© 2025 | Jefferson Public Radio
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
541.552.6301 | 800.782.6191
Listen | Discover | Engage a service of Southern Oregon University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

A July 4 Tradition: NPR Reads The Declaration Of Independence

Tourists look up to the Capitol Rotunda as they stand in front of John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence painting on March 10, 2014.
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc./Getty Images
Tourists look up to the Capitol Rotunda as they stand in front of John Trumbull's Declaration of Independence painting on March 10, 2014.
National Archives /

Thirty years ago, Morning Edition launched what has become an Independence Day tradition: familiar NPR voices reading the Declaration of Independence.

Below is the draft of the Declaration of Independence adopted by the Continental Congress 242 years ago in Philadelphia. It is read by NPR staff members in the accompanying audio.

Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Recent threats to federal funding are challenging the way stations like JPR provide service to small communities in rural parts of the country.
Your one-time or sustaining monthly gift is more important than ever.