Free and Independent: Special Major Exhibition Opens as a “Celebration of the Declaration”
Monday, April 27, 2026
National Archives
Live Last read · last published · next check
Latest posts
Free and Independent: Special Major Exhibition Opens as a “Celebration of the Declaration”
Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration shares the riveting story behind America’s most important founding document WASHINGTON, April 27, 2026 – The National Archives Museum debuted its new special exhibition in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration shares the story behind the Declaration of Independence: how it came to be,…
Free and Independent Press Kit
Discover the riveting story behind America’s most important founding document. April 25, 2026 - July 5, 2027 Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery National Archives Museum Washington, DC Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration The National Archives welcomes visitors to "Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration," a major special exhibition in Washington, DC beginning April 25,…
Can NARA issue a negative search letter for ancestors who never resided in the United States?
NARA will not complete a search of federal court holdings or issue a negative search letter in cases where the researcher cannot provide a place of residence in the United States for the individual requested. Reference staff can search specific index(es) for federal court records in the possession of the National Archives. United States naturalization laws required that most petitioners meet…
RG 111, Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, 1860–1985
Historical Collection, 1900–1961 Subject and Decimal Files, 1938–1950
New Major National Archives Exhibition Explores Origins and Inspiration for the Declaration of Independence
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "Free and Independent" to open April 25, 2026, in celebration of America's 250th birthday The National Archives will open Free and Independent: A Celebration of the Declaration , a major special exhibition in Washington, DC on April 25, 2026. Free and Independent will tell the riveting story behind America’s most important founding document by transporting visitors back into…
RG 090, Records of the Public Health Service, 1794–1990
History Files, 1949–1971
"Freedom Plane National Tour" takes flight
Monday, March 2, 2026
"Freedom Plane National Tour" takes flight
“Documents That Forged A Nation” on display for the first time in history beginning Friday, March 6, 2026 in Kansas City, MO WASHINGTON, March 2, 2026 -- For the first time in history, unique and original Founding-era documents have taken flight as part of the Freedom Plane National Tour. The documents are now traveling the country as part of the National Archives’ celebration of America’s 250th…
Can NARA issue a custom negative search letter?
No. NARA will not issue a negative search letter containing language related to request-specific parameters. While NARA staff may request additional information such as date of birth, possible time frame of naturalization, and place of residence to guide search approaches and aid in confirming plausible matches during a search, these details will not be incorporated into a negative search letter.…