Seasonal & Holidays
Signed Copy Of Declaration Of Independence On Display In RI
All four of Rhode Island's copies of the founding document, including one of just 13 original signed copies, will be on display July 2.
PROVIDENCE, RI — Just in time for the July 4 holiday, Rhode Islanders can immerse themselves in history this Friday. Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea invited the public to see one of the few original copies of the Declaration of Independence, on display at the state archives.
Rhode Island has four copies of the founding document, including one of just 13 original signed documents, as well as one of 13 original drafts of the Bill of Rights. The documents will be on display Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the archives at 33 Broad St.
State Archivist Ashley Selima will give a presentation about the documents and the preservation process starting at 12 :30 p.m. The public will be allowed to take photos of the documents without a flash or additional lights.
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The documents are usually stored off display in the archives' climate-controlled vault.
Anyone visiting the archives, which are free and open to the public, must wear a mask and get their temperature checked at the entrance. Off-street parking is available.
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