“Some of the United States’ most important historical documents began a first-of-its-kind journey Monday as part of the country’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
Typically housed in highly controlled vaults under the watch of preservation experts at the National Archives, documents such as the 1783 Treaty of Paris that formally ended the Revolutionary War and the 1774 Articles of Association that urged colonists to boycott British goods are rarely moved.
But those documents, signed by George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and other American revolutionary leaders, will be making their way across the country and put on display for free at local museums.
“It’s tangible history, and tangible history inspires,” said Jim Byron, senior adviser to the acting archivist of the United States. “These documents have not traveled, and they’ve certainly not traveled collectively, ever. They are here in vaults.”
The Boeing 737 “Freedom Plane” transporting the documents is just one of many events and activities planned across the country to mark America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The records include a rare original engraving of the Declaration of Independence printed in 1823 from a copperplate of the original; the Oaths of Allegiance signed in 1778 by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and other officers of the Continental Army; and a rare draft copy of the U.S. Constitution that includes handwritten notes by the delegates.” NSJ article <nsjonline.com/article/2026/03/major-historical-documents-start-jour ney-across-us-america-250/>
Los Angeles, CA: <d2tbk404.na1.hubspotlinks.com/Ctc/2N+113/d2tbK404/VX9-pL6TR-HDW3Px3 Xb7gx_68W3wqskQ5Jkn5XN74Pqt03m2nnW69sMD-6lZ3lXW4nszBd6G-bHSN3G0PnF5c4VQW45mc cl8cddJrW8DB-yr6dSwX2W4XT9G97P6mpyW79dCVw54J3BrW1VYvPH40HSljW8Pvd9N2jhlHWVz5 QqC23Sf2tW1Dgm5d3fJKd8V3KBvq2kFRZTW90Q_p88nW_18VBpgpw22s67kW1HcLQd7ygVTHW8sL hLT1yVDqTVBz1Ch7Scd9ZVB3d445gJtypW5Mlc3X30fnNqW6-w0718-GFDwN2RzB_6CSr5Jf4pG_ Wn04> University of Southern California Fisher Museum of Art : Friday, April 17 – Sunday, May 3
Typically housed in highly controlled vaults under the watch of preservation experts at the National Archives, documents such as the 1783 Treaty of Paris that formally ended the Revolutionary War and the 1774 Articles of Association that urged colonists to boycott British goods are rarely moved.
But those documents, signed by George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and other American revolutionary leaders, will be making their way across the country and put on display for free at local museums.
“It’s tangible history, and tangible history inspires,” said Jim Byron, senior adviser to the acting archivist of the United States. “These documents have not traveled, and they’ve certainly not traveled collectively, ever. They are here in vaults.”
The Boeing 737 “Freedom Plane” transporting the documents is just one of many events and activities planned across the country to mark America’s upcoming 250th anniversary celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The records include a rare original engraving of the Declaration of Independence printed in 1823 from a copperplate of the original; the Oaths of Allegiance signed in 1778 by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and other officers of the Continental Army; and a rare draft copy of the U.S. Constitution that includes handwritten notes by the delegates.” NSJ article <nsjonline.com/article/2026/03/major-historical-documents-start-jour ney-across-us-america-250/>
Los Angeles, CA: <d2tbk404.na1.hubspotlinks.com/Ctc/2N+113/d2tbK404/VX9-pL6TR-HDW3Px3 Xb7gx_68W3wqskQ5Jkn5XN74Pqt03m2nnW69sMD-6lZ3lXW4nszBd6G-bHSN3G0PnF5c4VQW45mc cl8cddJrW8DB-yr6dSwX2W4XT9G97P6mpyW79dCVw54J3BrW1VYvPH40HSljW8Pvd9N2jhlHWVz5 QqC23Sf2tW1Dgm5d3fJKd8V3KBvq2kFRZTW90Q_p88nW_18VBpgpw22s67kW1HcLQd7ygVTHW8sL hLT1yVDqTVBz1Ch7Scd9ZVB3d445gJtypW5Mlc3X30fnNqW6-w0718-GFDwN2RzB_6CSr5Jf4pG_ Wn04> University of Southern California Fisher Museum of Art : Friday, April 17 – Sunday, May 3