"No person shall... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." -The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution "A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference." -Thomas Jefferson "The Framers of the Bill of Rights did not purport to 'create' rights. Rather, they designed the Bill of Rights to prohibit our Government from infringing rights and liberties presumed to be preexisting." -Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Unveiled in 2019, the Charters of Freedom display in Marion, North Carolina is a striking outdoor installation that features life-size bronze replicas of the founding documents of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It helps residents understand the principles that guide American democracy. Since not everyone can visit the National Archives, this brings the documents to a local setting. There are three bronze display cases, each holding a full-scale replica of one of the founding documents. It is located prominently in front of the McDowell County Courthouse, making it a central and symbolic part of the town's civic landscape. Similar displays are across the US including Asheville, Lexington, Plains GA (at the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park), Simi Valley (at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library), Indianapolis and more. [Review 642 of 2025 - 4129 in North Carolina - 24203 overall] read more

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