Rare Letter from Founding Father Alexander Hamilton to Marquis de Lafayette is on display at the Commonwealth Museum Exhibit on July 4

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Statue of Alexander Hamilton on Commonwealth Avenue Mall, Boston

Secretary of the Commonwealth William F. Galvin has announced that a 1780 letter from Alexander Hamilton to the Marquis de Lafayette will be the feature piece of the Commonwealth Museum’s annual 4th of July exhibit this year.

The Hamilton letter, which is believed to have been stolen from the Massachusetts State Archives during World War II, was recently returned to the Commonwealth after a lengthy court battle. This will be the public’s first opportunity to view the letter on exhibit since it was returned to Massachusetts. 

In celebration of Independence Day, the Hamilton letter will be featured alongside the Commonwealth’s original copy of the Declaration of Independence, signed by John Hancock.

Visitors to the Commonwealth Museum on Independence Day, July 4th, will be able to read the Revolutionary War letter written by Hamilton, in his role as Aide de Camp to General George Washington, in which he warned of imminent danger to French troops in Rhode Island. The letter was forwarded by Massachusetts General William Heath to the President of the Massachusetts Council, along with a request for troops to be sent to support French allies.

Also featured in the July 4th exhibit will be a collection of other documents from 1776, including a letter from John Hancock to the Massachusetts Assembly announcing our independence from Great Britain and a letter from George Washington to the Massachusetts General Court, enclosing a copy of the Declaration of Independence and directing troop movements.


The Commonwealth Museum will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on July 4th. Admission and parking are free for all visitors. Additional information on the museum is available at CommonwealthMuseum.org.



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