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.
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.
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...
Scholarships for nearly 50 students. Dozens of events that engaged the university community in dialogue on democracy. More than $500,000 in grants to uplift interdisciplinary democracy projects from across all three U-M campuses. The University of Mi...
University of Michigan musicologist Mark Clague is one of the nation’s foremost experts on “The Star-Spangled Banner,” among many other facets of American music. This week, Clague, an associate professor at the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance...
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
This inaugural sport symposium explores the powerful intersections of sport, civic engagement, and social change; bringing together leading voices in sport, media, and international sport policy to examine how athletes, organizations, and communities have shaped—and continue to shape—democratic life through sport.
Many of our Tribal Nations are located in rural areas that lack vital legal resources. Should courts shift their practices to accommodate this reality?
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.
