America 250 Resources

from the State Library of North Carolina, Government and Heritage Library, December 2023

What is America 250?

In 2026, the United States will celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The anniversary will also celebrate the foundation of a new country, as well as themes from the Declaration like “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This NCpedia page serves as a landing page for information and resources related to the America 250 (A250) celebration in North Carolina. 

For more information about the concept of America 250 in North Carolina, please visit the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources webpage, "What is America 250 NC?" The site is available at https://www.america250.nc.gov/about/what-america-250-nc.

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Concepts, Themes, and Resources for North Carolina's America 250 Celebration

Concepts

Resources for America 250 in North Carolina are related to two broad concepts.

1. ​Revolutionary N.C. (RevNC) 
   • ​​This concept captures the historical events of the Revolutionary War in North Carolina.
2. When Are We Us? (WAWU)
   • This concept serves as an exploration of the ideas of freedom, civic responsibility, overcoming challenges, and change while also illustrating ideas of a democracy.

Themes

There are also different themes within these concepts that help explore North Carolina's story and history. 

1. Visions of Freedom (VoF): "The American Revolution was a beginning of a continual journey for North Carolinians to seek true freedom."
   • This theme explores people and movements in North Carolina that sought freedom throughout the state's history. The ideas and historical subjects grouped under this theme include:
     • Post Civil War Reconstruction
     • The Halifax Resolves
     • The story of the social and legal rights of American Indian people
     • The Civil Rights movement
     • The story of the social and legal rights of LGBTQIA+ people
     • History of labor and labor movements
     • The story of the social and legal rights of disabled people and accessible services in our state. 
2. Gathering of Voices (GoV): "North Carolina’s many voices inspire future generations to create and lead."
   • This theme explores how the perspectives of many different types of people have shaped North Carolina. The ideas and historical subjects grouped under this theme include:
     • The history of immigration in North Carolina
     • The stories of women, families, and children
     • The story of the Regulator Movement
     • Westward expansion and growth of the state
     • The history of protests and counter-protests in North Carolina
     • The experience and stories of American Indian people
     • The experience and stories of Latino people
     • The experience and stories of Black people
     • The experience and stories of LGBTQ+ people
     • The experience and stories of disabled people
3. Common Ground (CG): "Places carry our stories of struggle, creation, and connection to one another."
   • This theme explores how historic places carry the story of our history. The ideas and historical subjects grouped under this theme include:
     • The history and development of state parks in North Carolina
     • The history of naturalization in North Carolina
     • The history of our state's voting rights
     • The history of drafts and military service in North Carolina
     • The history of agriculture

 Resources

Coming soon!