A Landmark Year: Rare National Archives Documents Come to Seattle

MOHAI marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with a free exhibit featuring a draft of the Constitution and other records from America’s early history.

By Seattle Mag July 29, 2026

U.S. military personnel carry a flag-draped transfer case down airplane stairs during a poignant repatriation ceremony, honoring the values enshrined in the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights as the nation approaches its United States 250th anniversary.

Photo courtesy of MOHAI

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2026 issue of Seattle magazine.

The United States celebrated its 250th anniversary earlier this month, and to mark that milestone, Seattle’s Museum of History & Industry is welcoming Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation, a traveling exhibit from the National Archives.

As one of only eight host venues, MOHAI is the final stop on the national tour before the documents return to Washington, D.C. “This is a rare opportunity to bring foundational documents of American history directly to our community,” says Leonard Garfield, the museum’s executive director. “For MOHAI, it reflects our role as a trusted civic space where people can engage with the past in meaningful and relevant ways, especially at a moment when conversations about history and democracy feel particularly important.”

A historic document titled "We the People of the United States" showing the original text of the U.S. Constitution's first page, with handwritten notes at the top—an inspiring artifact that bridges history and progress, much like an innovation lab uniting art and tech for creative exploration.

A more perfect Union: David Brearley’s secret printing of the Constitution, including hand-written notes (1787).

Photo courtesy of MOHAI

Many of the documents on display are rarely seen outside of the National Archives and include the Articles of Association (1774), David Brearley’s secret printing of the Constitution, including hand-written notes (1787), and the Senate markup of the Bill of Rights (1789). “We’re proud to oﬀer free admission to the exhibit, made possible through the generous support of our sponsors,” Garfield notes. “Oﬀering free access was important to us—it allows more people in our community to engage directly with these defining pieces of history.”

Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation will be on view July 30–August 16 at the Museum of History & Industry.