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Deets: The New York Public Library announced its plans to commemorate the semiquincentennial of the United States with a 2026 public viewing of The Declaration of Independence and a sweeping five-part exhibition spanning 250 years of history – all for free. 

The New York Public Library will display its manuscript copy of the Declaration of Independence from July 1 to 3 of next year––250 years after the Founding Fathers ratified the landmark document. The Library’s world-class Manuscripts and Archives Division holds a fair copy of the original manuscript of the Declaration of Independence, which differs from the version that was ratified on July 4, 1776. The most notable difference being a lengthy condemnation of the slave trade, which was later removed to appease delegates from Georgia and South Carolina. Handwritten by Thomas Jefferson, the Library’s copy of the Declaration of Independence provides a unique lens into this watershed moment in American history. 

Reservations will be required to view the Declaration of Independence, and can be made beginning in June 2026. In anticipation of high demand, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building will extend its hours during the viewing period to better accommodate patrons.

Join us for a rare opportunity to see one of the jewels of our collections: a fair copy, in Thomas Jefferson's hand, of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson created this copy to document what the Second Continental Congress had removed from his draft—including a fervent rebuke of the slave trade. This unique document highlights the tensions between liberty and enslavement at the nation's founding and reveals the ongoing work necessary to live up to the Declaration's sweeping promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Hint for the Average Socialite: Download our Free App to get a reminder for the free ticket release on June 1, 2026!

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