CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — The Champaign County History Museum is preparing to launch its America 250 celebration with a series of events that will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and offer residents a rare opportunity to view historic documents and artifacts connected to the American Revolution.

The celebration begins June 13 with a free public kickoff event at the museum, followed by a special four-day exhibit at the Champaign Public Library featuring 21 authentic founding-era documents and artifacts.

The June 13 event will begin at 2 p.m. at the Champaign County History Museum, located at 102 E. University Ave. Organizers said the program will include the National Anthem, remarks from community leaders, a ceremonial raising of a commemorative America 250 flag, a public reading of the Declaration of Independence and refreshments.

Champaign Mayor Deb Feinen is expected to issue a semi-quincentennial proclamation during the event.

The centerpiece of the celebration will be “Forging Liberty: The Road to Independence,” a special exhibit opening June 18 at the Champaign Public Library.

The exhibit will feature 21 authentic documents and artifacts from the founding era, many of which have never before been displayed publicly. The collection traces America’s journey from colonial rule to independence and the creation of a new nation.

Among the items on display will be an 1843 Peter Force facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, a Paul Revere engraving depicting the Boston Massacre, signatures from several Founding Fathers, King George III’s response to American independence, a letter written by George Washington, Revolutionary War-era maps and a French and Indian War powder horn.

“This is one of the largest and most ambitious exhibits assembled by the Champaign County History Museum,” said museum President T.J. Blakeman. “We want people to encounter the founding story directly, through the words, documents, conflicts and choices that shaped the American experiment and to consider what liberty and self-government require of us today.”

The exhibit will be open June 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., June 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and June 21 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is free, but organizers are encouraging visitors to reserve timed tickets in advance. One hundred tickets will be available per hour, with a standby line available for those who arrive without reservations.