Bruce Springsteen Exhibit at the National Constitution Center

by: BonnieSquires

Fri Feb 17, 2012 at 15:01:23 PM EST

David Eisner, President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, admires the 1975 simultaneous Springsteen covers of TIME and NEWSWEEK magazines, part of the new exhibit, "From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen."

The National Constitution Center is the only venue to host the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum's must-see exhibition, From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen, outside of Cleveland, where the exhibit has been housed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.  The first major exhibition about the American songwriter will run at the Center from February 17 to September 3, 2012.

The opening reception attracted 1100 friends and supporters of the Center, including the Honorable Joan Specter, who serves as Director of Major Grants for the Center, and her husband, Senator Arlen Specter.  Mayor Bob Johnson, of Asbury Park, New Jersey, was also in attendance and greeted the guests from the bandstand.

The B Street Band entertained party-goers with rousing Springsteen renditions, and the food was typical boardwalk-seashore variety, including hot dogs, pop corn, cotton candy, and hamburgers.

More after the jump.

The Honorable Joan Specter, Director of Major Gifts at the Center, and her husband Senator Arlen Specter, admire some of the extraordinary photos of Springsteen included in the exhibit.

"I worked very closely with Bruce and his organization to put this exhibit together," said Jim Henke, vice president of exhibitions and chief curator at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.  "It's a comprehensive look at Bruce's entire career and contains numerous items that have never been seen by the public.  The exhibit was a huge hit when it was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I am very happy that even more people will be able to see it now that it's at the National Constitution Center."

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land takes a comprehensive look at Springsteen's career and catalog, from such early bands as Child, the Castiles and Steel Mill through his work with the E Street Band and as a solo artist.  Throughout the 5,000-square-foot exhibition, visitors will have the rare opportunity to view more than 150 items, including:

Robin and David Alpher were among the 1100 people enjoying the opening beach party for the Springsteen exhibit, on loan from the Cleveland Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum.

• Family photos of Springsteen's childhood in Asbury Park, N.J.
  
• Scrapbooks containing newspaper clippings, photos and handbills from Springsteen's early music endeavors
  
• Handwritten lyrics from all phases of Springsteen's career
  
• Saxophone used by the late Clarence Clemons to play the solo in "Jungleland" from Born to Run
  
• Springsteen's 1960 Chevrolet Corvette
  
• Springsteen's Fender Esquire from the cover of Born to Run
  
• The outfit Springsteen wore on the cover of Born in the U.S.A.
  
• Springsteen's 1993 Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Streets of Philadelphia"
  

To complement the exhibition, the Center's public programming staff is developing a variety of interactive programs and activities for students, teachers and families about the importance of free expression.  The Center also is planning a series of special events celebrating the music of Bruce Springsteen.

Celia Feinstein (third from the right), director of Temple University's Institute on Disabilities, brought her colleagues along who love Springsteen's music.

Admission to From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen is $24.50 for adults, $23 for seniors and students and $12 for children ages 4-12.  Group rates also are available.  Admission to the Center's main exhibition, The Story of We the People, including the award-winning theater production Freedom Rising, is included.  For ticket information, call 215.409.6700 or visit www.constitutioncenter.org.

CBS 3 and The CW Philly are the local media partners for the exhibition.  CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly 57 (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.

Photo Credit: Bonnie Squires.

Bob and Sybie Brassler paid tribute to the rock and roll music icon.

Herschel and Betsy Richman enjoy the Asbury Park-like treats at the opening reception, while enjoying the sounds of Springsteen's rock and roll hits.