250th Anniversary: 1st Reading of the Declaration of Independence

“Join Us” under the Capitol Dome at 3 PM on July 8th, 2026, and hear the Declaration of Independence read by members of George Rogers Clark Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and Sacajawea Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. These are direct descendants of families who heard the document read for the first time on July 8th, 1776, on town commons, and greens, up and down the east coast.

This is a simultaneous reading across the entire nation, at the same time in every state, including Alaska and Hawaii. Large and small cities alike have volunteered to participate in this ceremony. “Join Us” was the phrase used by Benjamin Franklin and since this is one of our founding documents, it applies just as much today as it did 250 years ago.