Civic Season

From Colony To Country: Defining Liberty in the Summer of 1775
2025-07-27 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Watermen’s Museum, 309 Water St, Yorktown, VA, 23690, United States
Step back in time for a Revolutionary drama set in the summer of 1775. Watch as Lewis Burwell of Fairfield visits John Page at Rosewell to ponder weighty decisions. Listen as their wives and people enslaved by the families discuss their options and the impact of the looming storm on them. Join us for this historic event about Gloucester County’s role in the Revolution across the York River. After the play, we will host a Q&A with the actors and staff of Fairfield, showcase exhibits of Rosewell’s history, and enjoy outreach activities.

Hamiltruth or Hamilfiction: Alexander Hamilton Trivia
2025-07-26 14:00 - 15:00 UTC | Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N LABURNUM AVE, Henrico, VA, 23223, United States
Do you know your Hamiltruths from your Hamilfictions? Find out in our new trivia game where we will test your knowledge of the hit musical versus the real life of Alexander Hamilton.
Be sure to check out the travelling exhibit, Founding Frenemies: Hamilton and the Virginians while you’re here. Information: sch107@henrico.gov
Event Detail

Pearl Meets Tyrone Nelson
2025-07-25 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Meadow Farm Museum, 3400 Mountain Road, Glen Allen, VA, 23060, United States
Puppet Pearl the sheep wants to know more about local government. Tyrone Nelson, the supervisor for the Varina Magisterial District, will read a story and talk about what the board of supervisors does, what being a member of the board is like, and answer questions from the audience. Information: sch107@henrico.gov

Woodland Cemetery Walking Tour: Remembrance and Recovery
2025-07-19 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Woodland Cemetery, 2300 MAGNOLIA RD, Henrico, VA, 23223, United States
This walking tour encompasses the final resting place of African Americans from Richmond, Henrico and surrounding areas. On the tour, we will highlight not only the many influential people who are at rest in Woodland’s sacred grounds but also the ongoing recovery efforts that have occurred in recent years. The tour will cover a large portion of the grounds so please dress accordingly. Information: sch107@henrico.gov

Ancestral Artistry: A Film Documentary
2025-07-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Kimball Theatre, 428 W Duke of Gloucester St, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, United States
Produced by the non-profit Louisiana Architecture Foundation (LAF), Ancestral Artistry: The Influence of Africans & Creoles of Color on Louisiana Architecture is a documentary that examines the rich architectural legacy that began 300 years ago with the arrival of enslaved Africans, skilled in the building trades, in French colonial Louisiana. The film focuses on these trades that, over the centuries, have produced the distinctive architectural forms that distinguish Louisiana’s built environments from other parts of the United States.
Often handed down within families through the generations, these construction trades—such as carpentry, masonry, iron smithing, and plaster work—have played a surprisingly large part in the history and culture of Louisiana’s Creoles of Color. The building trades in Louisiana have roots that reach back to both West African soil as well as European; so do the builders themselves. Unique from the majority of America, Louisiana fostered a large population of free, prosperous, mixed-race people. From the early 18th century on, the building trades continuously provided this community of free people of color with significant opportunities for wealth and social advancement—all during an era when precious few doors were open in America for anyone with African ancestors.
But Ancestral Artistry isn’t only about the past. The film weaves the stories and emphasizes the personal work of contemporary master craftsmen in New Orleans, Jeff Poree, Darryl Reeves, and the late Teddy Pierre. Ancestral Artistry shares the men’s hopes to preserve their fragile traditions and train apprentices who will succeed them.
Following the film is a panel discussion with Darryl Reeves, Karina Roca, and Jonn Hankins, with Kenneth Schwarz as moderator.
The Louisiana Architecture Foundation (LAF) works to advance Architecture in Louisiana by serving as a link between the public and the architectural profession. This linkage includes public awareness of architecture, public support for architecture, and public participation in processes that shape the environment. Visit www.louisianaarchitecture.org for more information.
Parking near Merchants Square is recommended. If you plan to park at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center, please check the bus schedule.

