We Make History

As the nation commemorates 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, We Make History explores how history happens, is preserved, and shared. In Washington, D.C. and places around the country, many people were quietly keeping the records, building the collections, and developing the skills that would create America’s historical narrative. These community-based stories serve as the building blocks for 250 years of American history.

Using the country’s anniversary as a milestone, the museum uses its community driven practice to celebrate local civic engagement and encourage local history keeping. This exhibition is a tribute to celebrating our communities and making possible a better understanding of our shared past. These stories are important to marking the Semiquincentennial because they help show the legacy of how people make history one act, one document, one story at a time. By bringing these stories to the forefront in 2026, the exhibit inspires the next generation to keep and share their own stories and records to add to America’s historical narrative.