Declaration of Independence will display in Minnesota for state's 150th
by Mark A. Cohen
The Declaration will be part of a display at the Minnesota History Center from May 6-18, coinciding with Minnesota Statehood Week. The display will also include the two original signed versions of the Minnesota Constitution from 1858.
The Declaration is one of just 25 remaining copies of the document printed at the shop of Philadelphia printer John Dunlap on the evening of July 4, 1776 -- and the only one that travels. One of the approximately 200 originally produced copies -- known as “Dunlap Broadsides” -- was read aloud by Gen. George Washington to his troops. Another was sent to King George III. The copy that will be on display in Minnesota was discovered at a flea market, and eventually sold for $8 million.
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie made the announcement that the Declaration would come to Minnesota earlier today, at a press conference where he was joined by Andrea Kajer of the Minnesota Historical Society and Jane Leonard of the Sesquicentennial Committee.
Leonard called the Declaration the “biggest and best” birthday gift Minnesota could have.
Ritchie stressed the importance of the document to not only Minnesota’s past, but also to its future, particularly now in an election year. Ritchie also pointed out that Minnesotans, who as a group are extremely civically engaged, exhibit the values expressed in the Declaration.
The costs of bringing the Declaration to Minnesota are being underwritten by Dolan Media, Minnesota Lawyer’s parent company. Dolan Media CEO and Chairman Jim Dolan said in a release that it was an “honor” for the Minnesota-based company to be involved as the presenting sponsor.
