The Town of Portsmouth, RI has one of eight copies known to exist of the approximately 36 Declarations printed for the Rhode Island Assembly by Newport printer Solomon Southwick on July 13, 1776.  Those Declarations were then distributed to each city and town clerk in Rhode Island to be read to the public or posted for the public to view.

The Town of Portsmouth's Declaration of Independence, in fact, is believed to be the only Rhode Island copy that has remained at its intended destination - at a town clerk's office or in a town hall!

Boston Globe Article January 14, 1987

People Magazine Article February 16, 1987