Display of historical documents
Ind. Code § 4-20.5-21-4
in effectSec. 4. (a) Subject to subsection (c), a document of educational and historical significance with acknowledged religious history may be displayed on property owned by the state, including the following:
(1) The Mayflower Compact, written and adopted in 1620.
(2) The Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
(3) Articles I through VI of the Northwest Ordinance, enacted by the Confederation Congress on July 13, 1787.
(4) Washington's Farewell Address, published September 19, 1796.
(b) A display of a document under subsection (a) may be accompanied by a document entitled "Educational Documents for Acknowledging America's Religious History" that reads as follows:
"Many historical documents pivotal to American law, constitutionalism, and political theory have deep roots in religion. Examples include the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance, and Washington's Farewell Address, which collectively express the American ideals of liberty, equality, personal responsibility, and the rule of law. The purpose of this display is to help the general public understand the role that religion has played in the legal history of the United States and Indiana.".
(c) A document may be displayed under subsection (a) only if the document is:
(1) donated;
(2) purchased with funds made available through voluntary contributions to the department; or
(3) reprinted from a document donated or purchased as described in subdivisions (1) and (2).
(d) Subject to the availability of documents, funds, and reprinted documents as provided under subsection (c), the department shall, upon the request of a:
(1) state office (as defined in IC 3-5-2.1-97);
(2) clerk of court;
(3) judge; or
(4) legislative body (as defined in IC 36-1-2-9);
prepare and distribute to the state office, clerk of court, judge, or legislative body a copy of a document listed in subsection (a)(1) through (a)(4) for framing and display.
(e) The documents displayed under this section may be displayed in a public location with other historical documents.
As added by P.L.39-2022, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.186-2025, SEC.33.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/4Fetched: 10/17/2026