources and public events—including the Colonial Faire and Muster, Super Museum Sunday, the Georgia Day Expo, and the Trustees Gala—the Festival brings history to life for people of all ages and inspires a deeper understanding of Georgia’s role in the American story.

For additional details, please visit www.georgiahistoryfestival.org or please contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or by email at [email protected].