Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey, opening Sunday, May 3, at Morven Museum and Garden, assembles personal items, manuscripts, furniture, and artwork to examine the lives of Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, and John Witherspoon. As all five were enslavers, the exhibition will also examine how the rhetoric of revolutionary America, freedom, equality, and liberty, was intertwined with the practice of slavery. Visitors will be able to see actual signatures of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. Less than two weeks before the 13 colonies voted on independence, New Jerseys delegates, who wanted to delay a vote, were replaced with five courageous men who were ready to vote yes. John Adams called them independent souls. The exhibit Five Independent Souls reveals who they were as people, their ideals, their familial background, and influence. Weve spent years securing loans from institutions and private collections across the nation, and are excited for visitors to experience this landmark exhibition, said Elizabeth Allan, deputy director and curator at Morven Museum and Garden. Visitors can also explore the permanent exhibition Historic Morven: A Window into Americas Past, and understand the Stockton familys role in the American Revolution, including Richard Stocktons capture by British Loyalists, the only signer to become a prisoner of war. Morven is one of numerous historical sites, from the Princeton Battlefield to Nassau Hall (temporary capitol of the U.S. in 1783), that make Princeton, N.J., a must-visit destination in 2026. As we approach this extraordinary anniversary, Morven is proud to stand where American independence began, and to share these stories with new generations. Our program partners are helping us bring history to life in inspiring and meaningful ways. Weve been preparing to make 2026 unforgettable, and we cant wait to welcome visitors of all ages from around the world to Morven, stated the executive director Rhonda DiMascio. The museum and garden, located at 55 Stockton St. in Princeton, N.J., is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The gardens are open daily until dusk. To learn more, visit www.morven.org.