WASHINGTON -- The United States Constitution was signed 225 years ago on Sept. 17, 1787. You could celebrate by considering how the Constitution ought -- or ought not -- to evolve or by considering its less-inclusive origins. You could even go see some reenactments or debate Obamacare.
Or go see the first U.S. president's copy of the document -- which recently sold for just under $10 million at auction -- now on view at George Washington's plantation in Virginia.
Mount Vernon is putting Washington’s annotated copy of the Acts of Congress on display through Feb. 18, 2013. This is a leather-bound volume that contains the Constitution, a draft of the Bill of Rights and other documents relating to the beginning of the U.S. government. Of interest to presidential gawkers: the volume, which was printed for Washington in 1789 during his first year in office, also contains the president's hand-written notes.
Until Oct. 29, Washington's first draft of the Constitution will also be on view.
And that's not all for fans of the country's founding documents. Until Wednesday, the National Archives will be showing the Constitution's so-called Fifth Page -- or transmittal page -- for the first time. This page, signed by Washington, describes how the Constitution was to be ratified and put into effect. (See the page here; read its text here.)
See the Fifth Page at the National Archives' East Rotunda Gallery. Also check out the rest of the Constitution and related live programs -- some involving cake, some involving lectures -- while you're there.
Exercise freedom of speech: tell us in the comments how you're planning to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.
