photo by Michael Villalpando

From a newspaper printing press on this site, the declaration of independence first went out to Americans and the world working from a copy of Thomas Jefferson’s manuscript. Editor John Dunlap printed broadside copies which were sent July 5, 1776, to all the American Assemblies and to Europe.

On July 8, he published the Declaration on the front page of the “Pennsylvania Packet” or the “General Advertiser,” a weekly newspaper he founded October 28, 1771. Under Dunlap and a Later partner, David C. Claypoole, the “Packet” became the first successful daily newspaper in the United States beginning September 21, 1784. It was also the first newspaper to publish the Constitution of the United States, September 19, 1787, and Washington’s Farewell Address, September 19, 1796.

Both editors were soldiers of the Revolution.

Publisher Michael Villalpando visited Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last week and happened upon a bronze plaque on the wall of an 18th century stone building in an obscure alleyway.