A photograph shows a World War II poster by Norman Rockwell with the message ‘Save Freedom of Speech. Buy War Bonds’ during the ‘Democracy Matters’ exhibition this Tuesday at the New York Historical Museum in New York (United States). EFE/Nora Quintanilla
Miami (USA), June 17 (EFE) – The original documents of the founding of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence, have arrived at the Museum of Miami, one of the most diverse cities in the country, where they will remain on public display until the July 4th celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The exhibition in downtown Miami, open to the public from June 20 to July 5, is part of the national tour ‘Freedom Plane: Documents that Forged a Nation’, in which “for the first time they travel together” to be exhibited, Patrick Madden, executive director of the National Archives Foundation, explained to EFE.
“I don’t know how we would have done it without Miami because it’s truly an example of the American people and the melting pot of cultures that is the United States. So, for us, having them here on July 4th is a special representation that goes back to the roots of our founding to this day,” he emphasized in an interview.
The exhibit includes a William Stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Association, and the Oaths of Allegiance signed by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron Burr.
It also displays the Treaty of Paris, a preliminary printing of the Constitution, and the record of votes of the state delegations.
Madden warned that if people go to the National Archives Museum in Washington DC, “they wouldn’t see this exhibit because the documents are in vaults most of the time.”
“This exhibition was organized in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States, and this is a way to provide access to the American public. So one of our goals was to move these documents from the Founding era across the country, take them out of Washington and share them,” he explained.
The objects travel under “high security” and in the museums there is control of the “appropriate type” of atmosphere, humidity and temperature, he added.
Miami, a diverse and American city
The tour has already passed through Kansas City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston and Denver, and will then be in Dearborn and Seattle.
But the Miami exhibit stands out because the archives will be there on July 4, just as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is being commemorated, in addition to being “one of the most diverse cities” in the United States, highlighted Natalia Crujeiras, director of the Miami Museum, in an interview with EFE.
Crujeiras pointed out that the city is “made up of people who come from all over the world, whether they are new residents or the children or grandchildren of people who came to the United States seeking opportunities,” so “patriotism is not always inherited, it is something that is achieved through decision, work, sacrifice and dedication.”
“So, in many ways, it has perhaps more depth and more recognition for Miami to host these documents for July 4th, precisely when this nation turns 250 years old, and I hope our community has the opportunity to come and reflect on what kind of country we want to build in the future,” he said.
For July 4th, the museum will have a special celebration with music, food, and family activities, including an award ceremony for students who won a contest in which they shared their ideas for the future of the United States.
Pedro Pablo Cortés
