MONROVIA, Liberia – July 21, 2026: The Center for National Documents and Records Agency (CNDRA), commonly known as the National Archives, in collaboration with the Office of the Director General of the Cabinet, will host a special one-day exhibition on Wednesday, July 22, as part of activities marking Liberia’s 179th Independence Day celebrations.
The exhibition, to be held under the theme “Showcasing Our Past for National Progress,” will take place at the Monrovia City Hall on 1st Street, Sinkor, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
The announcement was made by George M. Woodtor, Exhibition Team Lead of the CNDRA, during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing on Tuesday in Monrovia.
According to Mr. Woodtor, the exhibition is intended to give Liberians and international visitors a rare opportunity to view some of the country’s most valuable historical documents, photographs, maps, and artifacts that chronicle Liberia’s journey to nationhood and its historical development.
Among the key exhibits will be the original copies of Liberia’s 1847 Declaration of Independence and Constitution, as well as historical maps and images depicting early European contact with the West African coast and the Liberian coastline.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to view exhibits highlighting the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, abolitionist movements, Pan-African leaders, Black Christian missionary campaigns in Africa, and the repatriation of freed slaves and settlers to Liberia.
The exhibition will further feature the historic Ducor Contracts signed with local chiefs, photographs of early settlements established by colonization societies at Providence Island and Cape Mesurado, images of colonial agents, governors, local chiefs, and kings, as well as displays covering Liberia’s Colonial and Commonwealth periods.
Also on display will be the original 1911 and 1914 Boundary Readjustment Agreements between Liberia and the Colony of Sierra Leone, WELCOME with other significant historical records preserved by the National Archives.
Mr. Woodtor extended an invitation to government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, scholars, historians, academicians, civil society organizations, media practitioners, students, and the general public to attend the exhibition.
He encouraged citizens to arrive early to witness firsthand the documentary evidence of the events that shaped Liberia’s independence and national history.
Admission to the exhibition is free, with visitors expected to observe good conduct. Entry and viewing will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
The exhibition forms part of the National Archives’ ongoing efforts to preserve Liberia’s documentary heritage while promoting public awareness of the nation’s rich history as Liberia celebrates 179 years of independence.
Essence of the Exhibition
As a matter of fact, Liberia as the oldest independent country in Africa has a lot to preserve for not only the next generation of Liberians, but also for the next generation of Africans and the global community, who would want to know the history of the first independent nation in Africa and the second black independent nation in the world after Haiti.
As we said earlier, in this exhibition we shall be putting on display priceless primary documents and artifacts, including the original copies of the 1847 Declaration of Independence and Constitution.
By utilizing multimedia, historical records, and interactive displays, these exhibits shall showcase the historicity and uniqueness of Liberia’s founding to our foreign guests and educate the younger generations about the chronology of events that led to the declaration of our independence.
The exhibition shall serve as a community-oriented focal point that evokes shared emotions and bolsters a collective sense of patriotism and cultural identity for us Liberians.
It shall also be used to connect the nation’s independence story with its broader cultural impact and international development.
This exercise is solely intended to immensely benefit our people and foreign friends who haven’t had the opportunity to physically see the empirical evidence of the founding of Liberia by our forbearers.
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