On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, proclaiming that the thirteen American colonies were now united, free, and independent states.
Since our founding almost 177 years ago, the Smithsonian has proudly served the United States as a place to learn from our past, explore our present, and shape our future — and there are thousands of objects in the Smithsonian collections that help tell the story of America’s independence!
