Pen to Paper: The Civic Gospel of the Declaration of Independence

Name: Pen to Paper: The Civic Gospel of the Declaration of Independence
Start: 2026-05-02T14:00:00-04:00
Location: 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville, VA, United States, Virginia 22902

Schedule

Sat, 02 May, 2026 at 02:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville, VA, United States, Virginia 22902 | Charlottesville, VA

Join us on Saturday, May 2, 2026, on Monticello’s iconic West Lawn for Pen to Paper: The Civic Gospel of the Declaration of Independence, an inspiring afternoon of conversation, music, and poetry that explores the language and legacy of one of the most influential documents in history.

Presented in partnership with the Virginia’s American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), the program will bring together prominent voices from across American public life for an immersive exploration of the Declaration—its ideals, its contradictions, and its continuing call to civic engagement.

Highlights include:
🌟A shared reading of the Declaration of Independence
🌟Remarks from VA250 Honorary Chair Carly Fiorina
Musical performance by acclaimed Virginia musician Horace Scruggs
🌟A thought-provoking panel discussion featuring scholars, writers, and designers exploring the Declaration’s evolving meaning 250 years later
Join us after the program for a special performance of Howard Ginsberg’s stage play, Jefferson & Adams. The production features renowned historical interpreter Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson; Sam Goodyear as John Adams; and Abigail Schumann as Abigail Adams.