Issue 4, March 2025

Out of Many, One

American stories from Washington’s collections

The Washington State Historical Society (WSHS) invites museums and history organizations statewide to participate in a collaborative collections and exhibition project for America’s 250th. Working with their communities, organizations will identify an object, image, or artwork from their collection that they feel represents the American experience and exhibit that object in 2026.

The public will be encouraged to explore the wide array of items posted to an online map and to visit participating museums in person to learn from the many perspectives shared.

WSHS will be providing training and support to communities through throughout 2025 to help them participate.

• Step 1: Sign up to be a partner.
• Step 2: Review your collection and identify five objects, images and/or works of art that your staff and volunteers feel represent the American experience.
• Step 3: Present the chosen items to the public for feedback and final selection.
• Step 4: Submit a digital form to the Washington State Historical Society with a photograph, description, and statement about the item selected by your community through the public process.
• Step 5: Display the item in 2026.

More information and a submission form will be available on our website soon. For questions, contact Allison Campbell or Dylan High.

PRESENTATIONS

STATEWIDE PARTNERS

Daughters of the American Revolution

Be sure to visit the Mary Ball Chapter of the DAR (Pierce County), celebrating 130 years of service to the community, at the Washington State Fair this year during its second week where members will be in colonial dress and have special commemorative America250 activities and games for the public.

Members will also be promoting their "Bells Across America" plan for Constitution Week (Sept. 17-21) when bells will be rung on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, at 3 p.m. ET to signify the time bells rang out in Philadelphia at the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

For more information, contact Renee Crist, first vice regent: rencristdar@gmail.com

The Spirit of 76 Living History Association (Thurston County) is a living history group dedicated to presenting and educating about 18th-century soldier, sailor, and civilian lives and experiences with interactive events, camps, and demonstrations.

On April 19-20, 2025, Spirit of 76 is hosting a Lexington-Concord 250th Anniversary Commemorative Encampment in Chehalis that will feature Revolutionary War military demonstrations, fife and drum music, and an 18th-century living history camp. Admission is free but donations are appreciated.

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.

"Salute to American Music" concert series in Moses Lake

The Moses Lake Museum and Art Center (Grant County) is developing a series of six or more concerts that will celebrate American musical forms, song writers, and composers for the summer of 2026. For more information, contact Dollie Boyd, museum superintendent.

Candlelight Tours in Westport for Two Lights for Tomorrow

The Westport Aquarium (Grays Harbor County) is getting creative with Two Lights for Tomorrow; In addition to putting two candles in the window, the staff will lead candlelight tours of the aquarium from 6-9 p.m. on April 18. They will also have a special commemorative Paul Revere typeset in their printing press for attendees to use to make a commemorative bookmark or postcard as a souvenir. For more information, contact Kathryn Myrsell, education director.

Partners Update

As of March 21, more than 230 organizations from around the state have signed up to be America250 WA partners. Thank you! We are still looking for partners to sign up from Franklin, Garfield, Jefferson, and Lewis counties to have all 39 represented. A full list of partners is available on the website.

NATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The National Park Service and the National Archives and Records Administration are collaborating on a special project to transcribe the pension records of more than 80,000 of America's first veterans and their widows. They are looking for volunteers to help with this project.

Not only could you be the first person in 200 years to learn their stories, but your efforts will make a permanent contribution to the historical record in time for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

The American Association for State and Local History has announced a new partnership with Wiki Education to offer free training courses for history practitioners to improve the historical content on Wikipedia as part of America250 planning.

Called 250 by 2026, the course is designed for public historians; museum, historical society and historic site workers; and other history practitioners interested in sharing their knowledge about US history on Wikipedia.

The course is free, but selected enrollees are expected to attend all eight of the weekly, hour-long virtual meetings. Participation is limited to 20 individuals and registration is now open with a deadline of March 27.

STATE COMMITTEE

State Committee Meetings

Please share this newsletter with any organization that might be interested in becoming an America 250 WA partner!