Rockford America 250 Event Brings Declaration of Independence to Life

Rockford's America 250 celebration will bring the Declaration of Independence to life through a public reading beneath a historic tree at Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum.

Community Invited to Experience History Firsthand

As communities across the nation prepare to celebrate America's 250th anniversary, Rockford residents will have a unique opportunity to connect with the nation's founding during a live public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

The event, scheduled for July 8 at Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens, will recreate a tradition dating back to 1776, when the Declaration was read aloud beneath Liberty Trees in towns and cities to inform and inspire citizens about the birth of a new nation.

Historic Setting Adds Meaning to Celebration

Hosted by the Winnebago and Boone Counties Genealogical Society, Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens, and the Natural Land Institute, the free community gathering will take place beneath the property's historic White Oak Legacy tree at 411 Kent Street in Rockford.