Declaration of Independence read at City Hall

As part of a nationwide commemoration, there will be a public reading of the Declaration of Independence on the steps of the Birmingham City Hall on Wednesday, July 8, marking the 250th anniversary of the document’s first public reading in 1776.

The free 40-minute event starts at 5:50 p.m., with the public reading beginning at 6 p.m. at 151 Martin Street. Six local community representatives will each read a section of the declaration, including Birmingham Mayor Clinton Baller, Birmingham Schools Superintendent Embekka Roberson, local historian Linda Buchanan, Vietnam veteran Mike Schloff, Oakland County League of Women Voters President Maria Woloson, and Antonia Lawrence, student representative on the Birmingham Museum Board. The program will also include a live piccolo performance of historic patriotic music by Carol Smist.

Co-hosted by Piety Hill Chapter National Society of Daughters of the Revolution (NSDAR) and the Birmingham Museum, the event is one of hundreds of simultaneous public readings happening across the United States on July 8, as communities and organizations large and small gather in public spaces to reenact the historic original public reading.

“The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of our country and our civic ideals, and is a compelling way to understand the events that led to the formation of the United States. This public reading is chance to experience these words as people did for the first time 250 years ago,” said Leslie Pielack, Birmingham Museum Director.

This outdoor event will happen rain or shine, so attendees should dress accordingly for the weather. If severe weather forces cancellation, we will post the news on the City of Birmingham Facebook event page.

After the program concludes, interested attendees can make their way to nearby Shain Park for a free 7 p.m. performance by Billy Mack and the Juke Joint Johnnies, part of Birmingham’s annual Wednesday night In The Park summer concert series.