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
Pop-up Exhibit for Hamilton (the Musical)
Overture Center - Madison
Discover the real history behind the hit Broadway musical Hamilton in the Wisconsin Historical Society's exhibition on display in the Overture Center's Promenade Lobby on select show dates. The Promenade Lobby is located on the second level, accessible via the main building. Open to the public. Uncover the true story behind Hamilton with our online resources.
January 6, 9, 15 and 17 | Matinee Only | Promenade Lobby
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.
James Madison Lecture
Watch the footage of a memorable James Madison Lecture in partnership with UW-Madison’s Center for the Study of the American Constitution with Jeffrey Rosen, President of the National Constitution Center! Rosen revealed eye-opening insights of how the Founders’ quest for the “pursuit of happiness” helped shape the very soul of American democracy.
For more fascinating conversations, dive into the archives of past James Madison Lectures to learn more about our country's early history.
View Lecture250th 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
Need volunteers to plan your 250th event? Post your volunteer opportunity through Serve Wisconsin.
Serve Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s National and Community Service Board.
PBS Wisconsin
America at 250 highlights history & biographies, events, artifacts & objects, favorites from digital studios, and more from PBS!
Connect and Reflect on America@250 with PBS Wisconsin!
LEARN MOREWisconsin Civic Learning Coalition
The Wisconsin Civic Learning Coalition brings together stakeholders from across the state to strengthen nonpartisan civics and government education in schools.
Jack Miller Center
The Jack Miller Center is building a diverse civics coalition of scholars, K-12 educators, and civic education leaders to revive America’s founding principles and history for millions of students nationwide.
Local History Toolkit
Still planning for the 250th? Explore all the resources we have to offer including logos, brand guidelines, media templates, and the AASLH guides. The AASLH offers a field guide available in English and Spanish language versions as well as a handbook of program examples.
250th Logos and Brand Guidelines:
America250 Branding Guidelines
Media Templates to promote your local event:
American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) Guides
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
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 Roadmap National Constitution Center's Interactive Declaration of Independence National Park Service: Teaching the 250th with Historic Places: A Field Guide to Lessons for America’s Semiquincentennial National Constitution Center's America at 250 Civic Toolkit
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.
.png)
Wisconsin Magazine of History
The quarterly magazine of the Wisconsin Historical Society
Current Fall 2025 Issue of WMoH
This issue includes articles on The Iron Brigade and exploring soldiers' diverse Civil War experiences through three volunteers' stories; the life and professional career of Joseph Guyon (an Ojibwe football player); the assassination of Armenian Archbishop Ghevont Tourian in 1933, and more compelling stories from history.
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.