With many people taking this week off for Independence Day, the George W. Bush Institute is seeing crowds for its "Freedom Matters" exhibit. The exhibit opened in March and runs through the end of December.
Items on display date back to a 14th century print of the Magna Carta. Freedom Matters also includes a print of the Declaration of Independence made in 1831, cards carried by Union soldiers with the Emancipation Proclamation printed on them and a speech printed for President George HW Bush when he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act.
On the cards with George HW Bush' speech, he had written notes and changes he planned to include.
"We're taking visitors through the history and pursuit of freedom here in the United States," says David Kramer, executive director of the George W. Bush Institute.
Kramer says the documents and items on display can give people perspective for how freedom in the United States has evolved.
"We have a system in place where we can fix problems and mistakes. Amendments to the constitution are the way we do that. We have checks and balances in our political system with equal branches of government," he says.
Kramer says access to documents and primary sources can also give visitors a better understanding of the era they were written and the viewpoint of the people writing them.
"We need to recognize there's not an automatic line toward a perfect democracy. There will be bumps along the road," he says.
"The key is to make sure we strive for freedom for all to make sure we respect each other and treat each other in a civil fashion."
Also among exhibits are newspaper reports on the women's suffrage movement and books by authors ranging from 18th century philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau to Martin Luther King Jr.
The exhibit includes information on how the documents and artifacts helped inform people before mass media. But Kramer says they also play a role today as freedom is threatened in some parts of the world with the United States as the world superpower.
"How we conduct ourselves obviously affects Americans first and foremost, but it has global implications," he says.
"When we engage in some efforts to challenge our elections or other things, that can provide the impetus for authoritarian leaders around the world who might say, 'Well, the United States did that. We can do that, too.'"
Kramer says the documents can show the importance of helping others who are struggling for freedom now.
"It matters both in terms of how we conduct ourselves domestically, how we conduct our political affairs," he says.
"It also matters how we help others. There are millions and millions of people around the world struggling for freedom from Ukraine trying to fend off a Russian invasion to Chinese fighting for their rights to Venezuelans, Cubans. Around the world, there is a struggle for freedom underway."
Documents date back to a copy of the Magna Carta from the 14th Century. The exhibit also includes a printing of the Declaration of Independence made in 1831, cards carried by Union soldiers with the Emancipation Proclamation printed on them and a speech printed for President George HW Bush when he signed the Americans with Disabilities Act.
On the note cards with George HW Bush' speech, he had written notes and changes he planned to include.
Kramer says access to documents and primary sources can give visitors perspective of the era they were written and the viewpoint of the people writing them.
"We need to recognize there's not an automatic line toward a perfect democracy. There will be bumps along the road," he says. "The key is to make sure we strive for freedom for all to make sure we respect each other and treat each other in a civil fashion."
"It matters both in terms of how we conduct ourselves domestically, how we conduct our political affairs," he says. "It also matters how we help others. There are millions and millions of people around the world struggling for freedom from Ukraine trying to fend off a Russian invasion to Chinese fighting for their rights to Venezuelans, Cubans. Around the world, there is a struggle for freedom underway."
"They're such incredible stories of people who long for freedom, who have seen freedom, and how they look to America for the example we set," a visitor looking at the exhibit said Wednesday.
Freedom Matters coincides with the 10-year anniversary of the George W. Bush Presidential Center. More information is available here.
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