Tuesday, May 20, marks 250 years since the reported signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The long-debated piece of history declared Charlotte's independence from British rule at least one year before the US Declaration of Independence.

Can you see the original document? In short, no. The original records were allegedly lost in a fire in 1800. However, the text was published in 1831.

To commemorate this day in the county’s history, consider attending these events:

Meck Dec 250 | Tuesday, May 20-Feb. 2026 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Charlotte Museum of History | $10 | This new exhibit looks to the past through documents, artifacts, and memorabilia from the Revolutionary period.
250th Anniversary of Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence: Commemoration Ceremony | Tuesday, May 20 | 12-2 p.m. | Independence Square | Free | The streets at Trade and Tryon will be the backdrop as re-enactors, bands, and cannons fire as the Meck Dec is read for the masses.