- The SCERA Center for the Arts new exhibit showcases American history through rare artifacts.
- Brent Ashworth's collection includes letters from Heber J. Grant and other historical documents.
- Visitors can view a rare Declaration of Independence facsimile at the exhibit.
OREM — As Independence Day approaches and Freedom Festival events begin across Utah County, the SCERA Center for the Arts is welcoming visitors to the Brent and Charlene Ashworth American Heritage Museum, a collection showcasing centuries of American history through rare documents, photographs and memorabilia.
The museum features a lifetime of collecting by Brent Ashworth, whose interest in historical autographs began as a child after his mother gave him a box that had belonged to his grandmother.
Inside were a dozen letters from Heber J. Grant, the seventh president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"She went and found the box and said, 'You can have it. It's probably just junk,'" Ashworth said. "There were 12 letters from Heber J. Grant in the box with 12 letters written to my grandmother."
One of those letters included a phrase that Ashworth said became an inspiration for his collecting journey.
"That in which we persist in doing becomes easier, though not that the nature of the thing has changed, but that our power to do it has increased," he said.
What started with a single autograph grew into a collection that now includes thousands of signatures, documents, photographs and books, many connected to American presidents and significant moments in U.S. history.
"Many thousands of signatures, letters and documents, many thousands of photographs, many thousands of books, really hundreds of thousands of different things," Ashworth said.
Among the artifacts on display this week is one of the original stone facsimiles of the Declaration of Independence produced by engraver William J. Stone in the 19th century. Ashworth pointed to the identifying inscription on the document that verifies its origin.
The collection also highlights the events surrounding America's independence. Ashworth noted that Richard Henry Lee's resolution for independence was approved on July 2, 1776; the Declaration was finalized on July 3 and formally adopted on July 4.
Displayed nearby is a newspaper excerpt containing the resolution's declaration that "these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states."
Ashworth said the museum offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to engage with the nation's history and reflect on the importance of preserving freedom.
"Freedom has to be defended," he said. "We're in a period of time right now that's really critical, I think."
As visitors explore the exhibits ahead of the holiday weekend, they may also have the chance to meet Ashworth himself, who said his passion for collecting continues.
"Collecting never ends," he said. "People say, 'What are you going to do when you are dead?' Well, I'm going to collect all the signatures I missed."