The Birth of Jim Crow
2025-07-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hillard Road, Henrico, VA, 23228, United States
In the wake of newly found freedom for African American came the birth of the insidious character known as “Jim Crow”. We explore the long history of Jim Crow and how a silent film emerged at the dawn of the 20th and the repercussions that still affect our world today. Be sure to check out the traveling exhibit Un/bound: Free Black Virginians 1619-1865 before or after the program. Information: sch107@henrico.gov

The Rise and Fall of the Fighting Editor Exhibit
2025-07-11 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hillard Road, Henrico, VA, 23228, United States
Born into slavery in Henrico County, John Mitchell, Jr. would become known as the fighting editor of the Richmond Planet newspaper confronting the violence and injustices of the Jim Crow South through his publication. Whether it was through the organizing of boycotts, the endless crusading against lynching laws, or public appearances to allow his persecutors to do their worst, Mitchell would not back down. Be sure to check out the travelling exhibit Un/bound: Free Black Virginians, 1619-1865 before or after the program. Information: sch107@henrico.gov

Design Your Stars and Stripes Flag
2025-07-10 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N Laburnum Avenue, Henrico, VA, 23223, United States
Let’s celebrate veterans by designing a patriotic mosaic flag. Give to a loved one who has bravely served in the armed forces. Information: cun04@henrico.gov

How to Research: Finding Your Revolutionary War Ancestors
2025-07-10 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Belmont Recreation Center, 1600 Hilliard Road, Henrico, VA, 23228, United States
Do you think you have ancestors who fought in or supported the American Revolutionary War? Learn how to successfully research and document the lineage and service of your ancestors. Information: den63@henrico.gov

Headquarters of a Revolution: The 250th Anniversary of Washington’s Arrival in Cambridge
2025-07-05 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
Explore the people, ideas, and questions that shaped General George Washington’s first revolutionary headquarters 250 years ago this July. Choose your path through this free, all-ages event featuring historic house and outdoor walking tours, family activities, talks by historians, living history, Cambridge Open Archives, a Story Walk, and more.
The house at 105 Brattle Street, now Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site, served as Washington’s first military headquarters of the American Revolution from July 1775-March 1776. Headquarters was a testing ground for many of the ideals, institutions, and questions that still define our country. This event will reveal Cambridge Headquarters as a complex hub of revolutionary activity, where generals, enslaved people, paid laborers, poets, Indigenous diplomats, politicians, self-emancipated families, and soldiers shaped history.

Stars, Stripes, and Stories
2025-07-04 13:00 - 2025-07-05 16:00 (America/New_York) | Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, 20 N Coalter St, Staunton, VA, 24401-4332, United States
Following the Fourth of July Parade in Gypsy Hill Park, commemorate Independence Day and celebrate the last day of Civic Season at the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library with special activities! Learn about the history of Uncle Sam and other American symbols that were popular in WWI, and design your own poster or button!
Activities are included in museum general admission.

July 4th Strawberry Shortcake Social
2025-07-04 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | the historic Sherry-Butt House museum, 795 N. Main St., Viroqua, WI, 54665, United States
Hope to see you on Friday, July 4, at the Vernon County Historical Society’s annual Strawberry Shortcake Social! The party will be held from 1 to 5PM at the historic Sherry-Butt House museum, located at 795 N. Main St. in Viroqua.
Tickets for the event cost $6 each and are available for purchase that day only. Your ticket buys you homemade shortcake served with strawberries and frozen vanilla custard, and also coffee or lemonade. The food is served outside on the beautiful lawn, amid the flower gardens. (Take-outs also available.)
Also included with ticket purchase is musical entertainment on the lawn, and admission to the house for a tour. This year’s musical acts will include the Viroqua Community band, which always pleases the crowd with patriotic pieces. Music begins at 1PM.
Step into a piece of Viroqua history when you take a self-guided tour of the house. Built for the Cyrus and Margaret Butt family shortly after the Civil War, the home was later purchased by Orbec and Hilda Sherry in the 1940’s. It features furnishings from both families, plus Civil War memorabilia. Docents will be on hand on July 4 to answer questions about the house.

