Sharing the Spirit of America: Reading of the Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence was first read in public on July 8, 1776. In commemoration, on July 8, 2026, on the steps of Media Courthouse, the Delaware County Bar Association and America 250 Delco Commission will join with communities across America in a simultaneous reading of this famous document. Community leaders will read individual segments as we join the thousands who will read as well. A 5:30 start time will allow visitors to enjoy the 'Forging Freedom' banner installation, sign their own copy of the Declaration, and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. This event will be OUTSIDE. Please be aware of the weather and dress appropriately. In inclement weather, it will be held inside Judge Francis J. Catania Law Library inside the Courthouse. The event is free and no registration is required. At the conclusion, attendees are invited join Visit Delco at Dining Under the Stars on State Street for more celebrations.
- Date:07/08/2026 05:30 PM - 07/08/2026 06:00 PM
- Location 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063, USA (Map)
- More Info:Media Courthouse steps
Description
Sharing the Spirit of America: Reading of the Declaration of Independence
This is a nationwide program initiated and sponsored by the Hawai’i America250 Commission. The Declaration of Independence was first read in public on July 8, 1776. In commemoration, on July 8, 2026, on the steps of Media Courthouse, the Delaware County Bar Association and America 250 Delco Commission will join with communities across America in a simultaneous reading of this famous document. Community leaders will read individual segments.
A 5:30 start time will allow visitors to enjoy the 'Forging Freedom' banner installation, sign their own copy of the Declaration, and join in the Pledge of Allegiance. This event will be OUTSIDE. Please be aware of the weather and dress appropriately. In inclement weather, it will be held inside Judge Francis J. Catania Law Library inside the Courthouse. The event is free and no registration is required. At the conclusion, attendees are invited join media Business Authority and Visit Delco at Dining Under the Stars on State Street for more celebrations.
The premise of ‘Sharing the Spirit of America’ is pretty simple, and its implementation is equally simple, just as the Declaration of Independence was read to the people on July 8, 1776, now, 250-years later, Americans in all 50 States, 5 Territories, the District of Columbia, and Minor Outlying Islands of the United States will read the Declaration of Independence ‘together’.
Even though the United States is spread across thousands of miles and ten different time zones, all of us in America may read the Declaration of Independence ‘together’, at the ‘same’ time. Unlike the extent of the Colonies in 1776, today, America spans about 9,500-miles from one extreme to the other (the Caribbean across North America to the western edge of the Pacific).
With a start time based on 6 pm (EDT), July 8, 2026 (commemorating the first public reading), people in communities across America will begin reading the Declaration of Independence.
Communities Joining In 'Sharing the Spirit of America'
🗺️ View Map of Reading Locations
Download our Post Card, Index Card, and QR Code to share with others.
Additional information on Sharing the Spirit of America is in the following:
(*) The first two consolidated files have all of the information found in the subsequent associated documents.
The following associated documents are individual components from the consolidated files:
Just as the Declaration of Independence was read for the first time to the people of Philadelphia on July 8, 1776, Americans across the country will read the Declaration on July 8, 2026.
