Civics in the First Circuit

U.S. Courthouse Exhibit Information

Judicial Independence Exhibit (Philadelphia Courthouse - Third Circuit)
A permanent display on the history and importance of judicial independence, developed by the Third Circuit and installed in the James A. Byrne U.S. Courthouse lobby in Philadelphia.

Virtual Tour of Courthouse Exhibits (District of New Hampshire)
A guided virtual tour of the historical exhibits displayed throughout the Warren B. Rudman Courthouse in Concord, including a printable walking-tour guide for in-person visitors.

District of Puerto Rico Historical Flag Project
A collection of historical U.S. and Puerto Rico flags displayed in the lobby of the Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse in Hato Rey, along with the state flags of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island — the First Circuit's other member jurisdictions. The page links to a narrative description of each flag.

Minnesota Justice and Democracy Courthouse Centers
Now has both a St. Paul location and a Minneapolis location; includes an interactive exhibit, a searchable repository of educator lesson plans by grade/topic/state standard, and Bill of Rights Day programming.

Judicial Learning Center (Eastern District of Missouri)
Includes student and teacher resources and information about tours and community programs.

Western District of Missouri Bell Room
Self-guided interactive gallery on the second floor of the Charles E. Whittaker Courthouse in Kansas City, named for the 4,000-lb. bronze bell from the district's first federal courthouse; free and open to the public during business hours, with guided tours available for groups of 10+.

Southern District of California Exhibits
Now includes two new additions: the Federal Judicial Center Art Walk, an interactive map of sculptures, murals, and installations throughout the courthouses, and The Courthouse Gallery, a public art exhibit completed in 2025 showcasing local artists.

Kennedy Learning Center's Educational Exhibits and Programs Page
For more information on the Kennedy Learning Center's exhibits, contact Jenna Simon Halai of the Ninth Circuit.

D.C. Circuit Great Hall Exhibition
Ten display panels on the 200-year history of the D.C. Circuit courts, on view in the Great Hall of the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse; each panel's content (criminal law and trials, the First Amendment, wartime cases, and more) is also available as a downloadable PDF on the page.

Northern District of Illinois Court History Museum (Chicago)
Located in Room 2144A of the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse; free and open to the public, maintained by the Northern District of Illinois Court Historical Association.

Federal Court Learning Center (Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis)
Opened in 2023 in the Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse; interactive exhibits on the Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases, federal court basics, jury service, and judiciary careers, plus building art/architecture. Open weekdays for self-guided tours; group/class tours by appointment (tours@insd.uscourts.gov). 

Judicial Education and History Center (Eastern District of Missouri, Cape Girardeau)
Permanent exhibits at the Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. U.S. Courthouse — on the life of Judge Limbaugh, the role of the judicial branch and federal-vs-state courts, and an illustrated timeline of Missouri's federal legal history spanning 200+ years. 

Justice for All: Courts and the Community Learning Center (Second Circuit / Southern District of New York)
On the 5th floor of the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse in Manhattan — touchscreen exhibit kiosks on federal court history and operations, plus a "Create Space" where students can produce videos, podcasts, and practice moot courts. Open to the public; group visits by request. 

Federal Judicial Learning Center & Museum (Western District of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City)
Located in the historic 1912 U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (home to the district's bankruptcy court); interactive exhibits, artifacts, and oral histories, including displays on the Machine Gun Kelly kidnapping case and the Osage Reign of Terror trials. Free admission, weekdays 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; field trips for grades 4–12 and mock trials available on request.