Revolutionary thinking has always been central to Springfield’s identity. Opening in advance of the 250th anniversary of July 4th, 1776, Declaration of Innovation: Springfield’s Revolutionary Ideas examines the city’s enduring role as a center for creativity, invention, and progress. This exhibition invites visitors to explore how bold ideas have shaped Springfield across centuries, from the American Revolution through the modern day.

The exhibition begins in the 1770s, immersing visitors in the experiences and perspectives of colonists grappling with independence from British rule. Through interactive elements, guests engage with the everyday realities of the period, including the impact of the Stamp Act taxing everyday goods. Visitors can challenge themselves to decipher colonial-era cursive and try their hand at writing a Daily Declaration, signing off with their very own John Hancock.

Drawing from the Museum’s History Library & Archives, the exhibition highlights Springfield’s contribution to the American language through its association with Merriam-Webster. Dictionaries from 1777 and 1879 illustrate how definitions and national identity have shifted over time. For example, the changing meaning of the word “patriot” offers a way to see how the United States transformed socially and politically following the American Revolution and through the Civil War.

The exhibition also explores Springfield’s emergence as a center of industrial innovation. Visitors can join an assembly line, using interchangeable parts to construct and customize a vehicle inspired by those in nearby galleries. Hands-on activities based on the first gasoline-powered automobile and the famed Gee Bee racing planes demonstrate how the industrial age revolutionized Springfield and factories around the world.

Declaration of Innovation celebrates Springfield’s past, exploring some of the city’s significant “firsts” to understand how anyone can be Revolutionary.

Declaration of Innovation is sponsored by Beacon Bank.