The Tonganoxie Community Historical Society will host “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy,” an exhibit from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

The exhibit opens later next week (April 18) and will be available until May 17 at the TCHS campus, 201 W. Washington St., . The Kansas tour of “Declaration 1776” is presented by Humanities Kansas.

The museum will be open extended hours for this exhibition, including 5-8 p.m. Thursdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays in addition to regular hours of 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. As always, the museum will open per special requests.

When the Declaration of Independence was issued, the idea that “all men are created equal” was revolutionary and the Founding Fathers unleashed an open-ended driving force that would shape modern history.

To learn more about the Declaration of Independence, TCHS is hosting the program, “Declaration Conversation,” at 7 p.m. April 23. The “Declaration Conversation” event is an opportunity to learn more about America’s founding document during the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Six Tonganoxie residents will read excerpts from the document and participate in a discussion facilitated by Dr. Eric Anderson, professor of history at Haskell Indian Nations University and a member of the Potawatomi Nation.

 “Declaration Conversations” is part of Humanities Kansas’s “Declaration at 250” activities, including the statewide tour of the “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” traveling exhibition from The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. Support for “Declaration Conversations” has been provided by the State of Kansas through the Kansas Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

“‘Declaration 1776’ is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for Kansas communities to participate in the national commemoration of America’s 250th right in their own hometowns,” said Julie Mulvihill, Humanities Kansas executive director. “We look forward to robust community conversations about America’s founding document and its impact on the world.”

The Tonganoxie Community Historical Society is one of 46 Kansas venues hosting “Declaration 1776” in 2026. For a full schedule of locations and dates, visit humanitieskansas.org.

The “Declaration 1776: The Big Bang of Modern Democracy” traveling exhibition is made possible in Kansas with support from the Kansas Arts Commission and the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

For more information about “Declaration 1776” in Tonganoxie, contact TCHS by email TCHSTonganoxie@gmail.com or by phone 913-845-2960 or on the website TonganoxieHistoricalSociety.org.

TCHS was founded in 1981. The founding of the historical society was precipitated by the nation-wide celebration of the bicentennial in 1976. The historical society and museum exist to share specifically the history of the local area, but also to explore the history of the world through the lens of a small town.