As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of its founding, the University of Michigan is marking this historic milestone with a wide variety of events, activities and invitations to reflect.
This past winter, students, staff, and faculty came to the Michigan League to take part in the U.S. at 250 Community Quilt Workshop. By the end of the night, they had not only made art but also shared ideas, life stories, and hopes for the future.
A Petoskey stone. A piece of copper. The official state gem.
Michigan has just room enough for a few items in the 3-foot-tall stainless steel cylinder that, in a few months, will be buried for the next 250 years.
Exploring local history through new exhibits, modernizing museum signage and preserving historic cemeteries are just some of the ways that more than $1 million will be used to help bring the stories of Michigan’s past to life as part of our state’s c...
Three student members of the University of Michigan community have been selected as the winners of the U.S. at 250 Sticker Design Contest, a creative project inviting students to help mark the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
As part of America's 250th anniversary in 2026, a traveling exhibition from The National Archives will visit metro Detroit this summer.
The "Freedom Plane National Tour" will be at The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation from July 9-26.
After 2025 became 2026 and I had watched the ball drop in Times Square, I saw a short clip of the projections on the Washington Monument celebrating the beginning of America’s 250th anniversary. Semiquincentennial festivities will surely be at their ...
July 4, 2026, will mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. democracy. To mark this milestone, the Initiative for Democracy and Civic Engagement, the William L. Clements Library, and the Arts Initiative have joined forces to create U-M’s U.S. at 250 progra...
Americans have long been taught the basics of Paul Revere's famed midnight ride — which he completed exactly 250 years ago Saturday — to alert U.S. minutemen of British troops' approach, signaling the start of the American Revolution.
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., is bringing some of the most important and beloved works of art to communities across the country. As part of the program, the FIA will r...
Check out American history with Landon Myers for Unimaginable Election Shenanigans: Voting in Early America. While modern elections are the most secure in our history, voting in early America was rife with election fraud. We'll dive into the history of voting in the United States in the 19th century, from stuffed ballot boxes, counterfeit ballots, and the tools developed to combat fraud. Landon is the Program Manager for the Initiative for Democracy & Civic Empowerment at the University of Michigan. He is fascinated by the mechanics of elections and has been collecting antique voting machines, ballot boxes, and other election materials for more than five years.
Inspired by the Bicentennial Freedom Train, the Freedom Plane National Tour will make original documents fundamental to America's founding accessible to Americans across the country as part of the commemoration of America's 250th anniversary.
On July 8 at 6:00 PM, communities across the country will simultaneously read the Declaration of Independence aloud — marking the exact date and time of its first public reading in 1776. Americans in all 50 States and 16 Territories of the United States will read the Declaration of Independence as part of 'Sharing the Spirit of America.'At the University of Michigan, the event will take place on the Diag. The reading will start promptly at 6:00 p.m. -- arrive early to get a red, white, and blue popsicle and U-M U.S. at 250 stickers!
Hear the Declaration of Independence brought to life through a public read-aloud in celebration of its 250th anniversary. With many voices sharing the text, this program highlights the power of words meant to be heard—then and now.
Today, debate rages over how to interpret the United States Constitution, especially what role history should play in that practice. When the generation that adopted the Constitution in the late eighteenth century first interpreted the document, what defined their debates? How do those debates compare to the ones structuring American constitutional law today? Join author and professor Jonathan Gienapp for a lecture exploring how to read the Constitution through lenses past and present and reflecting on what the creators can teach us about the Constitution today. A book signing and dessert reception will follow the program.
Join the Michigan State Capitol Education & History Department throughout 2026 as we commemorate our nation's 250th anniversary. Our monthly program series, Rise & Progress, will explore a range of America 250 themes and examine how our Capitol—and the community of people connected to it—fit within the larger American story.
On the cusp of America's semiquincentennial, leadership is being tested by unprecedented global and local pressures—from budget contractions and climate change to shifting institutional cultures. This panel explores how executive leaders navigate an era of significant polarization and social backlash while building sustainable coalitions. The discussion will investigate the strategies required to lead amidst deliberate attempts to undo key aspects of the transgenerational Black freedom movement while honoring the legacy of Juneteenth and charting a path forward.
Kelsey Museum of Archeology
Upjohn Wing
Patio and Galleries
Join us at the Kelsey Museum for fun, activities, and food in celebration of our nation's 250th Birthday! Learn how the ancient world played a key part in the founding of the United States. Games and activities for kids and gallery tours will be provided.
1776Music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards, book by Peter Stone Directed by David Kiley The Ann Arbor Civic Theatre is presenting the musical 1776 to mark the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
Gerald Ford Jr. grew up in a region of the nation heavily shaped by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Ford Presidential Foundation Executive Director Gleaves Whitney will unpack the significance of this jewel among America's forgotten founding documents and discuss its impact on the civic and political culture in which our 38th President worked.
Join the Michigan State Capitol Education & History Department throughout 2026 as we commemorate our nation's 250th anniversary. Our monthly program series, Rise & Progress, will explore a range of America 250 themes and examine how our Capitol—and the community of people connected to it—fit within the larger American story.
Many of our Tribal Nations are located in rural areas that lack vital legal resources. Should courts shift their practices to accommodate this reality?
The claim is that the American Revolution was about independence and freedom. The Declaration of Independence called Indigenous people "merciless Indian savages" for trying to protect their homeland. History shows us it was truly about the land and who could control it. The claim is that the American Revolution was about independence and freedom. The Declaration of Independence called Indigenous people "merciless Indian savages" for trying to protect their homeland. History shows us it was truly about the land and who could control it.
How can everyday objects—like quilts—help us tell stories about where we live and imagine where we're going? In this hands-on community workshop, participants will use fabric and simple quilt shapes to reflect on their experiences of life in the United States and share hopes for the future.
