The Abbe Museum has been selected to host a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence from Friday, August 21, to Saturday, August 22, 2026, as part of a statewide tour organized by the Maine Historical Society. This event will provide important context from Indigenous perspectives in relation to the United States’ semiquincentennial, aligning with the museum's mission “to illuminate and advance greater understanding of and support for Wabanaki Nations’ heritage, living cultures, and homelands.” 

Betsy Richards, Executive Director of the Abbe Museum, states, “The Declaration of Independence is one of our nation’s most celebrated documents, but it has never meant the same thing to everyone. From an Indigenous perspective, it represents a profound contradiction: proclaiming the ideals of liberty and equality while inciting anti-Native racism, even at a time when the Wabanaki were allied with Revolutionary forces. We hope this visit allows for a fuller public conversation that moves us all towards more understanding and a more perfect union.”

Tickets are free, but reservations for timed entry are encouraged. Click here to register »