A Milestone 250 Years in the Making
2026 is the semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary, of the Declaration of Independence.
When representatives from the original 13 colonies signed the document on July 4, 1776, they declared their independence and severed ties to the British crown, changing the course of human history.
When the U.S. Constitution was ratified in 1789, this nation was established as a representative democracy in which citizens elect officials to make decisions on their behalf and to represent their constituents' interests and opinions. As President Abraham Lincoln said in his Gettysburg address, the United States established “a government of the people, by the people, for the people.”
The McLean County Museum of History is marking this historic milestone with a series of programming and content designed to explore the historical context of the declaration, examine its influence on our lives, and gather in community to think about what we, the people, want the next 250 years to look like.
Democracy Dialogues
In collaboration with our community partners, we’re hosting five events to facilitate intergenerational dialogue about American Democracy.
With the exception of our kick off event, each discussion will begin with a short presentation on the historical context of each phrase and why it was included in the Declaration. Program participants will then break into facilitated small group discussions to reflect on:
What do these founding principles mean to you?
How have things changed in our society since 1776?
How have these principles been upheld?
What impact do they still have on our nation today?
At the end of each discussion, participants will be given information on how to get more involved in our community and become more civically engaged.
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood will kick off our “Democracy Dialogues” series on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 7 p.m. in Illinois State University’s Braden Auditorium at the Bone Student Center.
This free, all-ages-welcome event is hosted by the McLean County Museum of History in collaboration with Illinois State University, WGLT, the Dirksen Congressional Center, and other community partners. It will set the tone for four forthcoming Democracy Dialogue events throughout the community in 2026. Please visit mchistory.org/250 for more information on the series.
Drawing on decades of public service and working “across the aisle,” Senator Durbin and Secretary LaHood will explore the nation’s founding ideals, how those principles have shaped our history, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
The questions asked of these seasoned statesmen will be generated from community submissions and curated by event organizers. Be part of the dialogue by submitting your questions no later than February 6. Click here to submit your questions.
Additional Event Information:
Registration is not required for attendance.
Doors open at 6 p.m. The program will begin promptly at 7 p.m.
Security screening may cause delays. A 6:30 p.m. arrival is recommended for appropriate time to find parking, screening, and selecting a seat in the auditorium.
Free parking is available in the Bone Student Center lot, accessible from Locust St.
If you need a special accommodation to fully participate in this event, contact Presidential and Trustee Events at (309) 438-8790 or UniversityEvents@IllinoisState.edu. Please allow sufficient time to arrange accommodations.
This event is open to members of the media, and a mult box will be provided. Advance registration is required. Click here to register online by February 17 at 10 a.m. Please email MediaRelations@IllinoisState.edu with questions.
Event questions? Click here to contact us.
This event will focus on the phrase "Life and Liberty." Dr. Matthijs Tieleman, Assistant Professor of History at Illinois State University, will kick off the event.
We will meet in the courtroom, located on the second floor of the Museum.
Registration is encouraged but not required to participate. Please visit https://bit.ly/Democracy1776 to register.
Questions? Click here to contact us.
This is the second discussion of the series and will focus on the "Pursuit of Happiness." The historical context will be provided by Erik Rankin, Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University and President and CEO of the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation.
We will meet at the YMCA located at 202 St. Joseph Dr. in Bloomington.
Registration is encouraged but not required to participate. Please visit https://bit.ly/Democracy1776 to register.
Questions? Please contact us by clicking here.
This event will focus on the phrase "All Men Are Created Equal." Dr. Meghan Leonard, Associated Professor and Associate Chair of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, will present the historical context for this session.
We will meet in the Community Commons Building rooms 1406-1407 at Heartland Community College (1500 W. Raab Rd. Normal, IL).
Registration is encouraged but not required to participate. Please visit https://bit.ly/Democracy1776 to register.
The forth and final installment of our Democracy Dialogues series will explore the phrase "Consent of the Governed." Dr. Robert Bradley, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, will present the historical context for this session.
We will meet at the YWCA McLean County, located at 1201 N. Hershey Rd. in Bloomington.
Registration is encouraged but not required to participate. Please visit https://bit.ly/Democracy1776 to register.
Questions? Please contact us by clicking here.
