Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Democracy

Overview

2026 is the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Do you know what’s in America’s founding document and its impact on the world? Here’s an opportunity to learn more! Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy is a traveling exhibition from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History touring Kansas in 2026.

When the Declaration of Independence was issued, the idea that “all men are created equal” was revolutionary. With this seminal document, the Founding Fathers unleashed an open-ended driving force that would shape modern history. Around the world, other countries have declared independence taking the US Declaration of 1776 as a model. This exhibition uses primary sources to illustrate how Americans and people across the world have been inspired by the Declaration in their pursuit of equality and self-determination. See the exhibition along with a special exhibit about “Kansas” in 1776.

Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy is sponsored in part by the State of Kansas through the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

For more information, contact:
Kansas Studies Institute - Johnson County Community College
785-331-6495