Fireworks burst behind the dark silhouette of several towered buildings.

Our Shared Future: 250

In 2026, the United States of America turns 250 years old. The Smithsonian will celebrate the nation’s successes, contemplate the consequences of our history, commemorate the sacrifices of those who have worked to uphold the nation’s ideals, and ask Americans to commit to advancing our democracy and preserving our shared future.

Join us at the Smithsonian—and in communities nationwide—for exhibitions, events, and public programs that invite us to reflect on the past, engage with the present, and imagine the future together.

Major support for Smithsonian’s "Our Shared Future: 250" has been provided by Lilly Endowment Inc. Additional generous contributions have been made by Target.

Features stories, exhibitions, and events

Featured Stories

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A painted portrait of an older man with long hair, wearing a red coat and white shirt, sitting against a dark background.
250 Years of Stamps and Stories of the U.S. Postal Service
A Timeline of Service to America
National Postal Museum
Article
The Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum’s oral history project, We Do Declare: Women’s Voices on Independence, tells a remarkable story of women’s determination to expand economic opportunity in the United States over the last fifty years. Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.
Smithsonian American Women's History Museum
Video
A person stands in front of photographs on a well in an exhibition.
Made in America
What does it look like for something to be made in America?
Smithsonian Institution
Podcast

Exhibitions

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visitors silhouetted against the Star-Spanled Banner
In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History leads the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations with a bold, immersive exhibition exploring the ideals of the Declaration of Independence. In Pursuit of Life, Liberty & Happiness features. Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.
National Museum of American History
Location
National Museum of American History
Exhibitions
Crop art with the title State Fairs: Growing American Craft and a cow's head in the center.
State Fairs: Growing American Craft
State Fairs: Growing American Craft is the first exhibition dedicated to artists’ contributions to the great U.S. tradition of state fairs with more than 240 artworks on view, dating from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. Each gallery . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Location
Renwick Gallery
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Exhibitions
A herd of Bison walk in the sunrise
Bison: Standing Strong
Explore the remarkable story of bison. These iconic animals shaped North American landscapes for more than 100,000 years and anchored Indigenous lifeways for generations. Pushed to the brink of extinction in the 19th century, bison survived . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.
National Museum of Natural History
Location
National Museum of Natural History
Exhibitions
Wool carders
Made In America: The Industrial Photography of Christopher Payne
Made in America brings together more than 70 large-format photographs captured by Christopher Payne over a decade-long photographic journey to learn more about the craft of both industrial and artisanal making in the United States. His images . Shortened snippet. View full page for more details.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
Location
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
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Exhibitions
Logo text: “OF THE PEOPLE; Smithsonian Festival of Festivals 2026; Culture of, By, For the People; Smithsonian Center-for-Folklife-and-Cultural-Heritage.”

Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals

At the Smithsonian's Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, we are embracing the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding by bringing the spirit of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival to you!

Find a festival near you

Traveling Exhibitions

Find Smithsonian Exhibitions Near You

Logo with text Making History Making Change Smithsonian
Join the Smithsonian Across the Country in 2026!
The Smithsonian and 25 Smithsonian Affiliate organizations nationwide will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series.
Metal sculpture of Native American warriors on horseback, installed outdoors on a stone platform overlooking grassy plains.
Americans
Based on a major exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, Americans explores how deeply intertwined American Indians are in the culture of the United States.
Crowd of marchers holding signs with messages like "We march for effective civil rights laws now!"
Voices and Votes: Democracy in America
Our democracy demands action, reaction, vision, and revision as we continue to question how to form “a more perfect union.” How do you participate as a citizen?
A large assembly of people in period clothing gathers around tables with papers inside a formal hall.

Our Shared Heritage: Revolution Crossroads

History is full of connections—some easy to see, others harder to trace. Revolution Crossroads is a partnership between the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress, using artificial intelligence to surface untold stories, connect long-separated records, and bring new life to Revolutionary-era history.

Learn More

Publications & Special Reports

Explore books and reports that reflect on America’s past, present, and future as the nation marks its 250th anniversary.

Fireworks over the Washington Monument with text: Celebrating America’s 250th; Smithsonian Science Education Center; Our Shared Future 250.
Stories of Women in STEAM Innovation: Celebrating America's 250th
Featuring biographies of 21 brilliant women who have been important figures in the foundation of STEAM in the United States.
Download for free
Book cover reading “The Promise of a Nation” shows Smithsonian logo and collage of historical objects commemorating 250 years.
The Promise of a Nation: Commemorating 250 Years of Patriotism, Resilience, and Aspirations from the National Collection
Celebrate 250 years of American history—and witness the nation’s decade-by-decade evolution—in this gorgeously illustrated volume featuring 700 Smithsonian objects.
Buy the book
People in a crowded boat row through icy water while one person stands holding a flag.
Special Report: America’s 250th Anniversary
To mark the 250th anniversary of America’s founding on July 4, 1776, Smithsonian magazine is highlighting the people, places and events that shaped the United States’ fight for independence from Great Britain.
Read the report