The engrossed Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776.
Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, but the formal signing of the parchment engrossed copy began nearly a month later. Most delegates signed on August 2, while some who arrived later added their names afterward.
The document’s text was prepared as an engrossed parchment copy, traditionally associated with clerk Timothy Matlack. It is the version now displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and is commonly recognized as the official signed document.
The date distinction causes frequent confusion: July 4 is the adoption date and the national Independence Day, while August 2 is the principal signing date. The Declaration’s opening title also differs from the familiar short name, identifying it as a declaration by the thirteen United States of America.