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Major historical documents from the National Archives are beginning a first-of-its-kind nationwide journey as the country marks the U.S. 250th anniversary, officials said. The documents—normally housed in highly controlled vaults—will travel to local museums for public display as part of commemoration plans tied to July 4, 1776, the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Jim Byron, senior adviser to the acting archivist of the United States, said the tour will bring “tangible history” to communities beyond Washington. He described the upcoming effort as unprecedented in that the documents have “not traveled,” and “they’ve certainly not traveled collectively, ever,” adding that they have remained in vaults.
The first leg begins Monday with the Boeing 737 “Freedom Plane,” scheduled to depart Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The plane’s initial stop will be Kansas City, Missouri, where the records will be transferred to the National WWI Museum and Memorial for a display period beginning Friday.
The tour’s documented holdings include a rare original engraving of the Declaration of Independence printed in 1823 from a copperplate of the original. The traveling group also includes the 1783 Treaty of Paris that formally ended the Revolutionary War and the 1778 Oaths of Allegiance signed by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and other officers of the Continental Army. Organizers also said the records include a rare draft copy of the U.S. Constitution with handwritten notes by delegates.
The National WWI Museum and Memorial expects to start with an initial display of more than two weeks. Matt Naylor, the museum’s president and CEO, said the “reality that these documents are leaving D.C. and coming to the heartland is fantastic,” and described early interest in the city as “overwhelming,” with local schools already booking visits for more than 5,000 schoolchildren.
Naylor said those bookings are a sign of broad enthusiasm surrounding the documents’ move into the region. He framed the initial reaction as generating sustained conversation about what the display means for Kansas City and surrounding communities.
Organizers said the tour is part of a wider set of America 250 and Freedom 250 efforts leading up to the anniversary. They said a congressionally chartered commission, America 250, and a separate White House-led initiative called Freedom 250 are coordinating events, an overlap that has drawn some criticism in Washington.
Officials described additional planned activities that accompany the document tour, including a fleet of mobile museums driving across the country, a story collection initiative, and a Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has also announced plans for a “Patriot Games” sporting event for high school athletes and a UFC mixed-martial arts fight at the White House.
After Kansas City, the Freedom Plane tour is scheduled to make additional stops, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, the Detroit suburb of Dearborn, and Seattle. The tour was inspired in part by the “American Freedom Train,” which carried pieces of U.S. history across 48 states in 1975 and 1976 during the bicentennial celebration, including items such as the original Louisiana Purchase documents, Judy Garland’s dress from “The Wizard of Oz,” and Jesse Owens’ gold medals from the 1936 Olympic Games.