🗓️
Feb 17, 2026
Under the Dome on Presidents Day
On Presidents Day, I found myself sitting beneath the Dome of the Rotunda.
I was fortunate enough to secure a spot under the Dome for UVA’s “Declaration Under the Dome” ceremony. Being in that space, on that day, felt meaningful in a way that is hard to replicate elsewhere.
The event centered on readings from the Declaration of Independence and reflections on its history and impact. Hearing the University Singers perform in the Dome was a highlight for me. Their voices filled the space in a way that made the architecture itself feel alive. It is one thing to admire the Rotunda visually, and another to experience it acoustically.
Seeing an original copy of the Declaration of Independence up close was equally striking. I have read its famous words countless times. Standing near a document that has endured for centuries made those words feel less abstract and more tangible.
The ceremony was not long, but it left an impression. It reminded me that the spaces we move through on Grounds carry layers of history that are easy to forget in the rush of daily life.