The George W. Bush Presidential Center at SMU in Dallas is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with a series of special exhibits and events that bring rare pieces of U.S. history to North Texas.
From April 20 through May 21, visitors can see “Opening the Vault,” a partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration. The limited-time display features original historical documents rarely seen outside Washington, D.C., including the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo from 1848, the Treasury Warrant for the Purchase of Alaska in 1868, the Deed of Gift for the Statue of Liberty, and Thomas Edison’s light bulb patent drawing.
Additional artifacts related to the National Park Service — such as the Act establishing Yellowstone National Park and documents tied to Mount Rainier — are on view inside the Bush Museum. Some portions of the exhibit are free; others require museum admission.
An outdoor installation titled “America’s Birthday: A History of Independence Day Story Walk” opened in April at the entrance to the Bush Museum and will remain on display through October. The free exhibit traces how Americans have celebrated the Fourth of July across generations.
The center will also offer free admission to the George W. Bush Presidential Museum from July 3 through July 6, sponsored by Sewell Automotive Companies. Guests can explore permanent exhibits, including the September 11 gallery, a replica Oval Office, and the Decision Points Theater, alongside special 250th programming.
Located at 2943 SMU Boulevard on the Southern Methodist University campus, the Bush Center is using the milestone to highlight core American values through artifacts, storytelling and public events running throughout 2026.
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