The New York Public Library recently announced that in July of this year, a precious manuscript of the Declaration of Independence will be publicly displayed at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan as part of the important activities commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
The manuscript to be displayed is one of the four surviving handwritten versions made by founding father Thomas Jefferson after he completed the initial draft of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. It is not usually shown to the public and was donated to the library by trustee John S. Kennedy in 1896.
The exhibition will take place in the Gottesman Hall from July 1st to 7th, and entry will be scheduled in time slots with a reservation system. The first batch of free tickets will be available for reservation starting on June 1st. Due to the expected high number of visitors, the library recommends subscribing to the electronic newsletter “NYPL Connect” for the latest information.
In addition to the exhibition, the library will also launch a limited edition library card commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, featuring the manuscript of the Declaration of Independence held in the library as the theme. Applications for the special library card will open on June 1st.
The New York Public Library stated that the above activities are part of its comprehensive commemoration program titled “250 Years: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” which includes exhibitions, reading activities, and community projects. This also includes the “We the People: Reflections on America’s 250th Anniversary” public narrative project, inviting the public to share their observations and experiences of the current historical moment through writing and oral narratives. The related content will be archived for future research purposes.