America 250
Celebrating the Nation's Semiquincentennial in 2026
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Watch this national coverage on CBS Saturday Morning to hear our CEO David Brigham discuss HSP's importance to the Semiquincentennial.​​
Exhibits
The Changing Faces of Independence
Pennsylvania in the 1800s, On view January 22 to April 24, 2026
Pennsylvania in the 1900s, On view October 1, 2026 to January 8, 2027
How has the make-up of who is an American changed since the American Revolution? How have the people in that changing face of America continuously re-invigorated and re-asserted the founding ideals of the country?
By examining the documents left by our ancestors in the time leading to America’s 100th and 200th birthdays, these two displays will ask those questions of their descendants. These two exhibits draw on collections at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and they will be curated in partnership with ethnic and genealogical societies that seek to connect Americans to their ancestors through research, programs, and networking opportunities.
Related Programming
A Century of Black History Commemoration
February 22, 2026 | 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
In Partnership with ASALH ​​
Cheers to McGillin’s on National Beer Day
April 7, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 and Zoom
In Partnership with McGillin's Olde Ale House
The Changing Faces of Independence program is made possible through a grant from the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, a fund of the National Philanthropic Trust. Additional ​support for these exhibits and related programming is provided by the Lily Foundation.
Paths to Independence, 1765-1787
On view May 7, 2026 to September 18, 2026
In 1763, following the French and Indian War, most American colonists cherished their place in the British Empire and expressed loyalty to King George III. Yet by 1776, many of those same colonists were ready to declare independence, denouncing the king as a “Royal Brute.” Paths to Independence explores how such a dramatic transformation in political allegiance and public sentiment occurred in just over a decade. ​
Featuring rare original documents from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania’s collections—including letters, pamphlets, broadsides, prints, and drafts of the Articles of Confederation and the U.S. Constitution—the display traces the complex path to American independence. It highlights not only the perspectives of well-known figures such as Benjamin Franklin, John Dickinson, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and James Wilson, but also the experiences and evolving views of ordinary Philadelphians.
Related Programming
July 1776: The Contentious Vote for Independence
March 18, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 and Zoom
Speaker: Richard Vague, businessperson and author of The Banker Who Made America
1774 And All That: Paths To Independence
May 7, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 and Zoom
Speaker: Mary Beth Norton, historian
Paths To Independence has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
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Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibit and related programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Artists in the Archives
Programming and Activations
Artists in the Archives brings historians and artists into conversation around HSP’s collections, exploring how creative practice reshapes archival research. Audiences gain an inside look at how history is interpreted, transformed, and made meaningful through both art and scholarship.
Philadelphia: An Early American Dance City
January 14, 2026 | 6:30 p.m. | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107 and Zoom
Speaker: Lynn Matluck Brooks, author of Theaters of the Body: Dance and Discourse in Antebellum Philadelphia
Radical Americana
January 22 – April 24 | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
Artist: Santé Johnson, textile artist
The Basil Biggs Project Talkback
First Week of June | Time TBD | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
Speaker: Anna Deavere Smith, actress and playwright
In partnership with ArtPhilly’s What Now: 2026 Festival
Writing the Civil War: From State Power to Personal Identity
Occurred on December 16, 2025
Speakers: Philip Gould, author of War Power: Literature and the State in the Civil War North and David Wright Faladé, author of Black Cloud Rising
Educational Offerings
Serving Teachers and Students
Doers of Democracy: Artists, Writers, and Community Voices teacher workshop
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January 28, 2026 | 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. | 1300 Locust St., Philadelphia, PA 19107
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March 21, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. | onsite at the Rosenbach Museum & Library
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May 2, 2026 | 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. | onsite at the Philadelphia Art Museum​
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National History Day Philadelphia
March 12, 2026 | National Constitution Center
Project viewing: 9:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | Awards Ceremony: 1:00 p.m.