Yesterday, our homeschool group had a field trip to the Dallas Central Library. (I know, a homeschooler taking a field trip to the library is like a public school kid taking a field trip to the cafeteria. Bear with me.)
They have a conference room called the Discovery Wall set up for kids where they can interact with museums, zoos and other educational facilities all over the world. We watched a presentation from a zookeeper at the Buffalo Zoo. They have cute polar bear cubs. It was fun.
While we were there, we learned that the Dallas Central Library holds one of the original copies of the Declaration of Independence that were sent throughout the colonies in July of 1776. “The only original copy west of the Mississippi” is tucked away on the 7th floor of the Dallas library. Who knew?
(Fret not, fretters. I did not use a flash on these pictures because I’m not an idiot.)
And they don’t really even advertise it. The librarian who facilitated our chat with the Buffalo zoo mentioned it in his spiel on the library. You’d think if you had the one of the few remaining copies of THE document of our nation, it would be a bigger deal.
You’d also think it would be a bigger deal that they also have a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, printed just after his death by two of his friends. It’s tucked away in a little room just beside the elevators on the 7th floor.
Two amazing historical treasures right under our noses, and we never knew. It makes me wonder what other wonders are tucked into corners around us.
Incidentally, I’m a big fan of libraries (HUGE!) but libraries are not museums, and this doesn’t seem like the best place for these treasures. But since that’s where they are, you should definitely try to see them if you’re in the area.
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