Declaration of Independence: Rare Prints on Display
Date: Tue, Sep 8, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Venue: Main Library – Main Library - Auditorium - Upper Corridor 2nd Floor, Durham
Price: Free
Category: Community
We invite you to view rare 19th-century prints of the Declaration of Independence at Durham County Main Library. As part of We the People: A Duke & Durham Initiative, Durham County Main Library and the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University are presenting three historic copies of the Declaration of Independence on loan from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to explore how the nation's founding document was visually rendered and circulated in early American history. The exhibition will feature three rare prints on loan from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection: a rare official full-sized 1823 facsimile engraved by William J. Stone (known as a Stone Declaration) alongside two historic broadside copies from the same era: an 1818 reproduction by calligrapher Benjamin Owen Tyler and a more ornate 1819 illustrated version published by John Binns. Visitors can also engage with interactive activities and explore featured library resources on display alongside the historic prints. Gallery Hours at Durham County Main Library September 8, 2026 – September 20, 2026 Monday – Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM Sunday: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM *Gallery entry is on the 2nd floor of Main Library* Group Visits & Planning Your Entry Pre-registered group visits (10+ people) take place Monday – Friday from 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM. Groups of 10+ may sign up for self-guided times here.
