America 250: All People Are Created Equal

The crowd at the March for Birmingham, 2016. Alabama. — America 250: All People Are Created Equal

In July 1776, a group of colonists gathered in Philadelphia to sign a declaration of independence, dissolving their ties to the British Crown and kickstarting what would become 250 years of an American experiment.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”
Declaration of Independence

At the National Trust, we are marking this anniversary by embracing the essential promise that “all people are created equal,” underscoring how historic places and people across the nation continue to shape our journey to becoming a more perfect union.

The lived experiences embedded in historic landscapes, homes, neighborhoods, and landmarks give us what we need to meet the next 250 years; an honest accounting of where we’ve been and the humility and courage to imagine where we can go.

Join us for a year of conversation, commemoration, and action.

A group of descendants from National Trust historic sites sitting around a table in conversation. In the back is a yellow bulletin board with various papers pinned to it.

A descendent-centered program at four National Trust Historic Sites in Virginia, events will be begin on Juneteenth, followed by a July signature event and culminating with a series of events in the fall.

To mark the 250th anniversary, the Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the HPF for ten years and increase its authorization to $250 million, annually.

Through a curated collection of sites across the nation, we invite visitors to discover the landscapes where Americans have grappled with questions of equality, citizenship, freedom, justice, and belonging.

America 250 Events From the National Trust

Revolutionary Teapots at Chesterwood (Stockbridge, Massachusetts)

Revolutionary Teapots at Chesterwood

The Berkshire Potters Collective will contribute to the celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by hosting a regional potters’ show at Chesterwood focused on teapots themed as revolutionary.

The Presidential Sites Summit at Decatur House (Washington, D.C.)

The Presidential Sites Summit at Decatur House

This convening will bring together leaders and staff from presidential sites nationwide, including birthplaces, childhood homes, libraries, museums and alma maters—to reflect on the America 250 semi-quincentennial celebrations and accomplishments and look to the future. The program emphasizes lessons learned, future collaborations, and strategies for sustaining relevance in a dynamic cultural landscape. Sessions will blend keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities to foster actionable insights. Attendees will explore how the 250th anniversary has reshaped their operations and how to build on that momentum for long-term impact.

National Preservation Summit

Summit

This National Preservation Summit will bring together leaders from the preservation community alongside national, civic, business, and community figures from across the nation. With a theme of All People Are Created Equal, this convening will explore community revitalization, the interpretation of the past to foster a shared future, and unity through historic places.

Salon 1776 at Montpelier (Orange, Virginia)

Salon 1776 at Montpelier

Montpelier launched Salon 1776, a lecture series that features a short lecture on a topic related to Montpelier and the founding-era, followed by a cocktail reception. Held in the Grand Salon in the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center, these gatherings provide an atmosphere of socially engaging education for the public in a welcoming, intimate environment. Please join us!

September: Madison’s Temple and Ideas of Liberty” with Chris Pasch, MA, RPA

Justice for All

See the Full Schedule

Join the National Trust for Historic Preservation for “Justice for All,” a descendant-centered program at four National Trust Historic Sites in Virginia. This program marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence looks to reflect the central promise, that “all people are created equal.”

The events at Woodlawn, Belle Grove Plantation, Oatlands, and Montpelier will be begin on Juneteenth, followed by a July signature event at Oatlands, culminating with a series of events in the fall.

The Minute Man: Examining Patriotism, Victory and Loss at Chesterwood (Stockbridge, Massachusetts)

The Minute Man at Chesterwood

Chesterwood presents The Minute Man: Examining Patriotism, Victory, and Loss. Presented in the galleries of French’s recently renovated residence, the exhibition commemorates the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, bringing together works by French and his colleagues that celebrate notable Americans and address themes of loyalty, freedom, triumph, and grief.