The New York Historical Shares Messages of Hope from the Nationwide “On Our 250th” Campaign Ahead of Independence Day

Image Courtesy of New York Historical

Special Programs Include In-Person Message Posting, July 4th Sing-Alongs, and Kid-Centric Events Inspired by the Current Exhibition Dining in Transit, With Free Admissions for Kids 17 and Under

With the 250th anniversary of the United States now only a year away, The New York Historical is sharing messages of national hope and encouragement from the digital campaign On Our 250th, which invites individuals from across the country to post their personal wishes for America’s future. Launched online by The New York Historical in April 2025 in partnership with history museums and historic sites throughout the United States, On Our 250th has already received messages from people in 37 states, as well as Washington, DC and US territories.

From July 1 through July 6, 2025, The Historical will celebrate Independence Day by putting up a message wall at its entrance, inviting visitors to express their birthday wishes for America by writing and sharing them on sticky notes.

“It’s incredibly moving to see Americans from all walks of life sharing their hopes and dreams for our democracy,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO, The New York Historical. “We feel honored that The New York Historical can amplify these voices through On Our 250th. Our institution was founded by veterans of the American Revolution and has always held to the belief that by understanding those who came before us, we help ensure that democracy endures and thrives for those to come. That’s why it’s so important to create this space where we can together reflect on our visions for our nation’s future.”

Individuals have voiced a wide spectrum of birthday wishes for the United States on the onour250th.org website so far:

• I wish for equality. There’s so much discrimination that goes on in our country, and it’s really sad. Women, immigrants, Black people, and so many other minorities get less opportunities. The world can never be truly equal, but we could try for it. – Bridget, NJ
• My wish is for the USA to return to its original vision as a truly federal republic limited to protecting the natural rights of citizens and not “helping” special favored classes. The size, cost, and scope of the national government is far too great. – Richard, VA
• I hope for a more compassionate, generous, and loving America. I envision a country where there is no vast wealth disparity, no children going hungry, or working people living in their cars. – Virginia, NC

As these online wishes continue, and in-person posting takes place in the days leading up to and after Independence Day, The Historical will celebrate with special programs for visitors. On Friday, July 4, the Museum will be open with free admission for children age 17 and under, and pay-as-you-wish admission for everyon from 5 pm to 8 pm. The DiMenna Children’s History Museum will present a half-day of family friendly activities inspired by the current exhibition Dining in Transit, which showcases the innovative ways ocean liners, trains, and airplanes catered to passengers’ appetites and expectations during the first half of the 20th century. From 11 am to 2 pm, visitors will be able to hand-crank ice cream and taste flavors from the recipes of a Pullman Company chef while munching on historic Saratoga potato chips. Historical interpreters portraying Pullman porters will discuss the foods they would have served on the trains. The Historical will also host July 4th Sing-Alongs in the Barbara K. Lipman Children’s History Library at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm.

Beginning in fall 2025, The Historical will launch a wide-ranging suite of exhibitions and public programs, beginning with a major presentation of Revolutionary-era documents from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection. Other exhibitions will explore themes including immigration, the contributions of women to the American Revolution, and how New York marked the nation’s bicentennial.

In early summer 2026, The New York Historical will also celebrate the grand opening of its new Tang Wing for American Democracy.

The Tang Wing for American Democracy
The Tang Wing for American Democracy, dedicated to exhibitions and programming on democracy, opens in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary. The Tang Wing for American Democracy will house the Academy for American Democracy, the Dorothy Tapper Goldman Center for Teaching Democracy, new gallery spaces and classrooms, a conservation studio, and the first home of the American LGBTQ+ Museum (opening at a later date). The new wing will also be the home of The New York Historical’s MA in Museum Studies program, a trailblazing initiative founded in 2019 with the CUNY School of Professional Studies, and a renovated library stack storage tower for the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, which holds more than 10 million items, including rare copies of our nation’s foundational documents.

About The New York Historical 
New York’s first museum, The New York Historical is a leading cultural institution covering over 400 years of American history. Our offerings span groundbreaking exhibitions; peerless collections of art, documents, and artifacts; acclaimed educational programs for teachers and students nationwide; and thought-provoking conversations among leading scholars, journalists, and thinkers about the past, present, and future of the American experiment. The New York Historical is a museum of museums and a collection of collections. We are home to the Patricia D. Klingenstein Library, the Center for Women’s History, the DiMenna Children’s History Museum, and the future American LGBTQ+ Museum. We elevate the perspectives and scholarship that define the United States’ democratic heritage and challenge us all to shape our ongoing history for the better. Connect with us at nyhistory.org or at @nyhistory on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Tumblr.