The National Archives Museum in Washington, DC, will display the original Emancipation Proclamation along with General Order No. 3. The order, issued on June 19 1865, declares “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free” and will go on view from Thursday, June 19, to Sunday, June 22, 2025. Exhibit hours are 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. ET; timed ticket entry is available, but not required.

“The annual public exhibition of President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and this important military order provides a regular opportunity to reinforce how America’s founding principles ultimately ended slavery, ” said Jim Byron, Senior Advisor to the Acting Archivist of the United States.

"The Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3 together tell a critical story of our nation's journey to a more perfect union," said Chair and President of the National Archives Foundation Rodney Slater. "These documents are among the vast treasure trove of the National Archives holdings and we're excited to have them on display for visitors this summer."

Featured Document Display: The original Emancipation Proclamation
East Rotunda Gallery

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached the third year of the Civil War. Lincoln’s proclamation, which declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free,” was “a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing rebellion.” The Proclamation also declared the acceptance of Black men into military service. By the war’s end, almost 200,000 Black soldiers and sailors had fought for the Union and freedom. 

The Emancipation Proclamation promised freedom and a new beginning for several million Americans and fundamentally transformed the character of the war. It recognized the moral force behind the Union cause and strengthened the Union both militarily and politically. As a milestone along the road to chattel slavery’s final destruction, the Emancipation Proclamation has assumed a place among the great documents of the nation.

Related Featured Document Display: 'Juneteenth’ General Order No. 3
East Rotunda GalleryThe freedom promised in the Emancipation Proclamation was delivered to 250,000 slaves in Texas two and a half years after President Lincoln’s historic proclamation and two months after Union victory in the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, U.S. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that all slaves in the state were now free. This day has come to be known as Juneteenth, a combination of June and 19th. These documents were important elements of the abolition movement, which sought to end slavery. That goal was not fully realized until December 6, 1865, when the requisite number of states ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, legally ending slavery in the United States.

The Emancipation Proclamation and General Order No. 3 Featured Document Presentation is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of The Boeing Company.

About the National Archives

The National Archives and Records Administration is a federal agency that serves the American people by preserving and making available the records of the United States Government through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries. The National Archives is the custodian of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, on display for all to experience in Washington, DC. Learn more about the holdings of the National Archives at www.archives.gov.

About the National Archives Foundation

The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.

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