“A Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence”

In the United States during the 18th and 19th centuries, the Declaration of Independence was typically read aloud on the 4th of July in a community setting. This is still practiced in some pockets of our country—but for the most part, the tradition has fallen by the wayside. Especially in light of the 250th anniversary of the “document that changed the world,” we wish to revive this tradition. The 2025 edition of Cincinnati’s “A Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence” was the first time in 100 years that the text had been read on the 4th of July in the Queen City in a large public venue.

A cohort of twenty readers, representative of people from all aspects of our society, will each read a “portion” of the Declaration of Independence. The approximately 40-minute simple ceremony – celebration will include additional musical Americana and lively fun.