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Life Liberty & the Pursuit of Meaning: The Declaration of Independence 1776-2026

October 1 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

A red, blue and old paper colored announcement about a discussion about the the book, "The Greatest Sentence Ever Written" with a photo of the book and in the background, the script text of the Declaration of Independence. This image is clickable and takes you to the event information for this upcoming program on October 1.

A Discussion of

The Greatest Sentence Ever Written

by Walter Isaacson

Facilitated by Ashley Towle, PhD, Professor of History and Women & Gender Studies, University of Southern Maine

Thursday, October 1, 2026

6:30-8:00 pm

Isaacson’s 80-page book focuses some of the most famous lines in American history, “We hold these truths to be self-evident…” and how they’ve endured and evolved since 1776. The book aims to inspire reflection on shared values and to frame the 250th anniversary of our Nation as a celebration of unity.

The first 30 registrants will receive a free copy and custom discussion guide. This program is supported by a grant from the Maine Public Library Fund.

It is a companion program to Norway Memorial Library is hosting the Maine Historical Society’s Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence on October 9 and 10, 2026.

The broadside is one of only 26 remaining copies of the printing by John Dunlap on the night of July 4, 1776 for distribution throughout the colonies letting the people know the Declaration had been signed.

This historic document is touring all 16 Maine counties to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of our Nation.

To see the exhibit in Norway, visit https://www.mainehistory.org/revolutionary-maine-doi-norway/ and get your free tickets for Friday, October 9, or Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Details

  • Date: October 1
  • Time:
    6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Organizer

Venue