A Signature Event

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

Date: May 24, 2010

Visitors who have the “liberty” to stop at the White House Visitor Center on Sunday, July 4, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. may experience what it would be like to be a “Signer of the Declaration of Independence for a day” with the help of National Park Service rangers and volunteers from President’s Park. The White House Visitor Center is located near the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets, N.W., on the north side of the Commerce Department building.

During this full day of free programming, visitors of all ages will have the opportunity to sample some of the sights, sounds, activities, and personages that helped to form the United States of America on July 4, 1776. The day’s events will include games, crafts and other activities for both children and adults.

The Signature Event, scheduled at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. will be a one of a kind chance to don a tricornered hat and play a role in one of this nation’s greatest dramas, the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. In this fun and engaging interactive program that is suitable for all ages, members of the audience will actually assume the roles of delegates to the Continental Congress and represent their colonies in a debate that will determine the fate of a nation! Led by the “Atlas of Independence” John Adams (portrayed by a National Park Service interpreter) the debate becomes heated as the time draws short before the final vote is called. After the debate each delegate signs with a quill pen his or her name to a giant sized copy of the document, receives a facsimile of period currency from their respective colony, rings a Liberty Bell, and receives a copy of the Declaration of Independence to keep as a memorial to their great efforts in the service of their nation!

“Chat” with John Adams about the decision that he and his fellow delegates made to commit treason against the King of England by signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Fine tune your congressional correspondence by writing with a quill pen and protecting the privacy of the letter with sealing wax. Have your portrait taken in a tricornered hat affixing your signature to America’s most famous document. Enjoy “the Pursuit of Happiness” by sampling period games and entertainments of the 18th Century. Participate in a formal reading of the Declaration of Independence at 1:00 p.m.

The National Park Service reminds all visitors that public parking is limited and visitors are encouraged to take METRO. The nearest stations are Metro Center and Federal Triangle, on the orange, blue and red lines. For more information about this event call 202-208-1631 or go to www.nps.gov/whho.

 

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Program Schedule:

 

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Portrait opportunity signing the Declaration of Independence

 

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Test your Congressional correspondence skill as well as your writing skills with a quill pen

 

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Roll a Beeswax Candle

 

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
“The Pursuit of Happiness”- A Round Robin Tournament of 18th and 19th Century Games

 

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. &
12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
A public audience with John Adams

 

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

11:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
A Signature Event: An opportunity to don a tricornered hat and play a role in one of this nation’s greatest dramas, the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. (Program Duration: 60 Minutes, Space is limited)

 

NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak

1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Reading of the Declaration of Independence