From the Executive Director

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we find ourselves not only celebrating a defining moment in our nation’s history, but also reflecting on the deeper, ongoing story of Pennsylvania.

I will admit that when we first started planning for 2026, I wondered if the anniversary would resonate with people. Would they care about an anniversary year that didn’t end in ’76? People stumbled over the word “Semiquincentennial.” In the history profession, we were coming off the national “history relevance” campaign, hoping that people would see more clearly the relevance of history to their lives today. That almost seems quaint now, at a time when there is a tug-of-war over stories and narratives like the President’s House in Philadelphia.

Our nation’s story — like any good story — has never been straightforward. Our anniversaries have always been complicated. At the time of the Centennial, we were still trying to stitch together a nation that had been divided by the Civil War. The Bicentennial came on the heels of the Vietnam War, again a time when our country was struggling to overcome deep rifts.

In 1776 Philadelphia stood at the center of a bold experiment — one that would shape the course of the world. Yet the story of our commonwealth did not begin or end there. For 250 years, Pennsylvania has been a place where diverse people, ideas and ambitions have converged to shape the American experience.

From the earliest Indigenous peoples who first stewarded this land, to the waves of immigrants who built its towns and industries, Pennsylvania’s history is one of many voices. Farmers, ironworkers, abolitionists, entrepreneurs and reformers all played a role in defining not only this state but also the nation itself. Their stories, sometimes celebrated and sometimes overlooked, remind us that the American journey has always been complex, layered and evolving.

Across Pennsylvania, commemorations, exhibitions and educational programs will bring new energy to familiar stories and highlight lesser-known ones, providing the opportunity to introduce new audiences to our shared past. Many of PHMC’s Pennsylvania Trails of History sites have strong ties to the American Revolution and will be offering related exhibitions, lectures, activities and other special events over this year and into the next to provide a deeper understanding of this significant period in our history and why it matters today.

As we mark the 250th anniversary, I hope you will participate in historical programs, visit historic places, and engage with the history that lives all around us, recognizing the role that each of us — ordinary Pennsylvanians — plays in shaping what comes next.

Andrea Lowery
Executive Director, PHMC