Declaration of Independence Signatures Displayed in Honor of America 250
In a rare opportunity to connect with the origins of the United States, The Durham Museum is proud to announce its newest internally curated exhibition, In Search of the Signers. Opening August 1 and running through January 10, 2027, the exhibition showcases a premier collection of authentic signatures and documents belonging to the men who founded our nation.
The exhibition coincides with a critical, yet often overlooked, date in American history. While the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, the formal signing by most delegates occurred on August 2, 1776. By opening on August 1, The Durham Museum invites the public to commemorate this pivotal moment.
In Search of the Signers highlights the extraordinary foresight of Omaha businessman and real estate pioneer Byron Reed. During the late 19th century, Reed dedicated himself to acquiring original manuscripts and official papers tied to the Signers of the Declaration. Upon his death in 1891, he bequeathed his collection to the City of Omaha. Today, this collection is held by The Durham Museum, standing as one of Nebraska’s most significant historical assets.
“Visitors won’t simply learn about the Founding Fathers,” says Scott Eastman, director of marketing and public relations for The Durham Museum. “They will stand in the presence of the very documents these men touched. It is a profound opportunity to experience the humanity behind the history that defined our nation.”
The exhibition features 49 original documents, including personal letters, land grants, and official papers that offer a glimpse into the lives of the Signers before, during, and after the Revolutionary War. Beyond the documents themselves, guests will discover the story of Byron Reed, whose personal passion for collecting transformed a private pursuit into a vital public legacy and resource.
In Search of the Signers is generously supported by the Kiewit Companies Foundation, D F Dillon Foundation, HDR, Inc., Kathi & Louie Rotella, Jr., Karen & Kim Hawkins Family Foundation, AARP Nebraska, Humanities Nebraska, Webster Family Foundation, Douglas County, Nebraska, and The Durham Society. Media support provided by KETV.
Additional Programming
Speaker Series: Monticello – Three American Stories, One Mountaintop
Thursday, Aug. 27, 5-8 p.m.
American history fans will enjoy this presentation from The Durham Museum’s public historian, Dr. Kyle Chattleton. From his mountaintop home at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson helped conceive a nation. Yet, Monticello also reflects America’s founding contradictions, including the lives of enslaved families like the Fossetts, or the Levy family, who preserved Monticello while also fighting for their religious freedom guaranteed at the nation’s founding.
Guests are invited to enjoy a social hour beginning at 5 p.m., with snacks and drinks available for purchase and access to the exhibition. The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. This event is open to the public. Regular museum admission applies and admission is free for members. Advanced registration is required at DurhamMuseum.org
Smithsonian Documentary Screenings
A Star-Spangled Story: Battle for America
Sunday, Aug. 2, 1 p.m. (51 min)
“The Star-Spangled Banner” is known by all, and yet, only about 40% of U.S. citizens know all the words. And even fewer know their meaning. Join us as we travel back to 1814, when Washington, D.C. was under British attack during the “Second War of Independence,” and the very bricks and mortar of American democracy were reduced to smoking rubble. We examine the battle that inspired witness Francis Scott Key to immortalize its final moments, then reveal how his poem transformed into an anthem.
America in Color: Made in the USA
Sunday, Sept. 6, 1 p.m. (48 min)
Celebrate Labor Day with a closer look at the journey of the American worker through the first half of the 20th century. Over the decades, factories expanded like never before, two world wars speed up technological change, and by the 1950s, American workers have the highest wages and consumer power of any country in the world. This is the story of the men and women who built the American Dream, presented entirely in color through digitally remastered archival footage and home movies.
America in Color: Coming to America
Sunday, Oct. 4, 1 p.m. (48 min)
A look at the immigrant experience in America during the early 1900s, For many immigrants, their first sight of the U.S. is the Statue of Liberty, but they soon learn that America’s arms are not always open. Colorized rare home movies and archival footage reveal the amazing stories of ordinary people who share the same dream. From Caribbean immigrants who settled in Harlem to Italian “radicals” shipped back home to celebrities such as Albert Einstein, see how America changed as immigrants brought new cultures from the margins to the mainstream.
