The Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence: The Origins, Meanings, and Afterlives of America’s Founding Document

The story of the making of the Declaration of Independence often centers on its revolutionary authors, prominent politicians such as John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and (above all) Thomas Jefferson. But the Declaration we know today is equally a product of generations of readers, individuals and groups who discovered different meanings among its self-evident truths.

This exhibition, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the document in 2026, invites visitors to experience the responses to the Declaration in the age of the American Revolution, consider unfolding understandings over time, and explore conflicting interpretations individuals and groups have proposed at significant moments in history.

Highlighting compelling and unique materials from the eighteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries, and attending to the special role debates in Illinois have played in shaping the meaning of the Declaration, the exhibition will provide visitors with fresh perspectives on one of the most important documents in the history of modern politics. As the nation approaches a significant milestone the exhibit offers a forum for reflecting on the multiple legacies of the founding document of the United States.

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