The collection, transported aboard what organizers call the "Freedom Plane," made its third stop in the country at the University of Southern California. USC is the only university selected to host the tour.
"It's incredibly exciting, and it's a tremendous privilege," said USC President Beong-Soo Kim. "When the opportunity came to us to be the only university host of these founding era documents, I frankly jumped at the opportunity."
The documents, which flew into Van Nuys Airport aboard a Boeing 737, carry some of the most significant records that helped shape the nation.
"I saw the opportunity for USC not just to create a place where our students and our faculty could come and look at these documents up close, but an opportunity for the entire community of Los Angeles to come and view these documents and reflect on their enduring value," he said.
Officials said the documents will remain in crates until they are displayed at the USC Fisher Museum of Art. Among the records included are original Oaths of Allegiance from 1778, the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War, and a rare 1823 engraving of the Declaration of Independence.
The collection also includes early drafts tied to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, offering visitors a firsthand look at the foundation of American democracy.
"These documents have never left Washington, D.C. So the opportunity to host them at USC is absolutely thrilling," said Bethany Montagano, executive director of USC Museums.
The exhibition opens to the public on Friday at the USC Fisher Museum of Art and runs through May 3. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance online.