{"id":2018,"date":"2026-02-18T17:32:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/charlottesville\/?page_id=2018"},"modified":"2026-03-03T14:28:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T19:28:58","slug":"declaration-under-the-dome-16-february-2026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.esuus.org\/charlottesville\/declaration-under-the-dome-16-february-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Declaration Under the Dome – 16 February 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Declaration Under the Dome – 16 February 2026<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Thomas Jefferson and Cavman held the floor Monday in the Dome Room of the University of Virginia\u2019s Rotunda, throwing fist bumps and high-fives and standing for selfies as hundreds of guests filed in. But the star of the show was a nearly 250-year-old original copy of the Declaration of Independence.<\/p>\n

The Charlottesville branch of the ESU continues to support organizations with similar missions and members participated in this celebration.  <\/p>\n

An estimated 2,000 people, from fourth graders to senior citizens, formed a line outside the Rotunda for a chance to view the \u201cMcGregor Dunlap broadside\u201d copy of the declaration, one of two in the University Library\u2019s Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library. The copies are among just 26 originals known to still exist.<\/p>\n

The McGregor Dunlap broadside is generally off display and secured in the library\u2019s vault, preserving it for future generations of researchers. Another copy is on permanent display in the \u201cDeclaring Independence\u201d exhibition in the Small Special Collections Library. UVA is the only place in the world with two copies and on this day, it was possible to view both<\/em> copies.<\/p>\n

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The four-hour \u201cDeclaration Under the Dome\u201d program included speeches from VIPs, including UVA President Scott C. Beardsley, ESU Member and Assistant Vice President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications and Strategic Initiatives in the office of the Interim President of UVA Mary Kate Cary, 5th District Congressman John McGuire, and Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade.   It also included musical performances, quick educational seminars, readings, giveaways and red, white and blue cupcakes. It was all part of the ongoing UVA250 celebration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are here to reflect on the enduring power of this extraordinary document as well as the founding of this extraordinary country \u2013 the United States of America \u2013 and this extraordinary university, the University of Virginia,\u201d UVA President Scott C. Beardsley said in opening the event.<\/p>\n

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UVA founder Thomas Jefferson designed the Rotunda to serve as both a library and the centerpiece of the Academical Village, emphasizing the importance of reading and learning. While the Rotunda no longer serves its original purpose, having Jefferson\u2019s Declaration of Independence displayed there, even briefly, honors his revolutionary and academic legacy.      <\/p>\n

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Below please find a UVA video of the event posted on YouTube.  In it you can hear an example of the beautiful music that was performed in the Rotunda, which has surprisingly favorable acoustics.  Press Play to start.<\/p>\n