More About The Declaration of Independence: The Motives, the Moment
As part of the America 250 initiative, the Lilly Library is proud to present an exhibition exploring the Declaration of Independence.
The Declaration of Independence: The Motives, The Moment examines a crucial time in American history through the collections of the Lilly Library. The first printing of the Declaration of Independence, one of only twenty-six copies known today, is the centerpiece of the exhibition. Printed immediately for distribution, it is the source of all revolutionary era reprintings. The famous hand-written version was an official formality created later, signed in August, and stored away.
Books, pamphlets, newspapers, prints, and letters allow viewers to explore key questions about this moment in time. How did a people proud to be in the British empire come to believe independence was possible or even desirable? What ideas and historical events did they draw on to justify resistance to Great Britain? What kinds of communication networks would be crucial for circulating the Declaration and countless other revolutionary documents throughout the colonies?
Monday-Friday 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The Declaration of Independence: The Motives, The Moment examines a crucial time in American history through the collections of the Lilly Library. The first printing of the Declaration of Independence, one of only twenty-six copies known today, is the centerpiece of the exhibition. Printed immediately for distribution, it is the source of all revolutionary era reprintings. The famous hand-written version was an official formality created later, signed in August, and stored away.
Books, pamphlets, newspapers, prints, and letters allow viewers to explore key questions about this moment in time. How did a people proud to be in the British empire come to believe independence was possible or even desirable? What ideas and historical events did they draw on to justify resistance to Great Britain? What kinds of communication networks would be crucial for circulating the Declaration and countless other revolutionary documents throughout the colonies?
Monday-Friday 9:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Sat 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Date & Time
May 19, 2026
Additional Dates
This event also occurs on:
05/26/2026, 06/02/2026, 06/09/2026, 06/16/2026 and 5 other dates
Location
Lilly Library
1200 E 7TH ST
Bloomington, IN 47405
Communities
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