“Forging a Nation: The Linked Legacies of 1776 and 1917” (Professional development opportunity)
Tailored classroom lesson plans
Field trip update: All time slots for field trips in March have been reserved.
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Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents that Forged a Nation
Friday, March 6 - Sunday, March 22, 2026
Memory Hall
Resources for Educators:
Other museums on the tour:
Original Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, 1823
One of only about 50 known 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).
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As the Museum and Memorial celebrates its centennial year in 2026, it is particularly meaningful to be the first stop on a national tour of founding-era documents.
During World War I, ideas like self-determination, representative government and individual rights were central to how the United States understood its role in the war and its responsibilities at home and abroad: demonstrating how the nation’s founding principles have been tested during moments of crisis and how they continue to inform conversations about democracy, rights and civic responsibility today.
Articles of Association, 1774
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.
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George Washington’s, Alexander Hamilton’s, and Aaron Burr’s Oaths of Allegiance, 1778
Oaths of Allegiance that all officers of the Continental Army signed during the Revolutionary War.
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Treaty of Paris, 1783
Signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, this Treaty with Great Britain formally recognized the United States as an independent nation.
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As Americans have debated issues like free speech, citizenship and military service, the founding documents have served as reference points for both national unity and public disagreement.
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.
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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.
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Senate Markup of the Bill of Rights, 1789
After the Constitution was ratified by the states and became the supreme law of the land, Representative James Madison proposed a series of amendments. Several states advocated for additional protections for individual liberties.
This is the U.S. Senate’s “markup” of what became the Bill of Rights.
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March 6-22, 2026
Ready to come see the exhibition?
Please note: this information is applicable only to those visiting the National WWI Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. For other stops on the tour, please refer to ticketing guidelines on each individual museum’s website
Freedom Plane National Tour tickets will be FREE. There are two ways to obtain them:
Advance tickets (with purchase of Museum admission)
Freedom Plane advance tickets for all dates have been sold out.
Same-day tickets
1. On the day of your visit, go to the Ticketing Counter to secure your FREE Freedom Plane tickets. You will have the option to also purchase Museum admission at that time.
2. Proceed to Memory Hall.
Note: Due to anticipated large crowds and the sensitive nature of the documents, lines may form outside the building.
| Museum and Memorial open | Freedom Plane National Tour open | |
|---|---|---|
| March 6-11 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (lines close at 4:30 p.m.) |
| Thursday, March 12 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (lines close at 7:30 p.m.) |
| March 13-18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (lines close at 4:30 p.m.) |
| Thursday-Saturday, March 19-21 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (lines close at 7:30 p.m.) |
| Sunday, March 22 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (lines close at 4:30 p.m.) |
The exhibition is in Memory Hall located on the east side of Memorial Courtyard. Due to anticipated large crowds and the sensitive nature of the documents, lines may form outside the building.
Step-free parking is available in the West Visitor Lot or the U-Shaped Drive.
To help protect the artifacts and ensure a comfortable experience for everyone:
- Wagons are not permitted.
- Large bags should be checked at the coat check.
- Please refrain from flash photography.
- Food and drinks (including water) are not allowed inside the exhibition. Guests may check water bottles at the Guest Services window inside the main Museum.
In the event the Museum and Memorial is closed, tickets will be honored on the next day the Museum and Memorial is open. Guests may present their tickets at the Ticketing Counter to be transferred to the new date or contact us by email (customerservice@theworldwar.org) to request a refund.
Sponsors
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The exhibition at the Museum and Memorial is supported by Presenting Sponsor America 250 Missouri Commission and Premier Sponsor E & K of Kansas City.
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