For three days only this July, come see a copy of the Declaration of Independence, written in Thomas Jefferson's own hand, and one of the remaining original copies of the Bill of Rights. These fundamental pieces of American history have never before been displayed together, but you can view them side by side on July 1, 2 and 3 on the second floor of The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Libraries are the true foundation of our democracy of informed citizens, a free source of information and education. Celebrate that tradition by viewing these two treasures from NYPL's Manuscripts and Archives Division!

The “Foundations of Freedom” exhibition will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, July 1; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 2; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 3 (NOTE: Lines may be long, so please arrive no later than one hour before closing to guarantee your ability to see these rare documents).

Support for The New York Public Library's Exhibitions Program has been provided by Celeste Bartos, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos Exhibitions Fund, and Jonathan Altman.

Additional support for the exhibition of the Bill of Rights is made possible by The Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III Foundation.