Presenting “The Year of Free Speech”
National Liberty Museum’s (NLM) yearlong initiative The Year of Free Speech is now on view. The yearlong celebration is centered around three exhibitions exploring freedom of speech as a cornerstone of democracy. The three parts of the series will each explore the past, present, and future of our First Amendment right, beginning with Free Speech: Our Right, Our Responsibility, an exhibition focused on the origins and purpose of our right to free speech. The exhibition is on display in NLM’s Flame Gallery and lower level gallery from September 13 to July 2025.
The Year of Free Speech is part of a new vision for NLM’s visitor experience, Past Present, Future, Always. The new strategy allows the museum to present and explore a single theme surrounding liberty through various exhibitions taking place over a year.
“Through Past, Present, Future, Always, NLM can thoughtfully examine questions around liberty by presenting comprehensive, multi-faceted exhibitions spanning entire eras,” said Dr. Alaine K. Arnott, President & CEO of NLM. “Freedom of speech is essential to self-discovery and self-actualization, which leads to an open and flourishing society. It is at the heart of our democracy and we hope to inspire our visitors to apply the themes and issues explored in The Year of Free Speech to their daily lives.”
In Free Speech: Our Right, Our Responsibility, visitors can trace freedom of speech’s historical and philosophical roots to the present, demonstrating how it fosters civil discourse while fueling societal progress. Through interactive displays, images and text, the exhibition and its related public programming invites visitors to reflect on the vital role of free speech in shaping our collective future, challenging us to navigate its freedoms with commitment and care.
