American Writers Museum Announces Pop-Up Exhibit and More for America250 Celebration

Declarations: 250 Years of Writing Toward Independence on display June 18 to September 7, 2026, explores text and ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The American Writers Museum (AWM) in Chicago is presenting programming to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence as an official partner of Illinois America 250. The museum will host a special pop-up exhibit "Declarations: 250 Years of Writing Toward Independence" featuring an 1823 print of the Declaration and related writings, as well as host events and a student writing competition exploring the themes of the Declaration through the perspectives of American writers.

Why it matters

The American Writers Museum is the first and only U.S. museum dedicated to the history and impact of American writers. By exploring the Declaration of Independence and its ideals through the lens of American literature, the museum aims to highlight how writers have shaped the nation's history, culture, and identity over the past 250 years.

The details

The "Declarations: 250 Years of Writing Toward Independence" pop-up exhibit will be on display at the American Writers Museum from June 18 to September 7, 2026. It will feature an 1823 William Stone print of the Declaration of Independence, a 1776 British first edition of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense", and works by other writers throughout history that are thematically related to the Declaration, including Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Harvey Milk, and Martin Luther King Jr. The exhibit will also include interactive elements like a Declaration of Independence erasure poetry section.

  • The pop-up exhibit "Declarations: 250 Years of Writing Toward Independence" will be on display from June 18 to September 7, 2026.
  • The American Writers Museum's 3rd annual American Writers Festival, featuring an event with professor Anna O. Law about her new book "Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship", will be held on Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • The museum's monthly "Get Lit" program themed around the "Declarations" pop-up exhibit will take place on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The players

American Writers Museum

The first and only U.S. museum dedicated to the history and impact of American writers, located in Chicago, Illinois.

Carey Cranston

The president of the American Writers Museum.

John Quincy Adams

The former U.S. Secretary of State who commissioned the 1823 William Stone print of the Declaration of Independence that will be displayed in the pop-up exhibit.

Thomas Paine

The author of the 1776 British first edition of "Common Sense" that will be displayed in the pop-up exhibit, advocating for the independence of the U.S. colonies.

Anna O. Law

A professor who will speak at the American Writers Festival about her new book "Migration and the Origins of American Citizenship".

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The United States was a country founded on the written word. How those words spread—how they impacted history and the world—is the essence of what the American Writers Museum is about: the power of writers to shape the world, to influence our history, our culture and our daily lives. We are excited to explore those ideas this year and every year.”

— Carey Cranston, President, American Writers Museum (Globe Newswire)

What’s next

The American Writers Museum will host additional America250 programs during its 3rd annual American Writers Festival on June 7, 2026 and its monthly "Get Lit" program on July 7, 2026, both of which will explore themes related to the Declaration of Independence.

The takeaway

By showcasing how American writers have grappled with the ideals and legacy of the Declaration of Independence over the past 250 years, the American Writers Museum is highlighting the power of the written word to shape a nation's history, culture, and identity.