Fairfield Museum Celebrates Declaration Of Independence's 250th Anniversary With New Exhibition

FAIRFIELD, CT — The Fairfield Museum & History Center will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a preview party July 2 for its upcoming exhibition, Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness: The Declaration of Independence at 250.

The event is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the museum, and attendees will be able to view early editions of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and other founding-era documents. The event will also include light refreshments, sparkling wine and cocktails.

The exhibition will run from July 2 through July 19 in the Fairfield Museum Meeting Hall. It will feature one of the earliest newspaper printings of the Declaration of Independence along with other documents related to the nation’s founding. The materials are on loan from Seth Kaller Inc.

Dr. Kelly Marino, a history professor at Sacred Heart University, is scheduled to speak during the preview event.

Tickets are available through the Fairfield Museum website. VIP tickets cost $150 per person and include priority parking. General admission tickets for the party cost $100 per person.

The museum also announced that after the preview party, general admission will be free through Nov. 25, 2026, as part of its commemoration of the Declaration’s 250th anniversary. The offer is supported by a donor. Separate fees will continue to apply for the museum's research library and some special events and programs.

The Fairfield Museum & History Center is located at 370 Beach Road. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Fairfield Museum Research Library is open by appointment from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

The museum’s anniversary programming is supported by several sponsors, including Brody Wilkinson PC, the Fairfield Rotary Club, the Town of Fairfield, Cambridge Trust/Eastern Bank, the Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Private Foundation, Russo & Rizio LLC, Fairfield University, Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market and Chandon.