Preserving America’s Symbol of Democracy

By Ed Martinez

July 1, 2009

The Declaration of Independence has always been regarded as a symbol of American democracy and liberty. The original document has been around for over two centuries now, but has dramatically faded and cracked—largely due to poor handling and preservation techniques following the years after its conception.

During its early years, the Declaration of Independence was often rolled up as it traveled between states, and was not handled in a delicate fashion. In 1823, a copy was made, but during the process it became wet, causing the ink to fade.

In the 19th century, the Declaration of Independence was displayed next to a window at the old United States Patent Office (now part of the Smithsonian Institution) for many years, where exposure to sunlight contributed further to its deterioration. The document was eventually taken down and kept out of direct sunlight and stored away in a dry place. It was the early 1900s and at that time, preservation experts did not realize that in order to prevent cracking, the animal skin made parchment needed a little moisture. The dryness factor continued to crack the document severely over the next fifty years.

In 1951, the National Institute of Standards and Technology built helium-filled glass metal cases, which helped keep destructive gases and microorganisms away from the precious document.

An examination of the Declaration of Independence in 1995 revealed signs of deterioration in the encasement’s glass. While the document was not in danger, the glass had become opaque, which could obscure the document inside. To prevent this from happening, the National Institute of Standards and Technology recommended building new encasements for the Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights and the Constitution.

Scientists and engineers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology with collaborators from NASA developed and built state-of-the-art encasements to secure the document against every type of harmful gas known.

Inside the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in Washington, D.C.

The Declaration of Independence is exhibited in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom in Washington, D.C.; where thanks to technology, the original words from our Founding Fathers can now be preserved, and will continue to guide our democracy for generations to come.