An America250 Exhibition at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum

As the United States nears its 250th anniversary, the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum presents an incomparable exhibition of rare documents that have shaped our nation and the world. Opening the Vault: The Story of US examines the ideals, conflicts and turning points that define the American experience.

Featuring historic documents on loan from the National Archives—many never viewed outside Washington, D.C.—this exhibition traces how the nation’s founding principles have been tested, challenged and expanded over 250 years.

Open through May 24, the treasured documents available to view at the Truman Library include:

  • Original Design of the Great Seal of the United States, 1782: The design is still in use after more than two centuries.
  • Treaty of Paris, 1783: The agreement ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
  • Bill of Rights (Senate Revisions), 1789: The Senate’s early edits are seen in this document outlining America’s core freedoms.
  • Louisiana Purchase, 1803: This acquisition doubled the size of the United States.
  • Missouri Compromise, 1820: Tensions between free and slave states were negotiated with the terms established by the Missouri Compromise.
  • Compromise of 1850: Another effort to ease tensions between free and slave states was established as new territories were acquired after the Mexican-American War.
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act, 1854: Effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise, the Kansas-Nebraska Act led to conflicts known as Bleeding Kansas—a precursor to the Civil War.
  • Dred Scott v. Sandford, 1857: Citizenship for African Americans was denied with this Supreme Court decision.
  • Telegram Announcing the Surrender of Fort Sumter, 1861: As the U.S. Army surrendered Fort Sumter to Confederate forces, the American Civil War began.
  • Joint Resolution Proposing the Thirteenth Amendment, 1865: Ratified in December 1865, the resolution proposed the abolition of slavery in the United States.
  • Judgment in Plessy v. Ferguson, 1896: Segregation was determined to be constitutional in this Supreme Court decision, establishing the “separate but equal” doctrine.
  • President Woodrow Wilson’s 14 Points Speech, 1918: The speech to Congress presented a blueprint for peace after World War I.
  • Manhattan Project Notebook, 1942: Handwritten notes detail the project that created the atomic bomb.
  • Surrender of Germany, 1945: With this document, World War II came to an end in Europe.
  • Executive Order 9981, 1945: President Harry S. Truman signed this order to desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • North Atlantic Treaty, 1949: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in the aftermath of World War II, reshaping global security.
  • Armistice Agreement for the Restoration of the South Korean State, 1953: Active hostilities ceased and the Korean Demilitarized Zone was established.
  • Brown v. Board of Education, 1954: Originating in nearby Topeka, the landmark Supreme Court decision struck down prior “separate but equal” guidance.
  • Executive Order 10730: Desegregation of Central High School, 1957: President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent troops to enforce desegregation at a Little Rock high school.
  • Voting Rights Act of 1965: The right to vote was enacted with this foundational piece of legislation, dismantling barriers to democracy.
  • Joint Resolution Proposing the Twenty-Sixth Amendment, 1971: Following youth activism during the Vietnam War era, the voting age was lowered to 18.

See the Full List of Historic Documents