Fourth of July Festival
2025-07-04 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St., Princeton, NJ, 08540, United States
Join us for our annual Fourth of July Festival! This is a free public event featuring activities at Morven Museum & Garden and the Princeton Battlefield State Park.
In 1783, Morven hosted Congressional delegates celebrating Independence Day. 240 years later, the museum continues this tradition, utilizing our role as the home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and as New Jersey’s first Governor’s mansion to engage the public in activities that explore and reflect on our full history and what it means to be an active citizen.
Visit two historic sites in one day!
Stop by Morven any time between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. for activities and artmaking with community partners; garden tours; face painting; music from the Vintage Vibe Tribe; food trucks; a chance to sign the Declaration of Independence; and more. The museum will be open with half-price admission.
A short distance away, check out the Princeton Battlefield State Park where you can visit the historic Clarke House and hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence by Will Krakower, Resource Interpretive Specialist with the NJDEP, at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Clarke House is open free of charge.

Independence Day Picnic
2025-07-04 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Liberty Hall Gardens, 202 Wilkinson St, Frankfort, KY, 40601, United States
Free Event! Kick off your 4th of July celebrations at Liberty Hall Historic Site! Join the community from 12-3 for a picnic in the gardens with lawn games, live music, and fun for the whole family. Games will be provided by Liberty Hall, but guests should bring their own seating. Music will be performed by The Swells.

Dissenting Voices
2025-07-04 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Conner Prairie Museum, United States
Dissenting Voices returns as Richard Thatcher and Helen Keller showcase criticism of America through the lens of social justice and Civil Rights. Showtimes are at 12 PM and 3:00 PM
*This event will reoccur on July 5th & 6th with showcases at 12 PM and 3:00 PM

Glorious 4th
2025-07-04 10:00 - 2025-07-05 10:00 (America/New_York) | Conner Prairie Museum, United States
July 4th is a time to celebrate the country’s autonomy as the citizens of Prairietown come together to celebrate 60 years of American independence. However, independence and freedom are contested ideas. Through our Dissenting Voices program, experience how history challenges the question of freedom in America with a focus on the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s. Through passionate speeches and debates, experience how history shapes today’s idea of independence.
*This event also takes place on July 5th & 6th during daily museum hours (10 am – 5 pm)

Independence Day Celebration
2025-07-04 10:00 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, 401 Meadowcroft Road, Avella, PA, 15312, United States
Join Meadowcroft for an Independence Day celebration!
Step into the past and experience the roots of American history with a day full of festive fun at Meadowcroft’s 18th-century frontier trading post and 19th-century rural village. Enjoy hands-on historical demonstrations, try your hand at traditional games, and discover how early Americans lived, worked, and celebrated.
Make it a Fourth of July to remember with family, friends, and timeless traditions. Don’t forget to explore the Meadowcroft Rockshelter—one of North America’s oldest known sites of human habitation—for a truly one-of-a-kind journey through the ages.
This program is part of the Heinz History Center’s America 101 initiative.

Free Independence Day at Locust Grove
2025-07-04 10:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Historic Locust Grove, 561 Blankenbaker Ln, Louisville, KY, 40207, United States
Celebrate Independence Day and Civic Season in Kentucky this July 4th!
As a Made By Us Civic Season partner, we’re diving into the many meanings of independence. How did different people across time view freedom, and what did it mean to them?
Explore what it means to be an active citizen and how to make a difference in your community through exciting activities and interactive discussions. Delve into the meaning of independence while reflecting on the history of the Revolutionary War and enslavement at our historic site. Engage with our community partners, enjoy family activities, and learn about the meaning of civic engagement together at Locust Grove.

