National Archives Announces Emancipation Proclamation to Go on Permanent Display in 2026
Press Release · Thursday, June 20, 2024

Washington, DC

Boeing Commits Major Gift to Support Addition to the National Archives Rotunda

The National Archives announced today that the Emancipation Proclamation will be put on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, in 2026. The display has been made possible by a gift from Boeing to the National Archives Foundation, the National Archives' nonprofit partner. 

“The Emancipation Proclamation represents a pivotal moment in American history, fundamentally transforming freedom in our nation,” Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan said. “I’m honored to help increase access to the National Archives’ holdings and tell a more comprehensive story by displaying this vital record among the nation’s foundational documents. We are grateful to our partners who have supported this mission, and I look forward to working with them to help tell this story for years to come.”

The permanent display is supported by a commitment from Boeing to the National Archives Foundation. The Emancipation Proclamation will be encased inside the Rotunda with the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.

“Having the Emancipation Proclamation on permanent display among America’s founding documents is an important step forward in telling a more complete story of America’s past,” said Ted Colbert, President and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “With this investment, Boeing hopes to encourage visitors to be more civically engaged, and to have robust conversations about what it means to build a truly equitable and inclusive society.”

A custom case will be built to appropriately safeguard and display the Emancipation Proclamation in the National Archives Rotunda. The case will meet stringent conservation and security requirements, and be designed to merge seamlessly into the historic architecture of the Rotunda. 

Shogan first announced plans for a permanent display of the Emancipation Proclamation during last year’s Juneteenth celebration.  Assessments are underway to determine the best display environment that addresses both the condition of the document and its significance.

“My top priority as Archivist of the United States is to increase public access to the National Archives’ vital holdings,” Shogan said. “Solidifying the Emancipation Proclamation’s permanent place among the nation’s foundational documents helps bring this vision to reality. I am grateful to Boeing for their support in highlighting a record that fundamentally transformed American history.”

For more information on the Emancipation Proclamation, please visit: https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/emancipation-proclamation.

The National Archives Building in Washington, DC, is located on Constitution Avenue at 9th Street, NW. The public exhibits will be open for special extended hours of 10 a.m.–7 p.m. for the Juneteenth display of the Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3 through June 20. Free admission and fully accessible. Metro: Yellow or Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station. Reserve timed entry tickets on Recreation.gov.

The Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3 Featured Document Presentation is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of The Boeing Company.