h Arizona Historical Society presents

�h� Arizona Historical Society
presents
�ne of twenty-five
known
�eclaration
o�
�ndependence
1776 Broa�sides
The Declaration of Independence was rushed to the official printer on July 4, 1776,
for production and rapid distribution of Broadsides to the
American Colonies and their leaders.
www.pearsonfoundation.org
E. 2nd St.
P
AHS
N. Park Ave.
Declaration of Independence sponsors:
E. Speedway Blvd.
N. Tyndall Ave.
Admisson Free
▲
N
N. Euclid Ave.
Where: Arizona History Museum
949 E. 2nd St.
Tucson, Arizona
When: Sunday, February 21, 2010, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, February 22, 2010, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
University
of
Arizona
Parking is located in the parking
structure on the northeast corner of
N. Euclid Ave. and E. 2nd St.
Arizona History Museum
Watch for the announcement of the Phoenix visit on February 20, 2010
Arizona Historical Society, 520-628-5774, www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org
The DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE
1776 BROADSIDES
A broadside is about the size of a full sheet of newspaper, printed on one or
both sides and folded.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress, led by John Hancock, renders official
Thomas Jefferson's text of the Declaration of Independence. The manuscript is
rushed to the shop of printer John Dunlap in Philadelphia. Dunlap typesets the
document and creates about 200 broadsides of the text.
The Dunlap broadsides are delivered to the nation's founders early in the morning
on July 5, 1776. One copy is officially entered into the Congressional Journal, and
additional copies of the freshly drafted Declaration of Independence are carried by
riders on horseback throughout the colonies and read aloud to assembled colonists.
John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress, dispatches Dunlap broadside
copies of the Declaration to America's political and military leaders.
(The "original copy" of the Declaration of Independence - the one that was signed by members
of Congress - is at the National Archives in Washington. However, this famous copy wasn't
produced until later in the summer of 1776, and wasn’t signed until August and later in 1776,
when Congress returned to Philadelphia after a summer break.)
Today there are only 25 of these July 4 – July 5, 1776 first printing Dunlap
broadsides that are known to exist. The copy that will be on display in Tucson was
purchased at auction ten years ago for $8.14 million. This copy was discovered in
1989 by a man after he purchased a painting for four dollars at a flea market
because he was interested in the frame. Concealed in the backing of the frame was
this original Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence.
This year the Arizona Historical Society’s Arizona History Museum,
949 E. 2nd St. in Tucson has been selected as one of only two
Arizona locations to host a viewing of this rare American artifact
as it tours the United States.
Sunday, February 21, 2010, 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Monday, February 22, 2010, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Admission to the Museum will be free on these days.
www.ArizonaHistoricalSociety.org
Phone: 520-628-5774
We need many Volunteers for this event.
If you can help, please phone Carol at 520-617-1158.
This Declaration of Independence broadside will also be on display in Phoenix on Saturday, February 20, 2010,
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Arizona Capitol Museum, 1700 W. Washington St. Phone: 602-926-3620.