Opening the Vault

In 1820, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned engraver William J. Stone to make an exact replica of the entire Declaration of Independence, signatures and text. Stone created a copper plate and, in 1823, used it to strike approximately 200 copies on parchment. Fewer than 50 of the 200 copies are known to exist today.

The Second Continental Congress convened on May 10, 1775, in present-day Independence Hall in Philadelphia just weeks after the battles of Lexington and Concord. It served as the de facto government: overseeing the war effort, passing the Declaration of Independence, and appointing diplomats.

The first rotation of historic artifacts, which was on display at the National Archives Museum from May 7 - August 6, 2025, featured handwritten documents of two Founding Fathers, President George Washington and Benjamin Franklin. These items emphasize landmark milestones in American history, honoring the first Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, and the first Postmaster General.

Among the records on display included President Washington's Oath of Allegiance to the United States, as well as his Revolutionary War account book, which served as an expense report during his time leading the Continental Army. These items commemorate the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Army, to be celebrated in June 2025.

The exhibit also aligns with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Postal Service. On July 26, 1775, the Second Continental Congress created the United States Post Office and unanimously selected Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General. Visitors viewed Franklin’s postal ledger, used to track financial reports across multiple states, and a table of postal rates identifying what, and how much, was required to send a letter in 1775.

On permanent display in the National Archives Rotunda is the original engrossed Declaration of Independence. Signed by 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress, it broke ties with Britain and proclaimed that the united colonies are free, independent states. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration will be marked in 2026 and, to celebrate, the National Archives Museum displayed some of the most iconic Declaration of Independence–related treasures held in the National Archives from July 3 - 6, 2025. From Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence to the Bicentennial reproductions, these documents highlight the Declaration’s enduring symbol of freedom, liberty, and the pursuit of a more perfect union.

See the First Continental Congress’s adoption of the Articles of Association— a phased nonimportation, nonexportation, and nonconsumption agreement in response to Great Britain passing the Intolerable Acts.

Explore the critical role France played in the United States as it fought Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, highlighting Marquis de Lafayette’s role in securing that alliance and fighting the war.