Frederick Douglass Community Reading at Stagville
2025-07-04 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Historic Stagville State Historic Site – Horton Grove, 5925 Jock Road , Bahama, NC, 27503, United States
Commemorate Independence Day with a reading of Frederick Douglass’ powerful Fourth of July address, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July” at Historic Stagville State Historic Site.
This is a participatory community reading. Every year, 60 volunteers sign up to read passages from this famous abolitionist speech in front of the historic slave quarters at Horton Grove. You may sign up as a reader when you arrive.
Douglass delivered this powerful speech about freedom and injustice on July 5, 1852, at an Independence Day celebration in Rochester, New York. Douglass’ speech remains one of the most famous abolitionist texts in United States history. The speech resonates today, inviting all to reflect on the United States’ founding ideals and our shared history of slavery and freedom.
Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the grounds. The event will be outdoors at the historic slave quarters at Horton Grove at 5925 Jock Road, Bahama, NC 27503. This free event lasts about 1 hour, with the option to go inside the original slave quarters or Great Barn at Horton Grove afterwards.

July 4 Naturalization Ceremony with Ken Burns
2025-07-04 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Monticello, 1050 Monticello Loop, Charlottesville, VA, 22902, United States
Celebrate July 4th at Monticello, the home of the author of the Declaration of Independence! For over 60 years on July 4th, Monticello’s West Lawn has transformed into an outdoor courtroom, where dozens of new citizens take the Oath of Citizenship to become Americans.
Join Monticello as we mark the 249th anniversary of the country with award-winning filmmaker Ken Burns as our keynote speaker. This one-of-a-kind event is free and features a morning filled with family activities, patriotic music, festive food options, and community partners showcasing their work.

Self-guided Special Exhibits AT Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites
2025-07-04 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Kreische Brewery & Monument Hill State Historic Sites, 414 State Loop 92, La Grange, TX, 78945, United States
Join us in La Grange, Texas for “Ich bin ein Amerikaner”: a look into Independence Day celebrations on the Bluff over the years!
Explore self-guided special exhibits highlighting how the Bluff Schuetzenverein, a German-Texan marksmanship and social club, celebrated the 4th of July in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bring your own picnic & take in the natural and historic scenery.
Then, continue the festivities from 10am-3pm on July 5th & 6th with living history demonstrations, a laser shooting range, ice cream making, historic games, & a flag-making craft.
Regular admission rates apply – $5 Adults, $2 Students, $3 Seniors, Free for 6 & Under.

Did You Know? History Game Show
2025-07-03 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Hennage Auditorium in the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg, 301 S Nassau St, Williamsburg, VA, 23185, United States
Come on down to the Hennage Auditorium for some game show action to test your knowledge of history. Expand your mind! Impress your friends! Win a prize! Featuring special guest Thomas Jefferson.

Slice of History: Pizza and Trivia in Tampa
2025-07-03 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Water St., Tampa, FL, 33602, United States
Mark your calendars for July 3, 6-8 p.m., because the History Center’s Crow’s Nest is daring to blend free pizza with, wait for it… history. Once you’re stuffed, stagger over to the “Invisible Immigrants” exhibit. You’ll marvel at artifacts and trivia that will have you saying, “wait, that actually happened?”—as if pizza wasn’t thrilling enough. Slice of History is for young adults 18-30 seeking enlightenment (or just free food). Admission’s free, but sign up first. Bring cash for drinks; apparently, history isn’t hydrating enough.

Summer Trips on Route 66
2025-07-03 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO, 63112, United States
Roll down the car windows, feel the summer air in your hair, and get your kicks on Route 66! Join us for a screening of the Emmy Award–winning 2016 MHS documentary “Show me 66: Main Street through Missouri.”

