Issue 13, December 2025

May your holidays be bright and may the coming year—our nation’s 250th—bring inspiration, connection, and meaningful remembrance.

We are deeply grateful for the communities, partners, organizations, and individuals who help preserve and share Washington's role in America’s story. Your support and engagement make this commemoration truly reflective of our shared heritage.

In addition, we want to send our thoughts for a speedy recovery to all communities and organizations affected by the flooding in Western Washington this month.

Warmest Wishes for the Holiday Season and A Bright Year to Come

The Washington 250 Team

New Partner Resources Now Available

As we begin the semiquincentennial year, we are pleased to announce a number of resources now available for partners on our website (america250WA.org/resources).

Events Calendar

Partners can now submit their America's 250th events and activities on our new statewide events calendar for 2026.

Note: Please be patient as we continue working out technical bugs.

Partner Guide

This planning guide for partners provides an overview of America's 250th in Washington and includes ideas, tips, and resources for any partner to be part of this important historic milestone.

Marketing Toolkit

The marketing toolkit has templates for posters, flyers, street banners, social media, etc. All templates can be customized with your logo and our Washington 250 logo.

Note: Partners must sign the logo use agreement to access and use the marketing toolkit.

This Week in Washington History

"This Week in Washington History" is a social media project in collaboration with our partner HistoryLink that will highlight interesting facts and significant dates in our state's history during 2026. Find our @America250WA accounts on Facebook and Instagram to follow along.

Partner Reporting Form

Share your America's 250th photos, videos, or digital copies of flyers, posters, articles, proclamations, etc., with this simple form. These materials will be used to help create our final report for the entire state.

25 for 250

Here is a list of 25 simple things anyone in the state can do to be part of America's 250th. This list is ideal for public engagement in your community.

COMING UP

Jan. 8: Partner Office Hours (10 a.m.)

Join us for our monthly drop-in session for partners to share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate. Use our drop-in link HERE.

Jan. 20: Marketing Webinar (10 a.m.)

In this session we will review the America's 250th WA marketing toolkit and how partners can use the templates to promote their events and activities in 2026. We will also discuss tips and resources for using social media and introduce the new "My History is Here" promotional campaign. Our marketing expert will be available to answer questions and offer suggestions for maximizing your America's 250th promotions. Register HERE.

Feb. 5: Partner Office Hours (10 a.m.)

Join us for our monthly drop-in session for partners to share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate. Use our drop-in link HERE.

PARTNER NEWS

Ideas from our Partners

Need some inspiration about what you can do in your community for America's 250th? Check out some of our partner ideas.

Revolutionary War Bus Tour in Spokane County

The Daughters of the American Revolution (Jonas Babcock Chapter) in Spokane Valley recently received a grant to rent a bus and take local students to various locations in the area including the Spokane Flag Museum. DAR members, all dressed in period clothing, shared stories about the Revolution, the history of the U.S. flag, and why America's 250th is important. All of the students received a postcard and flag as a souvenir of the trip. If you would like to do something similar in your community, please contact Rae Anna Victor at raeannav@comcast.net.

Wishing Trees in Moses Lake

The City of Moses Lake (Grant County) will have two wishing trees in public spaces next year. The trees will be styled like apple trees and participants will write their wish for America on an apple-shaped note and affix it to the tree. Select "wishes" will be shared on social media and in city communications. The trees will be installed at the Moses Lake Civic Center and the Larson Recreation Center. If you want to install your own wishing tree or wish wall, find resources here.

Upcoming Partner Events

A statewide calendar of events is coming soon, but in the meantime, check out the following events:

Dec. 18 and 20: Holiday Festival in Shelton

The Mason County America250 Committee will have a booth at the annual Festival of the Firs and Tree Maze. Members will be dressed in Revolutionary War-era costumes and provide information about America's 250th.

Jan. 14: Webinar about Ken Burns Documentary

KBTC will host a FREE webinar and Q&A at 11 a.m. for any local organization interested in hosting a screening of The American Revolution documentary. KBTC has guidelines, promotional tools, and engagement ideas to help created an amazing community event. Register HERE.

Jan. 15: "We the People" Lecture Series

The fifth FREE lecture in this America's 250th series, presented by the Washington State Historical Society, will be the "An Evening with Derek Sheffield, Washington State Poet Laureate" at 5:30 p.m. at the state history museum in Tacoma (Pierce County).

NATIONAL RESOURCES

Youth250

Youth250 "Our Declaration" is the only 250th event designed by and for Gen Z. This in-person event for young adults ages 18-30 will be held in Philadelphia at the National Constitution Center on Feb. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Registration is by invitation only. Filling out the interest form does not guarantee an invitation or contact. Travel support is not available.

Youth250 Our Declaration

Grants for Arts Projects

The National Endowment for the Arts has announced the Grants for Arts Projects (GAP) for FY27 that enable Americans throughout the nation to experience the arts, foster and celebrate America's artistic heritage and cultural legacy, and benefits from arts education at all stages of life. The first GAP deadline is Feb. 12 and the second deadline is July 9.

NEA Grants for Arts Projects

AROUND WASHINGTON

REMINDERS

Deadline for Submissions
is Jan. 31

Deadline for Submissions
is March 30

Sons of the American Revolution Video Contest Deadline is Feb. 15

KEY 2026 DATES

Day of Service: Sunday, June 14, 2026

Communities will organize local service projects such as helping digitize historical photographs at your history museum or participating in community cleanup events.

Independence Day: Saturday, July 4, 2026

Incorporate our official themes of America's 250th anniversary—We the People, Power of Place, and Sharing History—into your existing July 4th activities.

Washington Museum Day: Saturday, August 8, 2026

In collaboration with the Washington Museum Association, museums across the state will offer free or discounted admission and promote the “Out of Many, One” project.

Day of Civic Engagement: Thursday September 17, 2026

Communities are invited to plan activities to inspire civic participation such as hosting voter registration, meet-and-greets with civic leaders, or a civics-themed trivia night.

STATE COMMITTEE