Freedom Plane National Tour brings founding documents to 8 cities for America 250

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Published  March 2, 2026 12:45pm EST
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Trump launches ‘Freedom 250’ push for America’s 250th birthday

President Donald Trump is kicking off America’s monthslong birthday bash celebrating the 250th anniversary of the country's founding with a new nonpartisan organization dubbed Freedom 250 that will lead the administration's celebrations, Fox Digital learned.

The Brief

    • The "Freedom Plane National Tour" is taking original founding-era documents across the country for America’s 250th anniversary.
    • Nine special documents will go on display in eight cities, and be transported by a Boeing 737.
    • The exhibition runs through August and will be free and open to the public at the corresponding museums.

Some of the United States’ most important historical documents are beginning a first-of-its kind journey as part of the country’s 250th anniversary commemoration. 

Here’s what to know about the Freedom Plane National Tour: 

What is the Freedom Plane National Tour? 

Big picture view:

The Freedom Plane National Tour is taking several original founding-era documents for the first time in history across the country for display at major museums to help commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. 

By the numbers:

Nine documents are leaving the vault and will be displayed together in eight American cities from now through August. More details below. 

The backstory:

The "Freedom Plane" tour was inspired in part by the "American Freedom Train" that toured 48 states in 1975 and 1976 as part of the country's bicentennial celebration. It carried various pieces of American history, including the original Louisiana Purchase documents, Judy Garland's dress from The Wizard of Oz and Jesse Owens' gold medals from the 1936 Olympic Games.

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Boeing’s ‘Freedom Plane’

L: Original Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, 1823. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration) / R: A 3D rendering of a Boeing 737 in Freedom Plane livery, to be used during the "Freedom Plane National Tour" (Courtesy of the Nati …

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Big picture view:

The Freedom Plane chosen to carry America’s founding documents across the country is a Boeing 737.

Which cities are on the tour? 

Big picture view:

The following eight cities and museums will display the documents for about two weeks each: 

  • Kansas City, Mo. - National WWI Museum and Memorial: Friday, March 6 – Sunday, March 22
  • Atlanta, Ga. - Atlanta History Center: Friday, March 27 – Sunday, April 12
  • Los Angeles, Calif. - University of Southern California Fisher Museum of Art: Friday, April 17 – Sunday, May 3
  • Houston, Texas - Houston Museum of Natural Science: Friday, May 8 – Monday, May 25
  • Denver, Colo. - History Colorado Center: Thursday, May 28 – Sunday, June 14
  • Miami, Fla. - HistoryMiami Museum: Saturday, June 20 – Sunday, July 5
  • Dearborn, Mich. - Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation: Thursday, July 9 – Sunday, July 26
  • Seattle, Wash. - Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI): Thursday, July 30 – Sunday, August 16

Local perspective:

The exhibition will be free and open to the public at all eight venues. To secure tickets, visit the individual museum websites or contact the museums directly.  

Which founding documents are touring? 

One of only about 50 known original engraved copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed from a copperplate of the original, commissioned by John Quincy Adams and made by engraver William J. Stone. The engraving captured the size, text, lettering, and signatures of the original document (on loan from David M. Rubenstein). (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Signed by all 53 delegates, the Articles of Association urged colonists to boycott British goods and was the Continental Congress's first major unified act of resistance against Britain. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
This item is the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity that was signed by General George Washington while encamped and in command of the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. His oath was sworn before, and also signed by, William Alexander, Earl of Stirling, Major General. This affirmation came to be taken due to a Congressional Resolve dated February 3, 1778, that directed "every officer who holds or shall hereafter hold a commission or office from Congress" to take this oath. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
This is the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity that was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, while stationed and encamped with the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This affirmation came to be taken due to a Congressional Resolve dated February 3, 1778, that directed "every officer who holds or shall hereafter hold a commission or office from Congress" to take this oath. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
This is the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity that was signed by Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Burr, of Malcolm's Regiment, while stationed and encamped with the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This affirmation came to be taken due to a Congressional Resolve dated February 3, 1778, that directed "every officer who holds or shall hereafter hold a commission or office from Congress" to take this oath. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
Signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, the Treaty with Great Britain formally recognized the United States as an independent nation. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution in draft form, with the delegate’s handwritten notes made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)
The voting records of the Constitutional Convention reflecting the debates, resolutions, and eventual vote on the final text that would become the Constitution. (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration)

Dig deeper:

The original National Archives records featured in the exhibition are traveling together for the first time. They include:

  • Original Engraving of the Declaration of Independence, 1823: One of only about 50 known engraved copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed from a copperplate of the original. Commissioned by John Quincy Adams and made by engraver William J. Stone, the engraving captured the size, text, lettering, and signatures of the original document (on loan from David M. Rubenstein).
  • Articles of Association, 1774: Signed by all 53 delegates, the Articles of Association urged colonists to boycott British goods and was the Continental Congress's first major unified act of resistance against Britain.
  • George Washington’s, Alexander Hamilton’s, and Aaron Burr’s Oaths of Allegiance, 1778: Oaths of Allegiance that all officers of the Continental Army signed during the Revolutionary War.
  • Treaty of Paris, 1783: Signed by John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, this Treaty with Great Britain formally recognized the United States as an independent nation.
  • Secret Printing of the Constitution in Draft Form, 1787: A rare copy of the U.S. Constitution in draft form, with the delegate’s handwritten notes made during the Constitutional Convention in 1787.
  • Tally of Votes Approving the Constitution, 1787: The voting records of the Constitutional Convention reflecting the debates, resolutions, and eventual vote on the final text that would become the Constitution.

The Source: Information in this article was taken from the National Archives and Boeing. Background information was taken from The Associated Press and previous FOX Television Station reportings. This story was reported from Detroit.Editor's note: A previous version said six documents are included in the exhibit.

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