First Official Local 250 Committee Established in Sky Valley | |
The Sky Valley community (Snohomish County) has become the first to officially create an America 250 planning committee thanks to the efforts of community member Teresa Williard, a local realtor.
Willard reached out to Rep. Carolyn Eslick, a member of the Washington State Semiquincentennial (250) Committee, in October 2024 and a local committee was soon created with members from a variety of organizations including the City of Sultan, the Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Sky Valley Arts Council. A variety of events and activities are being considered by the committee to bring America 250 to life.
To join the committee or get additional information, please contact america250skyvalley@gmail.com.
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At its January meeting, the Washington State Semiquincentennial (250) Committee discussed how America 250 planning is being restructured in light of the state's budget concerns and what efforts are being made to deliver programming. The committee was supportive of various nationwide initiatives as well as statewide plans presented by the Washington State Historical Society (WSHS).
Highlights of the statewide plans include:
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Day of Service & Day of Civic Engagement - Proposed for June 14 (Flag Day) and September 17 (Constitution Day) respectively, these two days will bookend a roughly 100-day-long period over the course of the summer when it is expected that most 250 activities will occur. Communities will be encouraged to organize service projects that fill local needs on the Day of Service and focus on encouraging civic education and participation on the Day of Civic Engagement.
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Fourth of July Activations - Cities and counties around the state will be encouraged to participate in a cross-state reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026, as part of their local Fourth of July activities.
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Out of Many, One - The Washington State Historical Society invites museums to identify and exhibit an object, image, or artwork from their collections that their community feels represents what it means to be American. Museums are encouraged to use this opportunity to generate interest in their local history and engage their community in the project.
Stay tuned for more! WSHS is working on an interactive calendar of events that will highlight state activities as well as provide an opportunity for local communities to submit their events and initiatives for the general public to see.
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Coming Up: 250 State Committee Meeting
April 10, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. (PT) | Online
The next quarterly meeting of the state committee will include an update about America 250 initiatives.
State committee meetings are quarterly and open to the public.
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Previous Meetings
View on TVW
Missed a state committee meeting? Watch recordings of previous meetings courtesy of TVW.
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Out of Many, One: Museum Object Project
As part of Washington’s commemoration of the 250th, the Washington State Historical Society invites museums to identify and exhibit an object or image from their collections that their community feels represents what it means to be American. Use this opportunity to engage Washington’s America 250 themes, generate enthusiasm for local history, and deepen your organization’s connection to the communities it serves.
Join WSHS staff in four virtual workshop sessions to explain how to participate in this initiative and offer suggestions for engaging with the public:
Participating in America 250
March 4, 2025 • 10 a.m. via Zoom
WSHS staff will outline several statewide initiatives planned for 2026 that museums can choose to participate in. Register HERE.
Connecting with Your Community
March 11, 2025 • 10 a.m. vis Zoom
This session will provide examples of ways small history organizations can better connect with their communities using strategies that are engaging and relevant to diverse audiences. Register HERE.
Knowing Your Community
March 18, 2025 • 10 a.m. via Zoom
This session is designed to help organizations expand their work to serve more diverse audiences through a deeper understanding of their institutional history and the demographics of their community today. Register HERE.
Learning From Your Community
March 25, 2025 • 10 a.m. via Zoom
This session will introduce organizations to the basics of community survey and evaluation work, including the structure, tools, and framework to help them collect good data and build rapport within their community. Register HERE.
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As of January 20, more than 140 organizations from around the state have signed up to be America 250 WA partners. Partner organizations include cities, chambers of commerce; historical societies and museums; businesses; service organizations; veterans groups; and libraries. So far, partners represent 33 of our 39 counties.
A full list of partners will be available on the website soon.
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Benefits of Partnership
- Use of official logo and other branding materials
- Access to various toolkits and resources
- Ideas and tips for participating in America 250 WA events and activities
- Promotion of events and activities on America 250 WA website
- Being part of a statewide coalition of groups working together
Join the 250 team in Washington State by becoming a partner!
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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!
"What America Means to Me" Art Panels in Camas
The Downtown Camas Association (Clark County) will work with local high school students to contribute art toward a series of public panels located downtown. The panels, originally created in 2024 as part of the Camas Culture Art Block to highlight varied cultural backgrounds in the community, have completely transformed a section of the town with their large scale and vibrant imagery. New panels that answer the question "What does America mean to me?" will be unveiled at the city's 4th of July Celebration in 2026.
To learn more about the panels, click here or contact DCA Executive Director Carrie Shulstad at director@downtowncamas.com.
