Independent historical/civic site. Not official and not affiliated with America250, the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, or the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.
76

The Spirit of ’76

An independent historical and civic guide to America’s 250th anniversary
Event template

How to host a public Declaration reading

  1. Choose a public location with shade, seating, sound, and access.
  2. Use the National Archives transcript as the reading source.
  3. Divide the text into sections and assign readers.
  4. Open with a short explanation of the document.
  5. Close with local civic announcements or a service invitation.

Suggested reader mix

Students, veterans, teachers, librarians, local officials, business owners, clergy, immigrants, and longtime residents.