Issue 9, August 2025

Suggestions for Fourth of July Community Participation in 2026

July 4, 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. While the Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, the declaration was not formally adopted until July 4.

Here are some easy ways that every community in the state can mark this historic milestone.

Read the Declaration of Independence

We hope every community in the state will host a public reading of the Declaration of Independence next year. Ideally, we'd like young people to read the document aloud. This can be done at city hall, the local school or library, a community park, or as part of existing Independence Day events.

Flag Retirement Ceremony

Work with your local American Legion, VFW or other veterans group to host a flag retirement ceremony. Encourage community members to properly dispose of old U.S. flags.

Commemorative Apple Pie

Washingtonians are encouraged to enjoy apple pie next year with their family and friends with our commemorative apple pie recipe, courtesy of the Washington Apple Commission. Consider hosting an apple pie baking or eating contest as well. Enjoy your pie but remember to use Washington apples! Recipe available on the website soon.

Plant a Tree

The Liberty Tree was a famous Revolutionary Era landmark in Boston, Mass. Communities can honor that tree by planting a "SemiQ" tree next year as a living legacy of our semiquincentennial.

Sign the Declaration of Independence

Use our template to create a "wall" where community members can add their own signatures to the Declaration of Independence. Template available on the website soon.

Wave a Flag

At 2:50 p.m. on July 4 we encourage everyone to stop what they are doing and wave an American flag. Communities are encouraged to try and capture this moment with a city/town photo of people waving the flag.

America's Potluck

The State of Utah is sponsoring America's Potluck on July 5. We invite everyone in the state to participate during the holiday weekend with potluck meals in their neighborhoods or community gatherings.

Create a Wish Wall

Create a mural of wishes on a wall for your community. Ask community members to write their own messages of "What I Wish for America" on a post-it and add to the wall to create a mosaic of community wishes.

These and other ideas are available on the Resources page of the website.

Moments that Made US
Expressions of Interest

Moments That Made US is a FREE print-on-demand panel exhibit exploring the ideals at the heart of the Declaration of Independence through moments in our history that have defined their meaning. It does so in a user-friendly format that organizations can adapt, afford, and make their own.

It will be available in late 2025/early 2026.

The exhibit is ideal for any organization to use next year -- it can be displayed at museums, city halls, schools, libraries, large public events such as county fairs, etc. If you are interested in using this resource as part of your America's 250th activities, please complete the interest form using the link below.

MTMU Interest Form

COMING UP

Presentations

The Washington America's 250th team is scheduled to speak at several upcoming events. If you would like a presentation to your group, please contact us at info@america250wa.org.

Sept. 2: Cowlitz County Museum, Kelso

Sept. 19: Gig Harbor Rotary Club, Gig Harbor

Oct 7: Gig Harbor Midday Rotary Club , Gig Harbor

Oct. 8-10: PLACES Conference, Gig Harbor

Oct 22: Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club , Gig Harbor

Webinars

Aug. 26 | 10 a.m. | America250 – Opportunities for Reflection

Our 250th anniversary offers opportunities for both celebration of the history of the county as well as reflection on the negative consequences our history continues to have on certain communities today. Join presenters Natasha Varner (heritage program manager at 4Culture) and Paul Winterstein (executive director at Issaquah History Museums) for a discussion about ways that museums can incorporate a variety of perspectives of our history into this commemorative year. REGISTER HERE

Sept. 18 | 10 a.m. | Engaging Youth in America250

In this session, Connor Walsh, an ambassador with the Gen Z-led organization Made by Us, will share strategies for engaging young people in America250. Connor will discuss the importance of making history and civics relevant and accessible to younger generations and will walk through the Youth 250 toolkit, which is designed to support organizations planning activities for the anniversary. You can prepare for this session by getting your "Gen Z Score" a FREE assessment of your organization's readiness to engage with young people. REGISTER HERE

Sept. 30 | 10 a.m. | Creating a Museum of Service for America's 250th

Details to come. REGISTER 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.

"Out of Many, One" Voting in Ferndale

The Ferndale Historical Society (Whatcom County) recently hosted a booth at the annual Old Settlers Picnic event and had community members vote on the five items from their Pioneer Village they selected for the Out of Many, One project. This event was a great way of getting community engagement with the project and sharing information about what the historical society is planning for 2026.

Colonial Sports in Spanaway

The Spanaway Historical Society/Prairie House Museum (Pierce County) has an interesting idea to commemorate America's 250th; they are researching games that the colonists would have played 250 years ago.

Upcoming Partner Events

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

Sept. 18: "We the People" Lecture Series

The Washington State Historical Society presents the first in a series of FREE America's 250th lectures at the state history museum in Tacoma with "Fighting for the Puyallup Tribe" at 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 11: Washington State Council for the Social Studies Conference

"Many Threads, One Flag: 250 Years of Diverse American Voices" is the theme for WSCSS' 2025 conference in Bellevue which "invites us to consider the many stories that make up the history of Washington and the United States as we begin the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence."

Oct. 16: "We the People" Lecture Series

The second FREE lecture in this America's 250th series, presented by the Washington State Historical Society, will be "Buhay, The Filipino American Life" at 3 p.m. at the state history museum in Tacoma.

NATIONAL RESOURCES

America's Field Trip, National America250 Committee

America Gives, National America250 Committee

Founder's Museum, White House

Great American Road Trip , Department of Agriculture

Let Freedom Ring 250 , Discovery Family Coalition

Our American Story, National America250 Committee

Revolutionary War Pension Files Transcription Project, National Parks Service

The American Revolution: An Inside Look at the Upcoming Ken Burns Documentary Series, WETA

AROUND WASHINGTON

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