The National Archives and Records Administration announced on Saturday that it would permanently display the Emancipation Proclamation in its rotunda.
President Abraham Lincoln's order to free all the slaves in the United States has been on display since Saturday in celebration of Juneteenth. Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan subsequently confirmed it would remain there alongside the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.
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Today I was honored to announce that the @USNatArchives intends to place the Emancipation Proclamation on permanent display inside the Rotunda, joining our nation's foundational documents as a Charter of Freedom. It is a historic day for all Americans! pic.twitter.com/2kSFNJWpNO
— Dr. Colleen Shogan (@AOTUS11_Shogan) June 17, 2023
“Although the full privileges of freedom were not immediately bestowed upon all Americans with Lincoln’s order, I am proud that the National Archives will enshrine this seminal document for public display adjacent to our nation’s founding documents," Shogan said in a statement. "Together, they tell a more comprehensive story of the history of all Americans and document progress in our nation’s continuous growth toward a more perfect Union.”
As it is a double-sided five-page document, its original pages will be rotated on a regular basis to limit light exposure while it is displayed. Photography of the document will continue to be prohibited.
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In commemoration of the holiday, the rotunda is open for the extended hours of 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Eastern time on Monday.
Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021. Texas was the first state to make it a holiday in 1980.