Day of Song and Oratory in Shoreline
The Shoreline Historical Museum (King County) is planning a "Day of Song and Oratory" on their grounds July 4, 2026, in collaboration with the company Visual Cognetics.
Taking inspiration from Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), abolitionist leader, statesmen and one of the greatest orators of all time, the museum will host this special event on its common green. In preparation, the museum will post online archival speeches and photographs from various key moments in American history.
In a "Call for Spoken Word Art," the museum will solicit local artists and other citizens to submit responses to these items in the form of oratory or song. Those selected will be given performance time at the event while time will also be allocated for walk-up performances and soap-box oratory.
For more information, contact Ken Winnick with Visual Cognetics at ken@visualcognetics.com.
Oral History Project in Vancouver
The Historic Trust (Clark County) is collecting recordings that chronicle the memories and contemporary perspectives of the people who helped preserve Officers' Row at Vancouver Barracks in the in 1970s. These people conceived of, advocated for, and raised funds to bring the deteriorated buildings back to life. Interviews include people who began the rehabilitation, were proactive in planning adaptive reuses for the spaces, and those who performed the actual design and construction work. The oral history project is a lead-in to Vancouver's commemoration of America 250.
For more information, contact Holly Chamberlain, director of Historic Preservation, at holly.chamberlain@thehistorictrust.org.
Have a good idea that you'd like to share with partners around the state? Let us know at info@america250WA.org.
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Kennewick DAR Chapter Supports America 250 with Local Library Donation | |
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The Daughters of the American Revolution chapter in Kennewick presented the Mid-Columbia Library at Keewaydin Park with a $500 donation in September as part of its America 250! Project which looks to educate children on the history of the American Revolution and patriotism.
According to DAR officials, the donation will be used to purchase 31 different books for children between the third and sixth grades.
"Being able to partner with the Daughters of the American Revolution and further their mission and our mission, increase education, support literacy, as well as celebrate 250 years of independence, it's a real pleasure and a real honor," said Sara Schwan, who serves as the associate director of Advocacy & Development at Mid-Columbia Libraries.
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Join the American Association for State and Local History, or AASLH, for its virtual "250 Con" event on February 27-28. Attendees will learn about national and state planning opportunities, identify actionable ways to participate, and join peers in generating enthusiasm for this once-in-a-generation event. Learn more and register! | | | |
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Two Lights for Tomorrow April 18, 2025 | |
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Two Lights for Tomorrow is an initiative to begin nationwide 250 activities this April by commemorating the famous ride of Paul Revere using the imagery of two shining lights as a call for people across the nation to unite and serve.
The lights at the Old North Church on the night of April 18-19, 1775 were intended to share an important message as far and wide as possible. Today, Two Lights for Tomorrow is inviting the nation to use those same symbols to spread the message of the importance of uniting as a nation, supporting each other, and serving our communities.
On April 18, 2025, two lights will be displayed on statehouses around the nation. The effort is designed to be scalable to invite all to participate; any kinds of lights can be used in any size building from administrative offices to community centers to private homes. Then, on April 19, 2025, Two Lights for Tomorrow is inviting communities to put the message into action by planning a local day of service.
Learn more by watching the recording of a presentation given to the State 250 Committee in October 2024. A toolkit with ideas and additional information is in development and will be available soon.
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America's Field Trip Accepting Submissions
America's Field Trip is back! Students in grades 3-12 are invited to participate in this year's contest by sharing their perspective about what America means to them. Winners will receive an unforgettable field trip experience to one of our nation's most iconic, historic, or cultural sites. Written or original artwork answering the question "What does America mean to you?" are now being accepted; the deadline for submissions is 5 p.m. (ET) on April 16, 2025.
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Arts and Culture Grant
Available to Support Tourism
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The State of Washington Tourism is offering an Arts and Culture Grant of up to $30,000 to support artistic and cultural offerings that build tourism. Use this opportunity to get creative about your community's America 250 initiatives. The deadline for applications is February 15, 2025.
The grant supports cultural heritage tourism including:
- Diversifying, expanding or enhancing cultural heritage programs and events
- Cultivating niche markets and networks
- Strategies to improve the management of cultural heritage tourism such as identifying and evaluating cultural heritage resources, guide training, restoration/interpretation projects, etc.
- Economic impact studies of cultural heritage tourism or the local economy
- Strategies to improve the promotion of cultural heritage tourism with maps, itineraries, digital storytelling, etc.
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Please share this newsletter with any organization that might
be interested in becoming an America 250 WA partner! | | | | |
