Photos: Freedom Plane to take historic documents on nationwide tour
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Freedom Plane An artist's rendering of the Freedom Plane, which will take several historic documents from the founding of the nation on tour around the country. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Original Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, 1823
One of only about 50 known original engraved copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed from a copperplate of the original, commissioned by John Quincy Adams and made by engraver William J. Stone. The engraving captured the size, text, lettering, and signatures of the original document (on loan from David M. Rubenstein). (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Articles of Association, 1774 (first page)
Signed by all 53 delegates, the Articles of Association urged colonists to boycott British goods and was the Continental Congress's first major unified act of resistance against Britain. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Articles of Association, 1774 (last page)
Signed by all 53 delegates, the Articles of Association urged colonists to boycott British goods and was the Continental Congress's first major unified act of resistance against Britain. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation This item is the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity that was signed by General George Washington while encamped and in command of the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. His oath was sworn before, and also signed by, William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, Major General. This affirmation came to be taken due to a Congressional Resolve dated February 3, 1778, that directed "every officer who holds or shall hereafter hold a commission or office from Congress" to take this oath. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Alexander Hamilton Oath of Allegiance, 1778
This is the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity that was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, while stationed and encamped with the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This affirmation came to be taken due to a Congressional Resolve dated February 3, 1778, that directed "every officer who holds or shall hereafter hold a commission or office from Congress" to take this oath. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Aaron Burr's Oath of Allegiance, 1778
This is the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity that was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Burr, of Malcolm's Regiment, while stationed and encamped with the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This affirmation came to be taken due to a Congressional Resolve dated February 3, 1778, that directed "every officer who holds or shall hereafter hold a commission or office from Congress" to take this oath. (Archives I; 18W2 Digitization La/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Treaty of Paris, 1783 (first page)
Signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, the Treaty with Great Britain formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Treaty of Paris, 1783 (last page)
Signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, the Treaty with Great Britain formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Secret Printing of the Constitution in Draft Form, 1787
A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution in draft form, with the delegate’s handwritten notes made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Documents That Forged a Nation Tally of Votes Approving the Constitution, 1787
The voting records of the Constitutional Convention reflecting the debates, resolutions, and eventual vote on the final text that would become the Constitution. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
