Excerpt: “As America approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the National Archives is launching Opening the Vault, a new exhibition series to put on display some of the most historically valuable and iconic artifacts in American history for the first time in many years. The historical treasures now on view include:
- General George Washington’s signed Oath of Allegiance to the United States, repudiating any allegiance to King George III and sworn while he and his troops were encamped at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, in 1778
- General George Washington’s Revolutionary War account book, which served as an expense report of the Continental Army throughout the war
- Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten postal ledger, created in his capacity as the first Postmaster General in 1775
- Benjamin Franklin’s table of postal rates identifying what, and how much, was required to send a letter in 1775
The artifacts are the first installment of the new Opening the Vault rotating exhibition series that will highlight landmark moments in American history. The first rotation will be on display from May 7, 2025, through August 6, 2025.”
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