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The Declaration of Independence at the New York Public Library event image
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, New York Public Library, Midtown, Manhattan

The Declaration of Independence at the New York Public Library

Last chance to see Thomas Jefferson's handwritten Declaration — including the cut slave-trade passage — free at the 42nd Street library.

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You are looking at the Declaration of Independence as Jefferson himself wrote it — pen strokes and crossed-out lines, including a searing anti-slave-trade passage Congress deleted from the ratified version. It's one of the rarest founding documents in existence, shown free for a single week for the nation's 250th birthday, and this is the last day. Pair it with the Declaration projected across the Fifth Avenue facade at sundown for the most quietly moving sight of the summer.

What to expect

A timed viewing of the manuscript inside the landmark Schwarzman Building, with US 250 programming and family activities throughout the library. After dark, the Declaration's text is projected onto the building's facade above the marble lions.

Good to know

  • Advance tickets have sold out, but limited walk-ins are accommodated as space permits — go early
  • The Schwarzman Building is at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, next to Bryant Park (B/D/F/M, 7)
  • The facade projection at sundown requires no ticket at all
  • The companion exhibition 'Declaring America: 1776 and Beyond' continues after the manuscript leaves view
  • The building is fully wheelchair accessible via the 42nd Street entrance

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Common questions

Can I still get in if tickets are sold out?

A limited number of walk-ins are accommodated as space and time permit — arriving early in the day gives you the best odds.

What makes this copy special?

It's one of only a few surviving fair copies handwritten by Thomas Jefferson, and it preserves text Congress cut — including his condemnation of the slave trade.

Is there anything to see without entering the library?

Yes — the Declaration is projected onto the library's Fifth Avenue facade at sundown, free and open to anyone on the street.

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