The Missouri History Museum will also host a one-day-only viewing of an original copy of the Declaration of Independence on Friday, July 25, 2008.  The Missouri History Museum will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. allow visitors to see this national treasure. Admission to view the original copy of the Declaration of Independence is free.

After the original Declaration of Independence was signed by the representatives of the Second Continental Congress, Philadelphia printer John Dunlap hurriedly pressed a few hundred printings on July 4, 1776.  These copies were rush throughout the colonies to be read to the people.  Only 25 are known to remain today.  Television producer Norman Lear purchased this copy at auction in 2000, paying $8.14 million.

Stressing the importance of exercising the right to vote, Cricket Communications, Inc. is taking this original copy of the Declaration of Independence across the country.  The Cricket Wireless Declaration Road Trip 2008 has been made possible by Cricket through its sponsorship of Declare Yourself, a national nonpartisan, nonprofit youth voter initiative aimed at empowering and encouraging America’s 18 to 29 year-olds to register and vote.