Spirit of America: City & County-wide Public Readings of the Declaration of Independence

Community-Wide Reading of the Declaration of Independence
The Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area (CCHA) invites residents, organizations, businesses, community groups, and historic sites throughout the City of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to participate in Sharing the Spirit of America, a region-wide public reading of the Declaration of Independence on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. EDT.
CCHA is encouraging communities throughout Annapolis and Anne Arundel County to gather friends, neighbors, colleagues, and family members to commemorate this historic moment through a collective public reading.Join in recreating the moment when Americans first heard the Declaration of Independence read aloud 250 years ago.
Anyone can participate and as organizations and individuals register their reading locations, CCHA will add them to an interactive public map so participants can find a reading near them or join an existing gathering.
Partners supporting this effort include Annapolis 250 Commission, MD Two-Fifty, Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, Annapolis Downtown Partnership, the City of Annapolis, and many others!
*************How to Participate***************
~Organize a public outdoor reading of the Declaration of Independence at 6:00 p.m. on July 8, 2026.
~Readings may take place anywhere: a historic site, park, library, street corner, front porch, business, community gathering space, or even a local pub.
~Gather 3, 13, 25, or even 250 participants.
~Register your reading location at Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area's Spirit of America webpage.
(chesapeakecrossroads.org/250th/spirit-of-america/)
~Download and print out the official reading copy of the Declaration of Independence.
~At 6:00 p.m. on July 8, join fellow participants across the region in reading the Declaration aloud.
A complete list and map of participating locations will be available online. Community members who do not wish to organize their own reading are encouraged to attend a nearby event. Participants are also encouraged to livestream or record their readings and share them on social media using the hashtags:
www.facebook.com/hashtag/annapolis250?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZZZNx4ywa65ZSPo5bwuz_CTyc27zvi0879465TpLo8lobIfJUJevbHOVb1dPrcCQAfIOnJgOy9ySbHut4QRwsgYGllJoz-2NDjytQCwIUag1Kuq7S-x9LiUvSMHB72q4VqnrOfVhJ-u_fdGBq7t23Cb&__tn__=q