The Fourth of July has passed, but that doesn’t mean the America 250 celebrations are over, as there are other milestones in our nation’s founding that will be recognized throughout the year.
One such milestone is the 250th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence, which occurred on July 8, 1776. In honor of this occasion, a simultaneous reading of the declaration will take place on Wednesday at 4 p.m. MDT.
Readings of the Declaration of Independence will be held in all 50 states and five territories, the District of Columbia and minor outlying islands of the United States so that Americans can come together to read the document that started it all.
The simultaneous reading is being led by America250 Hawaii.
The first public reading of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4. It was first read to the public a few days later. On July 8, Col. John Nixon exited the Pennsylvania State House — known today as Independence Hall — to share a message with the masses, according to the Independence Historical Trust.
Citizens — men, women and children — gathered to hear the announcement that the 13 colonies had declared themselves independent states. Those gathered included sailors, soldiers, clerks, tradesmen, merchants, and enslaved and free Black people. That first reading took place at noon, per the trust’s website.
Just as they did in 1776, Americans will be able to gather and hear those same words read again.
Each year, Independence Hall National Historical Park hosts an annual reenactment of that first public reading, but this year, it will hold a second one later in the day to line up with the simultaneous reading.
How to participate in the simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence
Even though the U.S stretches some 9,500 miles from one extreme to the other and covers nine time zones, the simultaneous reading allows all Americans to read the Declaration of Independence together at the same time.
The reading is taking place at a number of locations across the U.S., including a couple in Utah. People who want to participate can go to Pioneer Courthouse in St. George, while there is another reading being hosted by the Utah Department of Cultural and Community Engagement in Salt Lake City.
Reading locations can be found online.
People are also invited to hold their own readings of the document.
