NavFile’s David Aughinbaugh II, traveled down to Miami to see the Freedom Plane National Tour feature 9 founding documents of the United States of America. This article provides coverage of the Miami stop and David’s insights, all celebrating America 250.
From June 20 through July 5, 2026, the Museum of Miami is displaying a rare 1823 William Stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence as part of the National Archives’ Freedom Plane National Tour: Documents That Forged a Nation.
I traveled to Miami to see the Declaration of Independence and 8 other historical documents last week as part of celebrating 250 years of the United States of America. The following is a background on the Freedom Plane tour and an overview of the exhibit in Miami. Also included are photos and videos from my trip to South Florida.
The documents themselves traveled to Miami by the way of Boeing’s 737-700 executive jet that has been modified to become the Freedom Plane with a special Freedom Plane livery.
The Plane Behind The Freedom Tour
The Freedom Plane also gives the tour an American aviation vector. The aircraft is Boeing’s executive transport jet, registration N836BA, a Boeing 737-700 Boeing Business Jet, or BBJ1. The aircraft has been modified to wear the commemorative Freedom Plane livery for America’s 250th anniversary. It carries the documents between tour stops, giving the exhibit a visible travel piece beyond the records themselves. Earlier national traveling exhibitions used the railroad. This tour carries the same idea into the air. Outside of the stops, the plane continues to be used as an executive jet for Boeing employees.
Above: The Freedom Plane (Boeing 737-700 BBJ1) arriving at Miami International Airport. Photo from the National Archives.
The Freedom Train Connection
The Freedom Plane National Tour is officially inspired by the Bicentennial Freedom Train, but the idea goes back even further than 1976.
The first Freedom Train ran from 1947 to 1949, shortly after World War II. It carried major historical documents across the United States and gave millions of Americans a chance to see records they might never have viewed in Washington. The idea returned for the American Bicentennial in 1975 and 1976, when another Freedom Train traveled the country with historic artifacts tied to the nation’s 200th anniversary.
The Documents
As part of the tour, the National Archives and the National Archives Foundation are exhibiting 9 documents.
- William Stone Engraving of the Declaration of Independence - 1823
- Articles of Association - 1774
- George Washington’s, Alexander Hamilton’s, and Aaron Burr’s Oaths of Allegiance – 1778 (3 documents)
- Treaty of Paris – 1783
- David Brearley’s Secret Printing of the Constitution - 1787
- State Delegation Votes Approving the Constitution – 1787
- Senate Markup of the Bill of Rights, 1789
Above: the William Stone Engraving of the Declaration of Independence - 1823 at the Museum of Miami Freedom Plane National Tour Exhibit.
The Miami Stop
The Museum of Miami is hosting the exhibition from June 20 through July 5, 2026, at 101 West Flagler Street in downtown Miami. The museum says the documents arrived in Miami by specially designated aircraft on June 15, ahead of the public opening. Because the exhibit runs through the July 4th weekend, the Miami stop naturally connects with Independence Day. The museum has also planned a few events around the exhibit, including a public birthday celebration on the plaza and a digital “Wishes for America” mural where visitors can share hopes for the country’s future.
Above: The Freedom Plane National Tour Museum of Miami Exhibit in June 2026.
What Visitors Should Know Before Going
Access to the Freedom Plane exhibition is free with museum admission, but entry is limited. Visitors can reserve advance exhibition tickets for a selected day, while limited same-day tickets are available at the museum on a first-come, first-served basis. Once exhibition capacity is reached, walk-up visitors will not be admitted, so visitors should check availability before going.
The museum is also limiting time inside the exhibition to about 15 minutes to help manage lines and protect the artifacts. Visitors should expect possible outdoor queuing, no re-entry, and strict rules inside the exhibit. Food and drinks, including water, are not allowed. Only clear bags up to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches are permitted, and flash photography, livestreaming, extra lighting, and selfie sticks are prohibited.
David Insight
I went to the museum on a week day and there was no line; however, last weekend, the museum did sell out. So if you are looking to attend on July 4th or 5th, I would get there early.
Above: The Leading Up to the Declaration Display at the Museum of Miami for the Freedom Plane National Tour in June 2026.
A Short Stop On A Longer Route
The Freedom Plane National Tour gives Miami a short chance to see Founding-era documents rarely displayed together. The Stone engraving is not the original Declaration, but it has its own importance, tied to preservation, memory, and the way many Americans came to picture the Declaration itself.
With America’s 250th anniversary approaching, the exhibit brings some of the country’s early records out of Washington and into public view for a limited stop. Miami’s run ends July 5, before the tour continues to Dearborn four days later. For South Florida visitors, it is a chance to see part of the country’s founding record up close before the Freedom Plane moves on.
My Video Coverage of the Freedom Plane Tour Miami
Check out my video of my trip and the documents on YouTube below.
