We can hardly think of a better way to ring in America’s 250th birthday than with a visit to the South Street Seaport’s newest exhibit, “The Promise of Liberty: Words That Shaped a Nation,” which features original copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the 1787 “Official Edition” of the United States Constitution — one of just 14 surviving copies — among many other pivotal American documents.
“The Promise of Liberty” explores our nation’s founding ideas and how they’ve evolved over time. In addition to the aforementioned historical documents, the exhibit features copies of the 1776 pamphlet “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “March on Washington” speech, and a First State Department printing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
The exhibit doesn’t shy away from highlighting areas where the U.S. has historically fallen short in delivering on promises of “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” particularly regarding indigenous people, enslaved Americans and women. As signage around the exhibit notes, “the promise of liberty set down in words in 1776 was not complete then and remains an aspiration we continue to strive for today.”
Additionally, the exhibit emphasizes Lower Manhattan’s role as a major hub for early printed materials, including many that influenced political discourse and economic development. To that end, there is a 1844 printing press on display.
“The Promise of Liberty: Words That Shaped a Nation” is located on the fifth floor of the museum at 213 Water St. FYI: This exhibit is dimly lit to protect the documents, though it’s still plenty easy to see everything. Access to this exhibition requires a special ticket. Admission to the museum and “The Promise of Liberty” is $25; admission exclusively to “The Promise of Liberty” is $10. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person.
photos: Richard Bowditch, South Street Seaport Museum
