Koda Parsons, 10, visiting with his family from Australia, looks at an original July 4, 1776 Dunlap Broadside printing of the United States Declaration of Independence on display as part of the “Declarations: America & Texas Independence” exhibition at the Hall of State in Fair Park in Dallas, Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Just around the corner from the FIFA Fan Fest, behind Dallas’ beloved Big Tex and across from the Cotton Bowl Stadium, a rare piece of American history sits in a secured case on display in Fair Park.
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S., and provide World Cup visitors a lesson on the country’s history, the Dallas Historical Society is featuring a broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence.
Other historical artifacts on display include Thomas Jefferson’s original draft of the declaration, journals from the creation of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the only surviving copy of the Juneteenth handbill announcing emancipation in Texas.
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The Dallas Historical Society is a local nonprofit housed inside the Hall of State at Fair Park, working to collect, preserve and exhibit the history of Dallas and the Lone Star State.
Where is the Declaration of Independence copy in Dallas?
The exhibition, titled “Declarations: America and Texas,” remains on display until July 17 at the Hall of State, and entry is free and open to the public.
Kaitlyn Price, curator of collections at the Dallas Historical Society, said the exhibit’s goal aims to connect the United States’ role as an independent republic with Texas’ journey through the same process.
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“Historians see those paralleled a lot, but I feel like it may not be something that’s as widely known, especially for a lot of our potential international visitors,” Price said. “It’s a nice little exposure to some of Texas’ unique history.”
The Hall of State is located at 3939 Grand Ave., and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Related: Fair Park’s natural history museum will open on Sundays during FIFA Fan Fest
The only known surviving original copy of General Order No. 3, the historic Juneteenth handbill announcing emancipation in Texas, is seen in a display case as part of the “Declarations: America & Texas Independence” exhibition at the Hall of State in Fair Park in Dallas, Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Why is there a copy of the Declaration of Independence in Dallas?
Hours after the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, Philadelphia printer John Dunlap made 200 copies of the document. Only 26 copies are known to have survived, with the Dallas copy being discovered in 1968 at a Philadelphia bookstore, said Karl Chiao, Dallas Historical Society’s Carona family executive director.
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Referred to as the “lost copy,” the declaration came into possession of the city in 1982 and permanently sits on display at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. It is the only known copy housed west of the Mississippi River, Chiao added.
Chiao said moving the copy from the library to the Hall of State required an armored vehicle and experienced archivist supervising the transfer. Now, visitors can view the declaration in a special commissioned display case in the Great Hall, monitored 24/7 by security officers.
“The last thing I want to do is lose the Declaration of Independence on my watch,” Chiao joked, referencing the 2004 Nicolas Cage hit, National Treasure.
Related: How Dallas acquired an original copy of the Declaration of Independence and where it is
Chiao said officials with the city reached out about a month ago to explore moving the document near the FIFA Fan Fest in Fair Park.
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“Because we’re in this pathway of all this international audience, I think it’s important for them to be able to see it if they’re here,” Chiao said. “Whatever it is that makes you think America is great, it’s because of this document.”
Chiao said he wishes to see visitors walk away from the exhibit with a sense of hope and the American dream.
“What we’re showing you is hope,” Chiao said. “It’s not just what you see when you’re out around our country – it’s what came from these documents.”