American Association for State and Local History

Join the American Association for State and Local History for this exciting two day event of roundtables, speakers and more!

The U.S. 250th anniversary, coming up in 2026, is a crucial opportunity to engage the public in the full sweep of American history. But for many history doers, this is easier said than done. How do you interpret the U.S. 250th at your site or organization, especially if you don’t have an obvious connection to the Revolutionary era? Even if you do have a clear tie to the Revolution, how do you make that history relevant to your audiences? This three-part webinar series will offer best practices in interpretive planning, connections to fieldwide themes for the 250th, and the chance to find inspiration and workshop ideas with fellow practitioners.

Led by Dr. Ashley Jordan, President and CEO of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, and Steve Murray, Director of the Alabama Department of Archives and History, this session will use AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for the Semiquincentennial as a springboard for connecting history organizations and sites with five historical themes that offer a shared vision and purpose for the anniversary.

Is your site or organization working on a project or program related to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States? Are you looking for inspiration or feedback? Join us for the final session of our webinar series, where Sarah Pharaon, Principal at Dialogic Consulting, will offer interactive and innovative methods for nurturing your ideas and comparing and contrasting them with fellow history practitioners.

Congress approved $10 million to preserve and restore sites and structures that commemorate the founding of the nation. Eligible properties now include places owned by state and local governments, non-profit organizations, public and non-profit institutions of higher education, and tribes. Applications are due March 5.