Wisconsin Commemorates the U.S.A. 250th
Celebrating 250 Years of History
It’s almost time to commemorate the semiquincentennial of the United States of America! On April 14th, 2025, things kicked off with Two Lights for Tomorrow, a nationwide initiative to honor the famous ride of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and others that occurred overnight on April 18 – 19, 1775. Two Lights for Tomorrow used the imagery of that shining light 250 years ago as a uniting call to our fellow citizens, no matter where they are, to remind ourselves that our history is about working together for a better tomorrow. Lights were displayed in Wisconsin at the State Capitol rotunda and more than 230 State Capitol buildings and public spaces around the country.
Below you will find 250th events and programs plus helpful publications and other resources for members of the public, educators or local history affiliates. Program and event descriptions will be updated as details become available.
Wisconsin Historical Society Events & Programs
America@250: The American Revolution Sneak Peek & Panel
Al. Ringling Theatre | 136 4th Avenue, Baraboo, WI
Thursday, October 16 | Doors 6:30 PM | Program 7 PM
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, join PBS Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Historical Society for an evening of community and reflection. The night will include a special preview screening of the all-new documentary series THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt; the premiere of two new episodes of The Look Back produced by PBS Wisconsin Education; and a panel conversation exploring themes and untold perspectives related to the Revolutionary War era.
This event is part of a statewide America@250 initiative led by PBS Wisconsin in partnership with the Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Veterans Museum, and the Center for Community & Nonprofit Studies at UW-Madison.
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Local History & Historic Preservation Conference
Ho-Chunk Casino Hotel & Convention Center | Baraboo, WI
Wednesday, Oct 15 - Friday October 17
The local three-day history conference brings together museum professionals, historians, preservationists and community leaders from across Wisconsin to share ideas, build skills and celebrate our shared past.
As America’s 250th birthday approaches, this year’s conference includes a session featuring Chris Kolakowski, Director of the Wisconsin Veterans Museum, and Cody Schreck, Executive Director of the Ephraim Historical Foundation. Both serve on Wisconsin’s America 250 Commission and will share how the state is preparing for this milestone. Learn about national and local initiatives, explore ideas for commemorative events and discover resources to help your museum or community create meaningful programming around the Semiquincentennial.
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James Madison Lecture
Get ready for an inspiring evening in partnership with UW-Madison’s Center for the Study of the American Constitution with Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National Constitution Center! Rosen will reveal eye-opening insights of how the Founders’ quest for the “pursuit of happiness” helped shape the very soul of American democracy.
Learn More250th Resources
U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission
A Milestone 250 Years in the Making
National Constitution Center
The National Constitution Center offers powerful educational tools to help students and citizens engage deeply with the U.S. Constitution.
Interactive Constitution: This nonpartisan, online resource brings the Constitution to life through expert commentary, highlighting areas of agreement and disagreement to spark thoughtful exploration of constitutional issues.
Constitution 101: A 15-unit, self-paced curriculum designed for high school students, providing a foundational understanding of the Constitution’s text, history, structure and key Supreme Court cases.
Primary Source Libraries: With over 170 historic texts in the Founders’ Library and landmark decisions in the Supreme Court Library students can examine America’s founding principles through a range of perspectives. Each module includes in-depth classroom materials, with a separate version available for adult learners.
America’s Town Hall programs is a series about constitutional issues in the news, available for free online.
Serve Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s National and Community Service Board.
American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Guides
Still planning for the 250th? The AASLH offers a field guide available in English and Spanish language versions as well as a handbook of program examples.
Making History at 250: The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial
Spanish Language Version: La Guía de Campo para el Semiquincentenario
The Constitution Letterhead WHI #32584
Events in 2026
Independence Day Weekend
Old World Wisconsin
Eagle WI
July 3-4, 2026
This special event will serve as a celebration of Old World Wisconsin’s 50th birthday as the site was opened during the Bicentennial in 1976.
Walworth County History!
Black Point
Estate & Gardens
Lake Geneva WI
A yearlong social media campaign will kick off in January 2026 and will highlight historic people, places or objects from Walworth County.
Speaker Series & Special Tours
Villa Louis, First Capitol, Stonefield & Pendarvis
South West WI
A speaker series highlighting southwest Wisconsin history will be offered throughout the year.
Spirit of the Times
Wade House
Greenbush WI
This walking tour will visit the nearby cemetery and see notable gravesites related to Early American history.
Wisconsin History Makers Tour
Our three-year statewide tour continues in 2026 with stops in the North Central and Northeast regions of the state:
Jan – July 2026: Antigo, Eagle River, Rhinelander, Wausau, Wisconsin Rapids, and other locations.
Aug 2026 – Feb 2027: Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Kohler, Sheboygan, Sturgeon Bay and other locations.
Teacher Resources
Each month the WHS Educator Newsletter will feature a “Doing History” section with objects or archival assets connected to early American history plus a historical investigation guide.
Additional Resources for Educators
West Junior High School Students WHI #16265
America 250: Teacher ResourcesAmerica 250: America’s Field TripMuseum of the
American RevolutionVA250 Teacher ResourcesColonial Williamsburg
Teacher Resources Made By Us - Youth250 Educating for American Democracy RoadmapNational Park Service: Teaching the 250th with Historic Places: A Field Guide to Lessons for America’s Semiquincentennial
Principles of the 250th: Past, Present, and Future
Educator Professional Development Workshops
The National Constitution Center and the Wisconsin Historical Society are excited to offer two free, half-day professional learning sessions focused on preparing Wisconsin educators to teach and celebrate our nation’s semiquincentennial.
Monday, October 6 | Brown County Library - Green Bay
Tuesday, October 7 | Wisconsin Historical Society Headquarters - Madison
Sign Up Today
Wisconsin Historical Society Publications
The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
Edited by Kaminski, Linley, Schoenleber, Moore, Danforth, Cohan, Biermeier, Berry, Chattopadhyay, and Hoefs. A partnership of the Center for the Study of the American Constitution at University of Wisconsin Madison and WHS Press.
This remarkable forty-one volume series concludes with the final volume in the Bill of Rights series scheduled for publication in Fall 2025.
Wisconsin Magazine of History
The quarterly magazine of the Wisconsin Historical Society
Since its first issue, in 1917, the Wisconsin Magazine of History has informed and engaged readers with intriguing articles about the people, places, and events of Wisconsin's past.
During 2026, feature articles in each issue of the magazine will mark the country’s 250th birthday.
Available in print and digital editions, the Wisconsin Magazine of History is a trusted resource for lifelong learners, educators, and anyone curious about the state’s rich and diverse history.
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