Oct 27 is 250 DAYS TO GO! | |
Humanities Washington Offering
FREE Speakers Bureau Program
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Humanities Washington is offering five special presentations in 2026 as part of its support of America's 250th.
These presentations are part of its popular Speakers Bureau which provides FREE thought-provoking talks in communities across the state.
For 2026, these presentations will commemorate the Revolution’s anniversary and explore its enduring legacies from new and surprising perspectives. From untold revolutionary stories to reflections on democracy, these talks remind us that the American experiment is still unfolding.
America's 250th Topics
- The Strange Link Between Shark Attacks and Voting Behavior (Michael Artime)
- Why Trust Is Essential to Democracy (Jacob Lewis)
- Together: The Promise of Democracy (Yasemin Sari)
- The American Revolution's End and an Empire's Beginning (Lawrence Hatter)
- How America Talks (Differently) About Slavery (R. Charles Weller)
Use the link below to find out how to book a presentation for your organization or community, or contact speakers@humanities.org.
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Moments That Made US Exhibition
Informational Webinar | |
Moments That Made US is a FREE, customizable, print-on-demand exhibition exploring the ideals at the heart of the Declaration of Independence through moments in our history that have defined their meaning.
Developed through a multi-state collaboration, this exhibition will feature 21 ready-to-use, modular panels that will be FREE to use with the only out-of-pocket cost being printing and mounting. Organizations can choose to display some or all of the provided materials—whatever number will fit in your space and whichever topics resonate—and users will also have access to templates to add local content if desired.
The Moments That Made US planning team invites you to an informational Zoom webinar on Thursday, November 13 at 10 a.m. to learn where the project is at now and how you can use this exhibition as part of your commemorative activities in 2026. Please register in advance at the following link:
| | America's Field Trip Contest
Is Back for 2026 | | |
America's Field Trip is back for the 2025–2026 school year.
This nationwide contest invites students in grades 3-12 to share their perspectives on America with the chance to win extraordinary trips to some of the country’s most iconic landmarks.
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the contest has been expanded with more exciting field trips and more opportunities for students to win. A total of 250 winners (up from 150 last year) will receive an unforgettable field trip experience or a cash prize.
To participate, students need to create a piece of writing or original artwork that answers the question: “What does America mean to you?
More than 7,000 students from all 50 states participated in the contest last year, and Madeline Johnson, 17, of Bremerton (Kitsap County), a senior at Central Kitsap High School in Silverdale, received a second-place award for her Statue of Liberty painting titled “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
| | KSPS Hosts Public Screening of "The American Revolution" in Spokane | | |
America's 250th partner KSPS will host a FREE public screening and community discussion of highlights from the new Ken Burns' documentary The American Revolution on Nov. 13.
The 45-minute highlights video includes content from all six episodes of the new series which premieres nationally on Nov. 16.
Following the highlights video, Spokane journalist Dana Haynes will moderate a panel discussion titled, "What Does Liberty Mean to Me?" with panelists Lisa Gardner, president of the NAACP Spokane Chapter and the director of communications and community engagement for the City of Spokane; Lawrence BA Hatter, Ph.D, associate professor of history at Washington State University; and Warren Seyler, a historian with the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The discussion will focus on the evolving meaning of liberty from Revolutionary times until today, and how liberty's ideals can address current political divides.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Doors open at 5:15 p.m. Program begins at 6 p.m.
Hemingson Center, Gonzaga University, Spokane
FREE but registration is required
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NEW: Monthly Partner "Office Hours"
Beginning in November, we will offer a monthly America's 250th "office hours" online session for partners around the state to connect, ask questions, discuss opportunities and challenges, and share ideas for programming, fundraising and community engagement. No registration is required, just use the link below to join the session.
The online sessions will be at 10 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month, with our first session launching on Thursday, Nov 6. Join us!
Nov. 6
Dec. 4
Jan. 8
Feb. 5
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Promotional Video
Help raise awareness of America's 250th by using our first promotional video, produced by TVW. You can embed this video on your website, have it run on TV screens at public places like city halls, museums, libraries, etc., and use it as part of regularly scheduled meetings.
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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.
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Bookmarks Featuring Local History in Sequim
The Daughters of the American Revolution in Sequim (Clallam County) has designed a bookmark that includes a series of historical bullet points focusing on Clallam County history between 1776 and 2026. In addition to distributing them at the library and a local bookstore, the group hopes to have them at the local senior center, the local Boys and Girls Club, and possibly the New Dungeness Lighthouse.
Free Spoken-word Events in Shoreline
Shoreline Community College is hosting a program of spoken-word presentations in 2026 titled "America at 250: A Republic If We Can Keep It." This inclusive program will recount and illuminate stories of Northwesterners who exhibited revolutionary courage, and who fought for the democratic ideals of individual liberty, self-determination, and political freedom. They are currently seeking speakers to participate in the program, interested persons should contact Ken Winnick at ken@visualcognetics.com. A small stipend will be available for speakers.
Community Portrait Exhibit in Moses Lake
The team at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center (Grant County) continue to develop great ideas for America's 250th. One of their ideas is an exhibit called Faces of 250: Our Community in Portraits which will be a collection of studio portraits from the 1950s to 1970s that capture the evolving identity of mid-century America. All of the individuals in the photos lived in Moses Lake during a time of remarkable growth and transformation. In addition, the museum is asking for donations of family photographs, keepsakes, documents or everyday objects that reflect life in Moses Lake and the surrounding area to help paint a fuller picture of who the community is and to help preserve the past.
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Upcoming Partner Events
A statewide calendar of events is coming soon, but in the meantime, check out the following events:
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NEH Grants Available
The National Endowment for the Humanities has two grants available for America's 250th.
Celebrate America!
This grant focuses on the founding of the American nation, key historical figures, and milestones that reflect the exceptional achievements of the United States.
- Funding: $25,000 (maximum amount)
- Application Period: Rolling basis beginning in April 2025
- Project Start Dates: August 1, 2025 – July 4, 2026
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More information here
Rediscovering our Revolutionary Tradition
This grant supports activities to preserve and improve access to primary source materials -- including archival records; documents and rare publications; art and material culture; and photographers and sound recordings that support the history of American independence or the history of American government.
- Funding: $350,000-$750,000 (maximum amount)
- Application Deadline: January 15, 2026
- Notification: August 2026
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More information here
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Civic Star Challenge for Students
For America's 250th, iCivics and the Bill of Rights Institute have developed the Civic Star Challenge for students in grades K-12. Teachers can have a civic impact in the classroom by engaging students with the legacy of the Declaration of Independence.
Not only are resources and suggested activities available, but there is an opportunity to win more than 400 prizes.
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America's Potluck
One of our suggestions for Independence Day activities next year is for people around the state to host potluck meals as part of the State of Utah's initiative called America's Potluck.
This is an opportunity for neighbors to join with one another to share a fun, communal meal, and create a sense of connection and belonging. Some cities and towns are considering hosting community potlucks.
While Utah has identified July 5 for their statewide initiative, we suggest that potlucks can be held any time during the holiday weekend next year.
Want to make your potluck a little more special? Use our America's 250th Apple Pie Recipe, courtesy of the Washington Apple Commission, to complete your meal. Recipe card will be available on our website soon.
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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.
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Coming Up: 250 State Committee Meeting
Jan. 8, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. (PT) | Online
State committee meetings are quarterly and open to the public.
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Previous Meetings
View on TVW
Watch recordings of previous meetings courtesy of TVW.
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Please share this newsletter with any organization that might be interested in becoming an America's 250th WA partner. | | | | |
