In summer 2026, MOHAI will host the Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Featured documents include the Original Engraving of the Declaration of Independence (1823), the Secret Printing of the Constitution in Draft Form (1787), the Treaty of Paris, and the Bill of Rights.

Inspired by the Freedom Train, which carried historic documents across the country during the Bicentennial, the Freedom Plane National Tour shares original founding-era records from the National Archives with a limited number of cultural institutions nationwide.

Selected as one of only eight venues nationwide, and the final stop on the national tour, MOHAI will host the Freedom Plane National Tour from July 30–August 16, 2026, offering a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Pacific Northwest to experience these original records before they return to the National Archives vaults.

In alignment with MOHAI’s mission and the significance of America’s 250th anniversary, the Freedom Plane National Tour exhibit will be presented free and open to the public during its run at MOHAI. Additional visitor information will be shared closer to the exhibit opening.

The Freedom Plane National Tour exhibit is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation, with generous support from national partners including The Boeing Company, Comcast Corporation, Microsoft, and Procter & Gamble. Additional Support by FedEx Corporation.

Free public access to Freedom Plane is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Amazon, Major Sponsor The Boeing Company, and Sustaining Sponsor Gates Foundation.

Exhibit Details

On View Dates

July 30, 2026 - August 16, 2026

Location

MOHAI

Cost

Free admission, timed tickets required

Recommended Audiences

Adults
Educators
Kids

Accessibility

ADA Accessible
Closed Captioning
Elevator Availability

Planning Your Freedom Plane Visit

Members Tickets on Sale Now
MOHAI members are now able to reserve timed-entry tickets to The Freedom Plane! Join or renew today to guarantee your access to ticket reservations—even if they run out! Plus, get invites to exclusive events, offering a relaxed, crowd-free opportunity to explore the exhibit and galleries at your own pace. Become a MOHAI member now.

Public Tickets Coming Soon
The Freedom Plane will be on view at MOHAI July 30–August 16, 2026. Free timed-entry tickets will be required and will be released to the public beginning June 15. As the final stop of this national tour, availability is expected to be limited. Sign up for MOHAI’s e-newsletter to be notified when tickets become available.

Corporate Events and Sponsorship Opportunities
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities and corporate event rentals are available during the exhibit run. Please contact the MOHAI Development Team for more information.

About the Exhibit

MOHAI will showcase original founding-era documents on loan from the National Archives, central to the creation of the United States.

These irreplaceable documents are traveling together for the first time as part of the Freedom Plane National Tour. After appearing at a limited number of cultural institutions nationwide, the tour will conclude at MOHAI before the documents return to the National Archives.

Featured Documents

Original documents on view will 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.
  • Senate Markup of the Bill of Rights, 1789: After the Constitution was ratified by the states and became the supreme law of the land, Representative James Madison proposed a series of amendments. Several states advocated for additional protections for individual liberties. This is the U.S. Senate’s “markup” of what became the Bill of Rights. On September 25, 1789, Congress passed these 12 amendments, and they were sent to the states for approval. Articles 3 through 12 were ratified in 1791, ensuring such basic American freedoms as the right to freedom of speech, freedom of worship, and freedom of assembly. Records of the United States Senate, National Archives

Host Your Event During Freedom Plane

Spend an evening with the documents that forged a nation.

Host a private event during Freedom Plane—a limited-run, once-in-a-generation experience at MOHAI, and the final stop on this national tour. These fragile, rarely displayed records including the original engraving of the Declaration of Independence will be on view at MOHAI from July 30–August 16, 2026.

What’s included

  • Exclusive, after-hours access to MOHAI
  • Private access to the Freedom Plane exhibit and galleries
  • Flexible event spaces for 50–300 guests
  • A unique setting for entertaining, special events, or team gatherings
  • Full museum buyouts include a private introduction and historical talk from a MOHAI Historian

A National Tour, Concluding in Seattle

Other stops on the Freedom Plane National Tour include institutions in Kansas City, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, and Dearborn, before concluding at MOHAI in Seattle.

The Freedom Plane National Tour is sponsored by the National Archives Foundation with the support of

With additional support from

Special thanks to our local Presenting Sponsor

Special thanks to our local Major Sponsor

Special thanks to our local Sustaining Sponsor

Additional Support provided by

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Plan a Visit to MOHAI

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Plan your visit today by reviewing ticketing options, location and parking details, and helpful visitor tips.

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