Philly’s New Exhibition on the Declaration of Independence: Everything You Need to Know

Think you know all there is to know about the Declaration of Independence?

Fair enough, but what do you know about the revolution sparked by the historic document that only started in the American colonies, before sweeping the globe, igniting over 100 independence movements worldwide?

Or about how Jefferson’s iconic words — “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal …” — transcend time and place, planting seeds at home that Americans have continued to till, cultivate and toil over for two and a half centuries?

And did you know that you can get the whole, revolutionary story at an ambitious, new multimedia exhibition at the Museum of the American Revolution?

Featuring over 120 historic objects, documents, artworks and more, The Declaration’s Journey tracks the history and legacy of the Declaration of Independence around the globe and back again, from 1776 to the present day.

Read on for a look inside the blockbuster exhibition, on view through January 3, 2027.

I’m intrigued. What’s waiting for me inside the exhibition?

A chair. A stool. And a whisper. That’s what greets you when you step into The Declaration’s Journey.

And suddenly, you’re a witness as two of America’s most influential minds — Thomas Jefferson and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. — meet against the (literal) larger-than-life backdrop of the Declaration of Independence.

The Founding Father is represented by a simple Windsor chair from which he is said to have drafted the Declaration of Independence, and the revolutionary Civil Rights leader is symbolized by the steel prison bench from where he invoked Jefferson’s own words while writing his Letter from a Birmingham Jail. (Hint: It’s not the last you’ll see of these two in this exhibit.)

Thomas Jefferson's chair   — Photo courtesy American Philosophical Society

Listen closely and you’ll hear the Declaration of Independence’s iconic words — translated in English, Spanish, Irish, an Iroquoian dialect and more — subtly washing over you.

This striking moment — my personal favorite — sets the scene for the ambitious exhibition and its vast collection of rare artifacts, works of art, illustrations, videos, audio and more.

Speaking of the collection, what else should I look out for?

With over 120 different objects on display — many belonging to some very famous names from history — there’s so much to see.

Peruse early newspapers and broadsides (shareable printings) of the Declaration of Independence that spread the good news across the nation and world, displayed alongside some of the first writings by African American leaders critiquing its clear contradictions.

A civil rights petition signed by 71 free Black Philadelphians, including Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, sent to Congress in 1799   — Photo courtesy National Archives & Records Administration

Come face-to-face with artifacts  — bloodstained prayer books, military uniforms and equipment — that saw rebellions and revolutions in Mexico, Chile and more.

Read handwritten notes by historic changemakers, like Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Some of my other favorite moments include:

• the object that traveled the farthest: a massive printing press central to Chile’s path to independence
• a military uniform and drum owned by Mexican revolutionary commander Vicente Guerrero
• the desk likely used by Elizabeth Cady Stanton while writing the History of Woman Suffrage, and
• an early LGBTQ+ Pride flag signed by Gilbert Baker, the artist behind the original design, displayed alongside a piece of the ceiling from the Stonewall Inn.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton's desk   — Photo courtesy Museum of the American Revolution

Is there programming for adults?

Yes! The exhibit features daily adult programming and activities, including an audio tour (available in six languages) for a small fee, supersized polls inspired by the exhibit, twice-daily flash talks with museum educators and special events.

How long should I expect to stay?

That is totally up to you! If you just want to catch the highlights, you can explore the entire gallery in 30 minutes, but if you take your time, you can spend over an hour perusing.

  — Photo courtesy Museum of the American Revolution

What’s the accessibility like?

The exhibit is quite accessible to folks with varying considerations.

Located on the museum’s first floor, the gallery is fully accessible for wheelchairs. Guests with sensory concerns might appreciate the dim lighting inside the experience, used to preserve the artifacts. All of its videos are captioned, and sign language translations are available using your mobile device.

The museum also offers accessibility accommodations across all its galleries. Guests just need to reach out at least two weeks before their visit.

For more about The Declration’s Journey, click the button below.

How does the exhibit fit in with Philly’s other Semiquincentennial happenings?

The Declaration’s Journey is just one of many (and we mean many) festivities commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary — a yearlong bash also known as the Semiquincentennial.

Exhibitions, special events, parties and more are popping off around Old City and across the city. Get into all of the fun using our guide.

  — Photo courtesy Museum of the American Revolution

For more about Philadelphia’s Semiquincentennial celebrations, click the button below.