Dunlap Broadside Toured Maine Schools
Students in Skowhegan recently viewed a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence as part of a statewide tour.
Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Do you believe local schools should prioritize bringing historical exhibits to students?
A historic Dunlap Broadside, one of just 26 surviving copies of the document printed on July 4, 1776, was displayed at Skowhegan Area High School for approximately 1,200 students. The artifact typically resides in storage at the Maine Historical Society in Portland.
Why it matters
The statewide tour is intended to commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This initiative provides local students and residents a rare opportunity to engage directly with a foundational piece of American history.
There are currently 26 known surviving copies of the Dunlap Broadside globally. To date, 12,000 people across Maine have viewed the document, which was originally printed in Philadelphia.
The players
Maine Historical Society
A state organization that preserves local artifacts and oversees the secure transportation of historical documents.
New Balance
A global footwear and apparel manufacturer that provided the funding for the statewide educational tour.
Skowhegan Area High School
A public secondary school that hosted the document for 1,200 students.
The details
The Maine Historical Society manages the transport and security of the document using specialized logistical planning and insurance coverage. New Balance provided the necessary funding to enable both the statewide tour and the specific educational visit to Skowhegan. The document is moved under strict environmental conditions to ensure its preservation for future generations.
Timeline
September 23, 2026: The document was displayed at Skowhegan Area High School.
September 25-26, 2026: The document is scheduled for display at the Margaret Chase Smith Library.
October 2026: The tour will visit Farmington, Norway, Lewiston, Augusta, and Brunswick.
The Home Front
Cultural institutions across the country are increasingly prioritizing public access to archives ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary. This tour marks a departure from standard practice, as the document is usually restricted to secure storage in Portland.
Families interested in seeing the document should check the Maine Historical Society website for future tour stops in their local community. Residents can also use this as an opportunity to review their own local historical site access or museum schedules for upcoming educational programming.
The takeaway
This tour serves as a significant educational opportunity for Maine students to connect with primary source material from 1776. Families should keep an eye on upcoming library and school event calendars to see when this rare artifact might visit their specific local community.
What happens next
The historical document is scheduled for display at the Margaret Chase Smith Library on September 25 and 26, 2026. Following this, the tour will continue its visits to Farmington, Norway, Lewiston, Augusta, and Brunswick throughout October 2026.
Further reading
You can find more coverage on local learning opportunities in our Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel.
Live Poll
Do you believe local schools should prioritize bringing historical exhibits to students?
