With little to show but enthusiasm, the development staff at the National Constitution Center managed to fund a dream.

By Margaret Battistelli Gardner

By April 2002, there were about 1,800 members on the files. As the opening drew closer, direct mail began to offer firm dates, as well as invitations to take part in activities, free admission, etc., and the response grew considerably, Seiter says. On opening day, the NCC had more than 6,000 members.