National treasures to be displayed in Dearborn this July - Detroit Metro Times

Detroit to Host Rare Documents from US Founding Era in Celebration of Nation's 250th Anniversary

In July, The Henry Ford museum will become the first stop on an eight-city tour featuring rare documents that forged America's nationhood. The "Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation" exhibition is being presented by the National Archives and Records Administration and the National Archives Foundation.

These historic artifacts offer a glimpse into pivotal moments in American history, including one of only 50 known engraved copies of the Declaration of Independence. Guests will also get to see the Articles of Association, the first unified act of resistance against Britain by the Continental Congress; oaths of allegiance from founding fathers like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron Burr; and a rare copy of the U.S. Constitution in its draft form.

Additionally, the exhibition features the Treaty of Paris, which formally recognized the United States as an independent nation, along with a tally of votes approving the constitution. These unique artifacts are being showcased for free to the public, but visitors must reserve tickets at thehenryford.org ahead of time to secure their spot.

The timing of this exhibition is particularly significant, as it coincides with America's 250th birthday celebration. According to Jim Byron, senior advisor to the archivist of the United States, "There is no more noteworthy an occasion than America's 250th birthday to share this history, to inspire our fellow Americans to champion our nation’s founding ideals into the future."

The exhibition promises to be a rare opportunity for the public to bear witness to the people and principles that shaped America's founding. By visiting The Henry Ford museum in July, guests will have the chance to experience these historic documents up close and explore the country's rich history.

I'm not sure why everyone's gonna freak out about seeing these old docs at The Henry Ford... I mean, they're just papers, right? Like, what's so special about them? We all know the story already – America became a country and stuff. It's not like these documents are gonna change our minds or anything. I'm sure it'll be cool to see 'em in person, but let's keep things in perspective, ya know?

And honestly, why should we have to reserve tickets just to see some old papers? Can't they just open the museum to everyone and let us decide if we wanna check it out or not? I'm all for learning about history and all that, but sometimes I feel like museums are just trying too hard to make a big deal out of things.

I'm so stoked that Detroit is gonna host this epic exhibition ! It's crazy how rare these documents are and I'm low-key obsessed with seeing the Declaration of Independence engraved copies in person . And can you believe they're making it free for everyone to see? That's, like, super cool, dude . I think it's gonna be a total game-changer for history buffs and anyone interested in learning more about America's founding. The fact that it coincides with the country's 250th birthday is just, like, perfect timing . Let's go to Detroit and get ready to witness some major American history !

I'm so stoked about this exhibition ! It's like, we're celebrating our nation's 250th birthday and they're bringing out some of the most iconic documents in American history? I mean, can you even imagine seeing one of only 50 known engraved copies of the Declaration of Independence in person?! My friend's family is from Detroit and they're actually planning to visit The Henry Ford museum during this exhibition. It's gonna be a major hit, especially for students like us who love history! We should totally plan a field trip out of it

I think it's super cool that they're making these amazing historical documents available for everyone to see ! I mean, can you imagine getting to hold one of only 50 copies of the Declaration of Independence in your hands? It's like stepping into a time machine and experiencing America's history firsthand. And the fact that it's free is just awesome – more people should be able to take advantage of this incredible opportunity to learn about their country's founding. I'm definitely planning on checking out the exhibition when it rolls around...

ugh i dont know how theyre gonna fit all those old docs into thehenryford... seems like a lot of people wanna see this stuff and im sure its gonna be super crowded . cant even get tickets booked in advance without messing up my whole day. what if u just wanted to check out some exhibits thats fine too? can never seem to do that anymore

omg I'm so hyped about this!!! 250 years of America's birthday is such a big deal and I feel like we're gonna learn so much about our country's past! Those rare documents are literally like, super historic and I wish I could see the engraved copy of the Declaration of Independence in person. That sounds mind-blowing! And can you even imagine seeing George Washington and Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr taking oaths of allegiance? Like, what an incredible experience that would be! The fact that it's free for everyone is amazing too - more people should get to see these incredible artifacts! I'm definitely going to reserve my ticket ASAP. Have you guys ever been to The Henry Ford museum before?

I'm so glad they're finally showing off this stuff, I mean, it's about time, right? Like, what took 'em so long? But seriously, 250 years old, that's crazy. And only 50 copies of the Declaration of Independence? That's just ridiculous. I bet some collector out there has one of those and is just sitting on their gold-plated vault collecting dust.

And free for everyone to see? Yeah right, they're gonna nickel-and-dime you for the tickets and make you reserve them like 3 months in advance. Mark my words, this is just a tourist trap waiting to happen. People are gonna flock there like sheep, thinking it's some kinda historic experience, but really it's just gonna be a bunch of old papers on display.

so great america is turning 250 , just in time for a bunch of old papers to go on display... like who cares about the actual founding fathers when you can see some engraved copies of the declaration of independence? also 8 city tour, that sounds super exclusive and not at all touristy at all anyone got tickets yet?

The announcement of an exhibition featuring rare US Founding Era documents at The Henry Ford museum is a significant milestone , coinciding with America's 250th anniversary celebration in 2026 . It's fascinating to think that these artifacts, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Association, will be displayed for free to the public . This exhibition promises to provide an immersive experience into the nation's founding history, allowing visitors to connect with the people and principles that shaped America . By exploring these historic documents, the public can gain a deeper understanding of the country's evolution and the enduring ideals that have defined it . Overall, I think this is a great initiative to inspire Americans to continue championing their nation's founding values .