These dynamic sessions wouldn’t be possible without the support of our community partners:
Illinois State University & ISU’s Center for Civic Engagement
The Dirksen Congressional Center
Not in our Town B-N
Prairie Pride Coalition
YWCA McLean County
Bloomington-Normal YMCA
Heartland Community College
NAACP
League of Women Voters of McLean County
Engaging the Power of the People and the Arts
Communities around the country are marking this milestone in various ways – ours is leaning into the power of the arts. We’re collaborating with the McLean County Arts Center and other community partners to host free art-making workshops and an exhibit highlighting artworks from local artists of all ages and experience levels.
A More Perfect Union: A Community Exhibition Commemorating America 250 will open with a reception at the McLean County Arts Center on Friday, June 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Artists across McLean County can submit their work now through May 30, 2026, via mcac.org. All artwork should relate to one of the following four themes:
Who is considered “American” – and who gets to decide?
Beyond the American Revolution of 1776, what are other revolutionary moments in the histories of our country, our state, and our communities?
What is the relationship between history and memory? How does what we choose to remember shape the narrative of what we understand to be U.S. American identity/legacy over time?
How did/does the natural environment shape historical events, including settlement and migration, imperialism and expansion, and economic development and innovation? How did/do those events, in turn, affect the environment and the lands we inhabit?
These themes are inspired by America 250 materials produced by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).
Not sure where to start? Come to one of our free community workshops!
In this drop-in, 2-hour workshop, 3rd through 5th graders will engage in the process of creating a more perfect union through original artworks that explore and express big ideas about our shared and individual histories as Americans.
This workshop is free, and all materials will be provided. We will meet in Bloomington Public Library’s Children’s Program Room 1, located on the lower level of the library.
Questions about this event? Please click here to contact us.
In this free, drop-in workshop, artists of all ages will engage in the process of creating a more perfect union through original artworks that explore and express big ideas about our shared and individual histories as Americans.
This workshop is free, and all materials will be provided. We will meet at the McLean County Arts Center, located at 601 N. East St. in Bloomington.
Questions about this event? Please contact the MCAC via email at info@mcac.org or over the phone at 309-829-0011.
In this drop-in, 2-hour workshop, young artists (third grade and up), as well as their adults, will engage in the process of creating a more perfect union through original artworks that explore and express big ideas about our shared and individual histories as Americans.
This workshop is free, and all materials will be provided. We will meet at the Danvers Public Library, located at 117 E. Exchange St. in Danvers, Illinois.
Questions about this event? Please click here to contact us.
In this drop-in, 2-hour workshop at Normal Public Library, teens and adults will engage in the process of creating a more perfect union through original artworks that explore and express big ideas about our shared and individual histories as Americans.
This workshop is free, and all materials will be provided. Please visit normalpl.org for more information.
Questions? Please click here to contact us.
Kiddos ages five and up, as well as their grownups, are encouraged to drop by to create a mixed-media artwork inspired by the symbolism of the American flag. Using guided prompts, artists will choose stars, stripes, colors, and textures that represent their own identity, experiences, and connections — transforming a familiar symbol into a personal story. This workshop celebrates the many voices that come together to form a more perfect union. All materials will be provided.
This workshop will take place at Illinois Art Station, located at 101 E. Vernon Ave. in Normal.
Pre-registration is required for this workshop. Please click here to register. Questions? Email ias@normal.org
Kiddos ages five and up, as well as their grownups, are encouraged to drop by to create a mixed-media artwork inspired by the symbolism of the American flag. Using guided prompts, artists will choose stars, stripes, colors, and textures that represent their own identity, experiences, and connections — transforming a familiar symbol into a personal story. This workshop celebrates the many voices that come together to form a more perfect union. All materials will be provided.
This workshop will take place at Illinois Art Station, located at 101 E. Vernon Ave. in Normal.
Pre-registration is required for this workshop. Please click here to register. Questions? Email ias@normal.org
Completed art pieces from these workshops may be showcased in the A More Perfect Union: A Community Exhibition Commemorating America 250 exhibition at the McLean County Arts Center in June and July 2026. It is not expected that artworks will be completed within the workshop. Questions? Click here to contact us.
Resources
Want to dive deeper? Check out some of these incredible resources compiled from our friends and partners across the country.