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Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents that Forged a Nation
Friday, March 6 - Sunday, March 22, 2026
Memory Hall
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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March 6-22, 2026
Ready to come see the exhibition?
Please note: this information is applicable only to 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.
Admission is FREE; tickets required. Information about tickets will be available on Friday, Feb. 6.
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.
Add to your visit
History is Revolutionary (and beyond)! Add a visit to the National WWI Museum and Memorial to you history itinerary in Kansas City. Featuring the most diverse collection of WWI artifacts in the world, the Museum and Memorial includes a comprehensive timeline of the war, original artifacts and immersive exhibits, special featured exhibitions and views from the top of the Liberty Memorial Tower on the Memorial Courtyard. Add a Museum and Memorial ticket to your experience.
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Sponsors
The Freedom Plane National Tour is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation, through the generous support of The Boeing Company, Comcast Corporation, Microsoft, and P&G. The exhibition at the Museum and Memorial is supported by Presenting Sponsor America 250 Missouri Commission and Premier Sponsor E&K.
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