Issue 21, August 2026

State Constitution Coming to Tacoma

The 1889 Washington State Constitution is coming to Tacoma for one day only on Sept. 17 as part of our America's 250th Day of Civic Engagement.

Admission to see the document, and other items in the museum, will be free. This event is in partnership with the Office of the Secretary of State and the Washington State Archives, and is made possible by the generous support of PCVA Attorneys at Law.

In addition to the constitution, various items related to the early days of Washington statehood from the both the Washington State Archives and Washington State Historical Society collections will also be on display.

Lt. Governor Denny Heck, chair of the state's 250 planning committee, will make brief remarks at a short ceremony beginning at 1 p.m. Staff from the Washington State Archives will be available to answer questions about the document and its history.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, September 17
• Time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Location: Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA
• Special Exhibition: An American Experiment (*Washington’s Version)

Local Youth History Contest for Washington Students

Youth for History is sponsoring a local history writing contest for students in grades K-12 to provide students an opportunity to strengthen their research and writing skills while contributing their own perspectives to the story of Washington during this anniversary year.

Students can submit an original piece of writing based on one of our America's 250th themes: We The People, Power of Place, or Sharing History.

The contest encourages students to explore local history through the people, places, and stories of their own communities. They may write about a person, a group, a meaningful place or a local story that deserves greater attention.

Entries should be based on research and original student writing. Students are encouraged to look beyond textbooks by using local sources such as libraries, newspapers, interviews, and other community resources.

The deadline for submissions is Oct. 31 at 11:59 p.m. Full details about the contest can be found using the link below.

Youth for History is a youth-led nonprofit organization that empowers young people to explore history, think critically, engage with their communities, and share the stories that shape our past, present and future.

History Assist Grant Accepting Applications Until Oct. 2

To leverage the momentum generated around history by America’s 250th, the History Assist Grant is designed to help organizations provide public access to history, particularly by growing their audiences.

This grant will fund capacity building and infrastructure that increases an organization’s ability to preserve, interpret, and share history with diverse audiences.

Applications Due: October 2

Awards: Up to $8,000 (no match required)

Eligibility: nonprofit organizations, local governments, and Tribal entities that have a primary purpose to steward, interpret, or preserve history

To help you put together a strong application, we strongly encourage you to reach out to Dylan High, Statewide Partnerships Coordinator, about your proposal idea before starting an application.

Step 1: Read the grant guidelines

Step 2: Talk with Dylan about your project by sending an email or scheduling a meeting

Step 3: Attend or watch the grant workshop on Thursday, August 27 at 10 a.m. by registering here (all registrants will be sent the workshop recording)

Step 4: Apply through the Heritage Portal

Send Samples of Your 250th Materials

We've seen some wonderful items created as part of America's 250th this year, from collectible coins to street banners to Christmas ornaments to flags. The creativity around the state has been amazing!

As we move toward the end of the anniversary year we are asking all partners to send us samples of materials they produced so we can include them in the final report and possibly be added to the collections of the Washington State Historical Society.

Before you throw things away, please put aside some samples and send them to:

Lorraine Ralston
Washington State Historical Society
1911 Pacific Ave
Tacoma, WA 98402

Digital materials (photos, videos, etc.) can be emailed to info@america250WA.org.

NATIONAL NEWS

Six Washington Students Win Awards in 2026 America's Field Trip Contest

Six Washington students recently received awards in the America's Field Trip national contest.

Five students received first-place awards of a once-in-a-lifetime field trip experience to an iconic American landmark, and one student received a $500 second-place award.

“We are incredibly proud of all the winners for representing Washington in these America250 endeavors. These programs are wonderful opportunities for the next generation of leaders to engage with our nation's history, culture, and possibilities in meaningful ways. On behalf of the Washington America 250 Committee, I congratulate them all and encourage them—and all young Washingtonians—to remain engaged in their communities and help shape the next 250 years of our country,” said Lt. Governor Denny Heck.

The contest, which invited students in grades 3-12 to reflect on the question, "What does America mean to me?" had more than 10,000 submissions from all 50 states, five U.S. territories and the District of Columbia. It was organized by America250, the organization appointed in 2016 by the U.S. Congress to provide nationwide engagement opportunities during this 250th anniversary year.

