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Event Topic: July 4

July 4th Celebration

Join us on Saturday, July 4, as we commemorate the 250th Anniversary of American Independence at our 4th of July Celebration! Enjoy bounce houses, crafts, refreshments, balloons, and face painting from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Participate in a special bell ringing as part of the nationwide Let Freedom Ring ceremony at 1 p.m. on the plaza. 

Admission to the Bush Library and Museum and the James A. Baker, III Pavilion will be free all day on July 4, from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. We invite you to see the new exhibit, E Pluribus Unum: Celebrating the American Experience, which explores several aspects of our culture that are distinctly American.

 

Fourth of July Family Day

 

Come celebrate America’s 250th birthday at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum! We will be offering free admission all day with kids activities and crafts, scavenger hunts throughout the museum, and cupcakes. Award-winning author and historian Denise Kiernan will be joining us to discuss her new book, Obstinate Daughters, check out our website for more detail on that.

 

July 4th at the National Archives

On Saturday, July 4, 2026, the National Archives will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, steps away from the original Declaration of Independence, on Constitution Avenue.

For more than 50 years, the National Archives has held its annual Fourth of July program, and this year the tradition continues with historical reenactors and a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence. Additional free family-friendly activities include a chance to meet reenactors portraying the Founding Fathers and Mothers, live musical performances, face painting, t-shirt giveaways, balloon artists, arts and crafts, and more.

Americans from all across the country are invited to this once-in-a-generation celebration of the nation’s history and heritage at the National Archives. 

All July 4th activities, both inside and outside the museum, are free and open to the public. The National Archives Museum will be open for extended hours from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Timed entry tickets to see the original Declaration of Independence in person are encouraged to streamline the entry process and avoid long lines.

This family event is free and open to the public. Seating on the Constitution Avenue steps is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. The 10 a.m. ceremony will be livestreamed on the National Archives YouTube channel and on the U.S. National Archives Facebook page. 

July 4th at the National Archives is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of The Boeing Company, Comcast Corporation, Microsoft, P&G, and TikTok. Additional support provided by Ancestry, John Hancock, and Dykema.

PROGRAM INFORMATION: July 4th at the National Archives

WHEN:      Saturday, July 4, 2026

                     Performances and family-friendly activities outside: 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. 

                     Ceremony: 10 a.m.–11 a.m.  

                     Family activities inside: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

                     Exhibits (including the original Declaration of Independence): 10 a.m.–10 p.m. 

WHERE:    National Archives Building, Constitution Avenue steps 

                     Between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, DC

                     A riser will be reserved for attending press.

Please note: Expect increased security around the National Mall during the 250th celebrations. We recommend allowing extra time to navigate the area.

This family event is free and open to the public. Seating on the Constitution Avenue steps is available on a first-come, first-seated basis. The 10 a.m. ceremony will be livestreamed on the National Archives YouTube channel and on the U.S. National Archives Facebook page. 

After the ceremony, step inside the National Archives Museum to see the original Declaration of Independence, exhibits, a scavenger hunt, historic reenactors, activities, and more! 

 

Schedule of Events

Patriotic Shopping at the National Archives “Pop Up” Tent Store on Constitution Avenue 

8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

 

Family Activities at the National Archives Museum

Outside: 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

Inside: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

  • Sign the Declaration of Independence
  • Participate in a scavenger hunt in the National Archives Rotunda
  • Meet and have your picture taken with George Washington, John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Forten, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Ned Hector
  • Enjoy free, interactive activities, including face painting, balloon artists, arts and crafts, and more 

 

Live Musical Performance by The Washington Tattoo

9 a.m.–9:45 a.m. and 11-11:45 a.m.

 

Ceremony 

10 a.m.–11 a.m.

  • Welcome from National Archives Foundation Chief Executive Officer Patrick Madden
  • Presentation of the Colors, provided by the Space Force Color Guard
  • Performance by the Fife and Drum Corps, provided by U.S. 3rd Infantry, The Old Guard
  • Singing of The Star Spangled Banner by Master Sergeant Caleb Green, U.S. Army (Ret.)
  • Dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence by educators in period dress portraying historical characters, including George Washington, John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Forten, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Ned Hector.
  • Live performance of America the Beautiful by Master Sergeant Caleb Green, U.S. Army (Ret.)

 

Visit Museum Exhibits (June 22–July 5) 

10 a.m.–10 p.m. (10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on June 23)

 

Annual Fourth of July Celebration

Come help us commemorate the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States and the signing of the Declaration of Independence! Enjoy live music by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Band and country artist Justin Honsinger, along with appearances by Iwo Jima re-enactors and presidential look-alikes. Family-friendly activities include face painting, crafts, lawn games, carnival picnic games, and Presidential Bingo with prizes.

Join us at 12 PM for a special America 250 program featuring keynote speaker, Medal of Honor Recipient General Patrick Henry Brady.

All outdoor activities are free. 

 

The Fourth at the Ford

Commemorate America’s 250 birthday with “The Fourth at the Ford,” a special Independence Day event offering free admission and family-friendly activities on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Everyone is invited to celebrate the nation’s founding with a day of history, education, and patriotic fun.

 

Admission to the entire Museum, including the new “Waltzing with the Queen” exhibit, will be free for all visitors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m..

 

Event Highlights:

Living History Reenactors: Visitors can engage with three pivotal figures in American history. John Adams will deliver a special presentation at 11 a.m., Benjamin Franklin will offer a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1 p.m. and Frederick Douglass will present excerpts from his historic “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” speech at 2:30 p.m.

Patriotic Art in the Lobby: The Museum lobby will feature artwork by Michigan artists, including a stunning painting of an American bald eagle, E Pluribus Unum, by ArtPrize winner Anni Crouter. Alongside this piece, visitors can view the prize winning quilt, Our Family Honor, by quilter R. Roos-Sullivan, celebrating her family’s history of service in the U.S. military.

Family Craft Activities: From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., children can participate in making patriotic bead bracelets and keychains.

Flag Giveaways: Attendees can receive a complimentary flag, while supplies last.

Food Truck Rally: A variety of local food trucks, including Patty Matters, Furniture City Creamery, Two Bones BBQ, Crepes by the Lakes and Pilar’s Empanadas will be on-site starting at 11 a.m. Outdoor seating and tents will be available for visitors to enjoy their meals on the Museum grounds.

 

Red White & TRU

Museum Hours: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Free Fun on the Fourth: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

 

Celebrate America’s Independence in Independence, Missouri!

As we mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Truman Library Institute is proud to sponsor a community celebration for all ages.

Free Fun on the Fourth features 3 Trails West — one of the few practitioners of true cowboy music in Kansas City. Passionate about vintage Western music, the award-winning band draws inspiration from the Silver Screen Era of Cowboy Music and Bob Wills-style swing.  Laced with humor and audience interaction, 3TW is a family-oriented show band.

There’s no better place than the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum to reflect on the ideals that shaped our nation and to be inspired to help write the story of America’s next 250 years.

Watch this page for full details to follow.