City of Sioux City, IA
01/06/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 01/06/2026 16:34
Museum Launches Declaration Book Club
The Sioux City Public Museum will host the inaugural meeting of the Declaration Book Club, a new reading group designed to bring people together to read, discuss, and reflect on the Declaration of Independence - one of the most influential documents in American history.
The first meeting of the Declaration Book Club will take place on Sunday, January 11 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sioux City Public Museum. The program invites participants of all backgrounds to engage deeply with the text of the Declaration, examining its language, historical context, and continuing relevance in civic life today.
Designed by Monticello, the Declaration Book Club emphasizes close reading, thoughtful discussion, and shared inquiry. Participants will explore not only what the Declaration says, but how its ideas have been understood, challenged, and reinterpreted over time. All reading materials are available online.
"This book club creates space for people to read the Declaration of Independence carefully, ask questions, and consider what its words have meant, and still mean, in a democratic society," says Theresa Weaver, Curator of Education at the Sioux City Public Museum. "Adults have often taken a break from deep analysis of historical documents and events, but this group gives them the opportunity to dive back into that type of study."
The first meeting will focus on 1776, the era of creating and sharing the Declaration for the first time. This meeting will be moderated by West High history teacher Rachelle Barnum. Future sessions will continue the exploration through guided discussion and primary-source analysis.
Declaration Book Club is free to attend, and registration is highly recommended through the Museum's webpage at SiouxCityMuseum.org.
The Sioux City Public Museum, 607 4th Street, is regularly open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For visitor information, visit SiouxCityMuseum.org or call 712-279-6174.
The first meeting of the Declaration Book Club will take place on Sunday, January 11 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sioux City Public Museum. The program invites participants of all backgrounds to engage deeply with the text of the Declaration, examining its language, historical context, and continuing relevance in civic life today.
Designed by Monticello, the Declaration Book Club emphasizes close reading, thoughtful discussion, and shared inquiry. Participants will explore not only what the Declaration says, but how its ideas have been understood, challenged, and reinterpreted over time. All reading materials are available online.
"This book club creates space for people to read the Declaration of Independence carefully, ask questions, and consider what its words have meant, and still mean, in a democratic society," says Theresa Weaver, Curator of Education at the Sioux City Public Museum. "Adults have often taken a break from deep analysis of historical documents and events, but this group gives them the opportunity to dive back into that type of study."
The first meeting will focus on 1776, the era of creating and sharing the Declaration for the first time. This meeting will be moderated by West High history teacher Rachelle Barnum. Future sessions will continue the exploration through guided discussion and primary-source analysis.
Declaration Book Club is free to attend, and registration is highly recommended through the Museum's webpage at SiouxCityMuseum.org.
The Sioux City Public Museum, 607 4th Street, is regularly open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. For visitor information, visit SiouxCityMuseum.org or call 712-279-6174.
City of Sioux City, IA published this content on January 06, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on January 06, 2026 at 22:34 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]