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Semiquincentennial at Reagan features America’s rarest artifacts.A cannon used in a pivotal moment at Gettysburg.A letter written by John Hancock just hours before Paul Revere’s midnight ride.Benedict Arnold’s oath of allegiance to a country he would later betray—all are part of the Ronald Reagan Library’s new “America 250” exhibition commemorating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.The exhibition brings together artwork, letters and artifacts spanning the Revolutionary War through the Reagan era, many appearing together for the first time and some making their West Coast debut.“This truly brings iconic artifacts defining American history together in one place,” said Melissa Giller, chief communications officer for the Reagan Library.“These are artifacts that haven’t been shown together before.It’s absolutely bringing America’s 250 years to life.” Among the exhibit’s highlights is a Civil War cannon used during the Battle of Gettysburg.Giller said historians verified its provenance through its serial number.“This cannon was pivotal in winning the war,” Giller said during an exhibit preview.“Confederate soldiers were about to capture this cannon until Union soldiers pushed them back.This is the cannon.” Other featured items include the gloves Abraham Lincoln wore the night of his assassination, John Trumbull’s “Declaration of Independence” painting, George Washington’s surveyor tools and glasses, Thomas Jefferson’s glasses and inkwell, a 1776 edition of Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” and an American flag flown on the Apollo 11 mission.Lauren Edwards, registrar with the National Archives who helped coordinate the exhibit’s artifacts and design work, said one of her favorite pieces is a letter from a fireworks maker suggesting fireworks suggesting fireworks should celebrate America’s victory once the war ended.“Now we do that all the time,” Edwards said.“That’s how we celebrate the Fourth of July.” Edwards also highlighted a rare shipment of Sharps rifles secretly packaged as Bibles and shipped to anti-slavery settlers before the Civil War.Known as “Beecher’s Bibles,” some of the rifles were later tied to conflicts leading up to the war, and historians have been able to trace certain weapons through their serial numbers.A “breecher” or breechloader is a firearm in which ammunition is loaded from the breech, or rear, end of the barrel as opposed to the muzzle.The rifles are part of the exhibit.Another favorite among staff is John Hancock’s letter written a few hours before Paul Revere’s ride warning that British troops were moving toward Lexington and Concord.“The next morning would be the shot heard around the world,” said Rob Zucca, a National Archives exhibit specialist.Zucca said assembling an exhibition centered on 250 years of American history was both exciting and daunting.“The concept was hard—the 250th anniversary of the United States,” Zucca said with a laugh.“Gee, what happened in the last 250 years?” The exhibition runs through Sept.20 and is part of a larger yearlong celebration that will include educational programming, Fourth of July festivities and a commemorative concert featuring the New West Symphony.