Declaration of Independence Recedes From 250th Spotlight as 9 Million Saw It at 1876 Centennial
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jul 3
Declaration of Independence Recedes From 250th Spotlight as 9 Million Saw It at 1876 Centennial
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jul 3
Summary
Monday’s 250th-anniversary milestone passed with no line at the National Archives rotunda, underscoring how little the Declaration itself has figured in the official celebration.
Official events have instead highlighted spectacles including a White House UFC event and an August Freedom 250 Grand Prix route around the National Mall, rather than the document under glass.
In 1876, the Declaration was transported from Washington to Philadelphia and served as the centerpiece of the Centennial Exhibition, which drew 9 million visitors from a nation of about 46 million.
Colleen Shogan, the former U.S. archivist dismissed early in the Trump administration, said the official activities have placed scant emphasis on the founding document.