Join the community in a reading of the Declaration of Independence, part of a nationwide simultaneous reading, tomorrow (5:45) at the Coudersport Arboretum.

Some background:

On July 8, 1776, Colonel John Nixon gave the first official public reading of the Declaration of Independence in the State House Yard (now Independence Hall) in Philadelphia. A diverse crowd gathered at noon to hear the freshly penned words, celebrating the birth of a new nation.The occasion was highly significant for several specific reasons:

Simultaneous Proclamation: While Philadelphia was the most famous reading, the document was also publicly read for the first time on the exact same day in Trenton, New Jersey and Easton, Pennsylvania.

The Calling Bell: The citizens were summoned to hear the reading by ringing the bells of the city, which included the famous copper-and-tin bell now known as the Liberty Bell.

A Radical Promise: Reading the Declaration aloud in public squares and church pulpits across the 13 colonies transformed the Second Continental Congress’s treasonous document into an open, unifying promise to the public.While July 4th marks the day the Continental Congress approved and ratified the document, July 8th remains celebrated for bringing those revolutionary words to the people. For deeper dives into the events and impacts, historians often review contemporary accounts in the Journal of the American Revolution.

Join us on Wednesday July 8th for America 250 Simultaneous reading of the Declaration of Independence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, and 16 U.S. territories.