Independence Day Celebrations

July 4, 2026 will mark 250 years since revolutionaries gathered together and declared:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

At the Museum, we celebrate those ideals every year with a naturalization ceremony for new U.S. citizens, in addition to our usual interpretation of Hezekiah Alexander’s role fighting for American independence.

Learn More

The ideals declared on July 4th are now over 245 years old, but there’s still work to be done to ensure we live up to them. We’ve gathered together these resources to help you better understand the holiday, your rights & responsibilities as a citizen, and what you can do to create a more just & equitable society.

Exploring the Collections

We’re opening up our exhibit cases and giving you a close look at one of our most well-known artifacts! Celebrate Independence Day with the Museum – virtually – with this incredible piece of history.

Ringing the American Freedom Bell

We invite you to join us for a special ringing of the American Freedom Bell as we take a moment to reflect and consider our history and to think about what we can all do to achieve the ideals of the Declaration of Independence.

Lunch & Learn: Spies, Traitors, & the Struggle for Independence

Join The Charlotte Museum of History for a special Independence Day themed edition of our popular Lunch & Learn series. Education Specialist Lauren Wallace delves into the world of espionage and trickery to explore how spies and spy craft may have won the war.