The Lincoln Memorial University-Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum (LMU-ALLM) will open a new temporary exhibition, Lincoln: Echoes of 1776, on July 6, 2026, in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence.
Curated by Dr. Jonathan Smallwood, assistant director and curator of LMU-ALLM, the exhibit connects the founding ideals of 1776 to Abraham Lincoln’s leadership during one of the nation’s most defining periods. It examines tensions between liberty and slavery at the nation’s founding while highlighting Lincoln’s efforts to uphold the principles of equality outlined in the Declaration.
The exhibition centers on three guiding questions: how the Founding Fathers reconciled the concept of liberty with the existence of slavery; how global systems of slavery influenced the development of racialized chattel slavery in the United States; and how Lincoln defended the ideals of the Declaration in his fight against slavery.
The exhibit features campaign materials from Lincoln’s 1858 U.S. Senate race against Stephen A. Douglas and his 1860 presidential campaign. A rotating display will also showcase signed documents from the first 16 U.S. presidents, spanning from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln.
“As the nation celebrates 250 years of the Declaration of Independence, there’s no better time to explore how deeply those words shaped Abraham Lincoln,” Smallwood said. “We look forward to welcoming the community to experience this powerful and timely exhibit.”
To support national commemorations of America’s 250th birthday, the museum will offer free admission from July 6 through July 31. The first 100 visitors will receive a commemorative America 250 mug and a copy of the Declaration of Independence.
The Abraham Lincoln Library & Museum will be closed from June 29 through July 5 in observance of the Fourth of July holiday.
The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum is located on the historic campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. Housing one of the top five Lincoln and Civil War private collections in the world, the Museum is open year‑round Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday hours are offered March through October from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about this and other programs at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, call 423‑869‑6235.
