The Halifax Resolves, the first official declaration of independence from British rule, is back home from now until October.

“It’s surreal to realize that the document is in Halifax for the first time since 1776,” said Carl Burke, site manager for the state historic site. “That is really special and just a big moment for Halifax and for North Carolina.”

Burke discussed the document as Governor Josh Stein and the North Carolina Council of State were meeting in the auditorium before a ribbon-cutting was held to celebrate the refurbished visitor center. “We’ve been working on this a long time now. We had to have a building that met the conditions for being able to borrow a document like this from the National Archives. That planning went into the planning for the building’s renovation.”

Had the renovations not occurred, Burke said, “We probably would never have been approved to borrow the Halifax Resolves. There’s been a little bit of a buzz for a good while now.”

The renovations to the building have been significant, he said. “They demolished everything within the four outside walls of the building. Nothing stayed the same on the inside. They opened up a portion of one of those walls to give us a storefront window in the lobby.”

The renovation has helped the visitor center gain more square footage for exhibits and office space. “We’re enjoying living in the new building.”

The visitor center was built for Halifax’s and the nation’s bicentennial celebration and was dedicated on April 12, 1976. “Here we are 50 years later and we’ve got a total redo being dedicated for the semiquincentennial.”

After the ribbon-cutting, Halifax County Board of Commissioners Chairman Vernon Bryant said, “It’s just a great day for our county and our state.”

Bryant, in his address to the Council of State, said, “Today you are meeting on sacred ground. Right here in Halifax on April 12, 1776, brave North Carolinians adopted the Halifax Resolves — the first official action by any colony calling for independence from Great Britain. Long before independence was declared in Philadelphia, the spirit of freedom was already alive and well right here.”

Halifax Mayor John White is hopeful the renovations and having the original Resolves at the visitor center will help increase tourism and travel through the county seat. “It should hopefully make this place a little bit more prominent.”

White grew up in the town and remembers when the visitor center was at the clerk’s office, which now features the printing press. “Then in 1976 they built the predecessor to this which was really nice at the time. It had been here for 50 years and it just kind of got a little long in the tooth.”

The renovation also includes new sidewalk art leading to the center as a tribute to the American Indians who first occupied the land. Featuring a design by Haliwa-Saponi artist Senora Lynch, the work incorporates deep tribal symbolism. “It is such an honor to have been asked to do this on behalf of my tribe and my people,” Lynch said.

She said the first thing that inspired her was arrowheads. “Arrowheads can be 20,000 years old, so it shows we’re still here. I did four arrowheads for the four directions.”

The stars represent the eight recognized tribes and the Tuscarora who run through her family’s lineage. “The turtle represents long life, protection, friendship, and unity. The corn was our most important food and we shared that with the Europeans when they came over here. It has the spirit line, the water waves, and the hills of the land. The medicine wheel is in all four directions. It’s all about love and unity and being in a circle together.”