Washington D.C. is the place where 44 men have become president and home to the Declaration of Independence, and on July 12-13, the history of the United States will come alive in Selma.

Mounted in a customized 18-wheel truck, the special Library of Congress’ traveling exhibition “Gateway to Knowledge,” will be parked next to the Selma Interpretive Center, located at 25 Broad St. The free exhibit will open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.

Built in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution. Selma-Dallas County Public Library director Becky Nichols is delighted about the prestigious institution coming to town.

“The Library of Congress is the great mother ship of all libraries,” Nichols said. “It’s just wonderful to have a close up view of the Library which helps public education. I hope people have the opportunity to walk through it (the exhibit) and appreciate the Library’s heritage.”

The exhibition will feature reproductions of such treasures as the 1507 Waldseemuller Map which was the first to use the word “America,” the 1455 Gutenberg Bible, the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence in Thomas Jefferson’s handwriting with edits by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, and 1962 sketches of the comic book phenomenon Spider-Man, to name a few.

The exhibit plans to make 60 stops in states across the Midwest and South during the year. It will also include programming for teachers and students and provide relevant and engaging experiences for lifelong learners.

“As both a storehouse of world knowledge and primary resource for the U.S. Congress, the Library is energized by the prospects of the exhibition playing an important role in sharing the national collection with the people to whom it belongs,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.

For more information about the exhibit visit http://www.loc.gov/gateway/ or call 874-1725.