Location: Lee Auditorium and MacDermott Grand Hall | Museum
Date: Thursday, July 3, 2025
Time: 5:00pm–8:00pm

First Thursday: Women's Suffrage Exhibit
2025-07-03 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Historic Beverly, 39 Hale St., Beverly, MA, 01915, United States
Join Historic Beverly for a special First Fridays presentation featuring Votes for Women: A Portrait of Persistence, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit. Through powerful images and stories, this exhibit highlights the diverse leaders, movements, and milestones that shaped the fight for women’s suffrage. The evening includes a guided walkthrough of the exhibit, a short presentation on local and national suffrage history, and space for dialogue about the legacy and impact of this movement today.

Slice of History at Freedom Park
2025-07-03 11:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | North Carolina Freedom Park, 218 N Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC, 27601, United States
Join us for a tour of Freedom Park and an exclusive look at powerful primary sources at the State Archives and State Library of North Carolina as we explore the enduring struggle for freedom in our state. This event is hosted by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and America 250 NC and part of Civic Season’s ‘Slice of History’ event series organized by History Made by Us and Pizza to the Polls.

History on the Rocks: Cyclorama Spritz
2025-07-02 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Atlanta History Center, 130 W Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA, 30309, United States
On Wednesday, July 2 from 7-9 pm, join us at The Battle of Atlanta cyclorama for a special History on the Rocks! One of only two cycloramas in the entire United States, this 138-year-old, 49-foot-tall, 10,000-pound painting depicts the 1864 Battle of Atlanta in vivid detail. We’ll be hosting a Cyclorama scavenger hunt for the chance to win limited edition Atlanta History Center swag.

After-Hours Special Program: Explore the Siege of Boston at the Paul Revere
2025-07-02 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Paul Revere House, 19 North Square, Boston, MA, 02113, United States
After his midnight ride, Paul Revere couldn’t return to Boston. What became of his family as patriot forces besieged the city, trying to expel the British troops? In this program, you’ll look at the experiences of Revere’s daughter Sarah, helping her mother pack to flee the city, and his son Paul Jr., who was left behind to guard the house against marauding soldiers. The event is partly an after-hours tour with a look at historic documents, partly a field trip for adults, and partly an opportunity for discussion about how the American Revolution resonates through time.

Wednesday Nights: Independence & Incarceration
2025-07-02 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Consider the complex paradox of American freedom inside the walls of this prison-turned-historic-site. Listen to special readings of “The Declaration of Sentiments” and reflect on civil rights, mass incarceration, and social justice.
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About Wednesday Nights:
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site opens its gates this summer for Wednesday Nights! With a different theme each week, Wednesday Nights provide a fun and meaningful night out—combining history, culture, and entertainment in a one-of-a-kind setting. Enjoy immersive experiences, interactive events, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to one of Philadelphia’s most unique landmarks.
Take a curated, self-guided audio tour by scanning QR codes throughout the historic site. Engage with exhibits, art installations, and pop-up talks highlighting the history of Eastern State Penitentiary and the impact of the criminal justice system today. Sit for artist Mark Loughney, and add your portrait to his growing installation Pyrrhic Defeat. Reflect and connect in The Fair Chance Beer Garden—offering soft drinks, small-batch craft beer, wine, and cocktails—presented in partnership with Triple Bottom Brewing.

Civic Season Festival
2025-07-02 17:30 - 18:30 (America/Denver) | Wyoming State Museum, 2301 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY, 82001, United States
Join the Wyoming State Museum along with a collaborative of local and statewide organizations for a summertime celebration of who we are as a nation, how we got here, and where we want to go next.
On the main stage you’ll jam out to live music, learn about the U.S. Constitution from the next generation of Wyomingites, and listen to inspiring stories about civic engagement. Explore more than a dozen stations hosted by civic partners, grab food and drinks from local vendors, discover how your personal background and values give you the power to shape the future, and create your own lino print to commemorate it all. Cheyenne’s annual Civic Season Festival is all about gathering friends, having some fun, and amplifying our voices to create a Wyoming we’re all proud of.
