Original handwritten letters from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison are coming to Dallas for a five-day run, giving visitors a rare, up-close look at documents penned by the men who shaped the nation's founding. The George W. Bush Presidential Museum will host the temporary exhibit from September 23 through September 27, 2026, with the collection displayed inside the museum's Cabinet Room.
The exhibit, titled Up Close With History: Founding Fathers Edition, is billed by the museum as a temporary showcase of rare historic documents tied to people and moments that shaped the nation, according to bushcenter.org. As NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth reported, the Bush Center describes the exhibit as a chance for visitors to encounter the founders' words, signatures and firsthand records. The museum sits on the SMU campus in Dallas, per the same bushcenter.org announcement.
A Revolutionary War Letter and a Whiskey Rebellion Note
Among the featured items is a handwritten letter from George Washington to Col. John Cadwalader, written during the Revolutionary War, the museum notes. Also on display will be a handwritten letter from Alexander Hamilton to Samuel Hodgdon, penned during the Whiskey Rebellion.
The collection additionally includes a personal letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Marquis de Lafayette, along with a letter from James Madison to the agents of the United States concerning the relief and protection of American seamen. A rare edition of The Federalist Papers rounds out the document lineup, according to the exhibit's organizers.
Portraits of Washington and Dolley Madison Join the Display
Beyond the letters, the exhibit will feature a portrait of George Washington painted by Robert Edge Pine in 1785, as well as an early 19th-century portrait of Dolley Madison by William Dunlap. All of the listed artifacts are courtesy of the Harlan Crow Library, the museum confirmed.
Admission to Up Close With History: Founding Fathers Edition is included with regular museum admission, meaning visitors won't need a separate ticket to view the five-day collection. The short run means the window to see these particular documents and portraits together in Dallas closes quickly, with the exhibit wrapping up after September 27.
