Founding documents arrive in Atlanta as part of national tour celebrating America’s 250th birthday

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Some of America’s founding documents arrived in Atlanta on Monday as part of the eight-city Freedom Plane National Tour celebrating the nation’s 250th birthday.

The documents arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where they were received by officials, including Sheffield Hale, president of the Atlanta History Center.

“The timing of this could not be any better,” Hale said.

The items include the 1774 Articles of Association; George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr’s oaths of allegiance; and the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which marked the end of the Revolutionary War.

“This stuff didn’t happen by accident,” Hale said, citing the AHC’s relationship with the National Archives, where the documents are normally stored.

Anne-Laure Desjonquères, the Consul General of France in Atlanta, attended the event, highlighting the long friendship between the United States and France.

“Throughout history, our nations have supported one another in defending the core values we share,” Desjonquères said.

After the national anthem, the documents were removed from “Archive 1” and taken to the Atlanta History Center, where they will be displayed from March 27 through April 12.

“This has never been done before!” said Patrick Madden, president of the National Archives Foundation.

The exhibit is free to visit, and over 14,000 tickets have already been reserved.

“We’re trying to get young people – people between the ages of 18-and-30 – civically active,” Hale said.

Tickets can sell out, and the documents have specific light requirements.

“There are only certain times of day they can be shown,” Hale said.