National Archives Freedom Plane begins journey across US, taking Founding-era documents to museums

The National Archives Freedom Plane on Monday begins its journey across the U.S., taking Founding-era documents to museums around the country America's 250th anniversary.

This is the first time that these original documents will travel to eight cities across the country, the National Archives and Records Administration announced. The Freedom Plane is inspired by the Bicentennial Freedom Train, which toured 48 states in 1975 and 1976, carrying various pieces of U.S. history.

The Freedom Plane tour will take documents such as the Treaty of Paris (1783) and the Senate Markup of the Bill of Rights (1789), across the nation.

The plane departs from Washington, D.C., on Monday and will run through Aug. 16.

“It’s tangible history, and tangible history inspires,” said Jim Byron, senior adviser to the acting archivist of the U.S., The Associated Press reported. “These documents have not traveled, and they’ve certainly not traveled collectively, ever. They are here in vaults.”

The documents on Monday head to the first stop in Kansas City, Mo., where they will be transferred to the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The records include an original engraving of the Declaration of Independence printed in 1823 from a copperplate of the original; the Oaths of Allegiance signed in 1778 by George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and other Continental Army officers; and a rare draft copy of the U.S. Constitution that includes handwritten notes by the delegates.

Other cities that the documents will visit include Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston, Denver, Miami, Dearborn, and Seattle.

“The reality that these documents are leaving D.C. and coming to the heartland is fantastic,” said Matt Naylor, president and CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, where they will be on display for a little over two weeks starting Friday. “There’s a lot of excitement about that and a lot of talk in and around the city about what that means.”

Naylor said that local schools have already booked visits for more than 5,000 schoolchildren.