In a small room on the 10th floor of the LBJ Presidential Library, documents that shaped important moments in United States history, including the 15th Amendment, will be on display to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary of independence.
“The American Experiment: Pursuing Our Promise” will run through January 2027, presenting foundational documents and asking visitors to reflect on the U.S.’ past, present and future. Admission is free for students, faculty and staff.
“‘The American Experiment’ is a yearlong series that is built around the idea that America has always been this work in progress rather than presenting history as a settled story,” said Lara Hall, museum curator at the LBJ Presidential Library. “We’re inviting our visitors to engage with some of the questions that have shaped the nation from the founding to the present day.”
The library created the two-part exhibition in collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration and the Briscoe Center for American History. The first round, on display until July 9, showcases documents such as the 15th Amendment, the Alien Enemies Act and the original patents for inventions such as the lightbulb, the telephone and the Wright Brothers’ airplane. Jasmin Jimenez, a Texas Christian University senior, visited the exhibit Sunday.
“It brings (the past) to the present frame, makes it real and tangible,” Jimenez said. “We just took a U.S. history class last semester, so being able to see documents that we were talking about makes it tangible and real, and humanizes the people behind it as well.”
The second phase, running from July 11 through Aug. 2, presents a set of documents including the Louisiana Purchase, the original design for the Great Seal of the United States and the 1789 Senate amendments that later became the Bill of Rights.
“That’s the gravitas of these documents, that somebody actually handwrote (them),” said Sherry Brown, director of admissions and retail at the LBJ Presidential Library. “This happened so long ago. … They knew with these (documents) that they would be valuable and important.”
The library plans to host events during the summer to celebrate pivotal dates in history. On July 4, the library will have free admission, and on every Wednesday through Sept. 2, the library will remain open until 9 p.m., four hours longer than its usual 5 p.m. closing time.
“I hope (visitors) get the importance of our democracy,” Brown said. “And see that people put a lot of effort and thought into all the paperwork that makes us who we are.”
“The American Experiment” also features Elvis Presley’s record of induction into the U.S. Army, the deed of gift for the Statue of Liberty and the law that created Yellowstone National Park, America’s first federally-protected national park. Other notable documents include the “Day of Infamy” speech former President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered after the attack on Pearl Harbor, featuring his handwritten notes, and the treasury warrant for the purchase of Alaska.
“Having people be educated on history is important to keep the country going and to continue into the future of America,” Jimenez said. “We need a youth that cares about learning the history of what was before us.”
Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article misstated the closure date for “The American Experiment” as September 2. The exhibit will run through January 2027. The Texan regrets this error.
