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On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead to the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond. Learn more below about what Humanities Texas has planned to mark this historic occasion.

Teacher Professional Development Programs

This spring, Humanities Texas will continue its series of teacher professional development webinars on the American Revolution and its outcomes. Upcoming programs include:

"The American Revolutionary War: Part I" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:15 p.m. CT on January 27, 2026. Part 1 will examine the Revolutionary War from its beginnings in 1775 through the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, showing how fighting an international war fundamentally shaped the character of the American Revolution in its first years.

"The American Revolutionary War: Part II" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:15 p.m. CT on February 10, 2026. Part 2 will examine the Revolutionary War from American and global perspectives, from late 1777, following the Battle of Saratoga, through its conclusion in 1784.

"America After the American Revolution" will take place on Zoom from 5:00–6:15 p.m. CT on March 30, 2026. This concluding session of the America250 series will explore the immediate impact and long-term legacies of the American Revolution both in the United States and abroad.

This summer, Humanities Texas will offer a four-day residential institute for teachers focused on themes related to the U.S. semiquincentennial. Participating teachers will work closely with prominent scholars, exploring such topics as life in the American colonies before the Revolution; the imperial crisis; the Declaration of Independence; the events of the American Revolution; the experiences of women, African Americans, and Native Americans during the era; international perspectives on the war; the Articles of Confederation and the crisis of the 1780s; the Constitutional Convention of 1787; and the legacies of the American Revolution. Registration for this institute will open in April.

Upcoming Public Programs in Houston and San Marcos

By the People: Conversations Beyond 250—an initiative of the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage—is a series of community-driven programs taking place across the U.S. to celebrate 250 years of the nation's cultural life and imagine its shared future. Each program will be locally produced by a humanities council with community partners and featured on a multimedia story map produced by the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Humanities Texas will partner with Asia Society Texas Center in Houston and The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University in San Marcos to hold By the People programs that demonstrate the creative vitality of Texas and explore how mainstream U.S. culture both shapes and is shaped by diverse global traditions.

New Traveling Exhibition on the Declaration of Independence

Humanities Texas is partnering with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (GLI) to produce and circulate a new traveling exhibition tentatively titled The Long Struggle for Equality: The Declaration of Independence at 250. Themes explored in the exhibition include the ideals of the Enlightenment and their influence on the Founding Fathers, the imperial crisis between Britain and the colonies, and the domestic and global legacies of the Declaration of Independence. Check back soon for updates!

Grants for America250 Projects in Your Community

Humanities Texas grants enable organizations across the state to develop America250 programs of local interest that promote history, culture, and education. Eligible programs can take many different formats, including book discussions, public lectures, film screenings, living history, media productions, oral history, and workshops. All funded programs must be firmly grounded in the humanities and directed to the public. Visit the Grants section of our website to learn more.

In March, Humanities Texas is partnering with the Smithsonian Institution to host a convening in Amarillo for organizations serving rural Panhandle communities. Representatives from the Smithsonian, Humanities Texas, Texas Rural Funders, the Texas Historical Commission, and the Texas Historical Foundation will present funding opportunities and other resources. The Smithsonian will also connect participants with resources to celebrate America250 through the creation of local history and culture programs. For more information, please contact Director of Grants Marco Buentello at marco@humanitiestexas.org.

America250 is a nonpartisan, nationwide initiative to commemorate the United States Semiquincentennial.
The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 by John Trumbull, 1818. Architect of the Capitol.
Denver Brunsman (George Washington University) leads an afternoon seminar at a "Founding a New Nation" institute in Austin.
By the People was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Programs coordinated by fifty-one participating humanities councils will take place from January to August 2026.
Humanities Texas is partnering with the Gilder Lehrman Institute to circulate a new traveling exhibition on the Declaration of Independence during the semiquincentennial and beyond.
A Joint Resolution of the 87th Texas Legislature established the Texas America250 Commission to help celebrate the semiquincentennial of the United States. Events that encourage celebration, reflection, and commemoration are being encouraged and planned at local and statewide levels.