First-place awardees are:

• Jessie Baum, 14, of Sammamish, currently a 9th-grade student at Eastside High School, who was awarded a field trip to the White House and National Archives in Washington, D.C.

• Kodyann Lawrence, 14, of Newport, currently a 9th-grade student at Newport High School, who was awarded a field trip to the White House and National Archives in Washington, D.C.

• Rupika Molri, 17, of Pasco, currently an 11th-grade student at Chiwana High School, who was awarded a field trip to the National Medal of Honor Museum and George W. Bush Presidential Center and Library in Texas.

• Meisha Situ, 18, of Tukwila, currently a 12th-grade student at Kentridge High School, who was awarded a field trip to New Orleans, Louisiana.

• Tillie Tinklenberg, 13, of Lynden, currently a 7th-grade student at Lynden Christian School, who was awarded a field trip to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

In addition, Sadie Ebert of Spokane, currently a 6th-grade student at Spokane Classical Christian School, received a second-place award.

Thank you to all the students across the state who submitted an entry for the contest! All participants will receive a free family membership to the Washington State Historical Society and Museum in Tacoma.

Volunteers Needed in Seattle for 
9/11 Day Charitable Event

The America Gives initiative, an effort by the national America250 organization to mobilize Americans to give back to their communities, has partnered with the 9/11 Day Organization on a massive effort to pack 20 million meals for needy Americans.

It is expected to be the largest single-day meal pack in history, and is in honor of the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

More than 50,000 volunteers are needed around the country and Seattle is one of the cities looking for help.

For more information or to volunteer, click the button below.

History Happens on Main Street

For years, the heart of any community has been "Main Street" and main streets have always played a key role in witnessing and sharing our collective history.

As part of America's 250th, Main Street America has launched Main Street 250, a storytelling initiative that dives deep and wide into the role of main streets from prehistoric events to the present day.

Main Street organizations around the country have already contributed more than 250 historical stories—from impactful early explorations and exciting scientific discoveries to transformational political achievements and important cultural moments—that demonstrate the impact main streets have had on American history.

The following stories from Washington have already been contributed:

• Cle Elum, Connecting Washington to the US for Communication, 1966
• Langley, Early Women in Government, 1920
• Prosser, Irrigation in the Desert, 1893
• Selah, Last Historic Interurban Electric Railroad, 1907
• Vancouver, Native Hawaiians at Fort Vancouver, 1829-1859

You can read these stories and others on the Main Street America website. Want to submit your own story? If your organization is a Main Street America member you can do so here.

America's Startup National Competition Now Accepting Applications

America's Startup, a national college student competition designed to spotlight the next generation of American innovators and entrepreneurs, is now accepting applications through Oct. 8.

Ten finalist teams will receive $25,000 each in grant funding, with another three grand prize teams receiving an additional $25,000 grant.

The competition is organized by America250, the organization appointed in 2016 by the U.S. Congress to provide nationwide engagement opportunities during this 250th anniversary year.

This fast-paced, high-stakes competition invites undergraduate college students to pitch early-stage ventures for a chance at funding, mentorship and national recognition. Fifteen industry leaders participate as mentors including Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple; Tim Draper, founder of Draper Associates and Draper University; and Zoe Weinberg, founder and managing partner of ex/ante.

Competition Details

• Submission Deadline: Oct. 8 at 7:59 p.m. (EDT)
• Eligibility: Open to legal residents of the United States who are 13 years or older and are current undergraduate students at an accredited university, college, or trade school in the United States.
• Prizes: $25,000 in non-dilutive funnding (meaning money is given to a business or person that does not require them to give up shares or ownership)
• Submission Requirements: Written proposal and a two-minute pitch video; 30 semi-finalist teams will be invited to Washington, D.C. to pitch their ideas in person

AROUND WASHINGTON

Welcome to the Team!


Seymour History, our unofficial America's 250th ambassador, 
welcomes the following cities to the America250 WA Team!

Puyallup
(Pierce County)

Woodway
(Snohomish County)

Mukilteo
(Snohomish County)

Auburn
(King County)

Fife
(Pierce County)

Lakewood
(Pierce County)

REMINDERS

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

State Committee Meetings

Please share this newsletter with any organization that might be interested in becoming an America's 250th WA partner.