Museum of the Bible Commemorates the Enduring Role of the Bible in American History
New exhibits marking America’s 250th birthday will feature original letters from founding fathers, the first English-language Bible printed in America and lectures by world-renowned scholars examining the Bible’s role in shaping the nation
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 13, 2026 — Museum of the Bible marks America’s 250th anniversary by examining what the Bible meant to those who founded the country and the impact it has had on American history.
“The Bible has shaped America’s founding and the course of our nation's history,” said Dr. Carlos Campo, president and CEO of Museum of the Bible. “These exhibits and events reveal that influence in concrete terms, not as a theological or political argument, but rather as a careful, historical examination.”
New exhibits include an American art gallery, an exhibit tracing the direct influence of the Bible on the founding, a homage to our service members and a special speaker series with 12 renowned scholars exploring the role the Bible has played in America.
“From the Vault: Art About America” is a carefully curated, never-before-displayed art gallery that connects a chapter of early American history to the Bible’s influence on Puritan art. Highlights include:
- Portraits of early settlers and colonial-era figures
- Revolutionary-era printed materials that helped unify the colonies
- Portraits of George Washington
- Hand-colored lithograph memorializing Abraham Lincoln
- Busts of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin
“Sacred Liberty” is part of the first-floor free exhibits and traces the Bible’s direct influence on the founding era through primary sources and original artifacts, including:
- An original letter by Thomas Jefferson on the importance of religious freedom
- The first Bible printed in America in English, alongside family Bibles of founding fathers and other historical figures
- Jonathan Mayhew’s A Discourse Concerning Unlimited Submission, one of the earliest published arguments for resisting tyranny
- A 50-year anniversary copy of Jefferson’s Declaration manuscript
- Documentation of early Jewish civic life in America
“The Bible in Times of War” special display will open on July 3, bringing together Bibles carried by American service members across U.S. military history, from the nation’s earliest conflicts through modern wars.
“These Truths Are Not Self-Evident” Lecture Series is a free lecture series featuring 12 renowned historians and scholars examining the Bible’s role in America’s founding. Lectures begin June 7 and continue through December.
“We often talk about the Bible’s influence on America’s founding in broad strokes,” said Dr. Bobby Duke, chief curatorial officer at Museum of the Bible. “But here, visitors will stand face to face with documents that take us back to colonial times. That proximity to primary sources changes how you encounter history.”
“The Bible and America 250’s” full schedule and registration for events can be found at museumofthebible.org/america-250.
About Museum of the Bible
Museum of the Bible invites all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible. Located just three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the stunning 430,000-square-foot museum showcases rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 4,000 years of history and immersive experiences exploring the Bible. In addition to its educational programs, exhibits and experiences, Museum of the Bible hosts the beautiful 472-seat World Stage Theater. To learn more, visit museumoftheBible.org.
Contact: Kellie Koch, PR Manager, press@mBible.org