Civic Season

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.

Trivia Night at The National Constitution Center
2025-07-02 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19106, United States
Alert the group chat: It’s trivia night! Grab a bite, explore exhibits, and show off your trivia skills in the birthplace of American democracy. The National Constitution Center is  hosting a Taste of History Trivia Night. We’ll have free food, games, exhibit tours, and a trivia contest with prizes. PLUS snap a selfie with Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Alexander Hamilton to remember the night. The event will cap-off a festive day at the Center, as we join our partners across the Historic District in celebrating the second annual Red, White, & Blue To-do!
Join us at the National Constitution Center’s Kenneth C. Griffin Great Hall Overlook on July 2 from 5–7 p.m. for a night of food, friends, and of course, history.
Presented in partnership with Made by Us.

Civil War and Civil Rights
2025-07-02 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC, 20510, United States
Join us for a free three-part program:
First, watch a scene from a popular film about President Abraham Lincoln’s commitment to end slavery in the United States. We will discuss the political pressures of the time and reasons for amending the Constitution.
Then, examine a reproduction of the desk that was used when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law in 1965.
Last, take a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol featuring some of the Americans whose extraordinary actions changed the course of U.S. civil rights history.

Balancing Act: A Civic Challenge in LEGO
2025-07-02 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Morven Park, 17195 Southern Planter Lane, Leesburg, VA, 20176, United States
How do leaders make responsible decisions when faced with a range of different interests, ideas, concerns, and hopes? Using LEGO, you and your fellow County Commissioners will work as a team to make decisions affecting the constituents of your planned community, taking into consideration zoning, taxes, and citizen concerns. During the activity, you will learn more about how county governments collaborate to make decisions concerning economics and city planning.
Lesson will be held on July 2nd, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Coach House Complex (Stone Barn) in Morven Park.

Redistrict Pizza of the People, by the People, and for the People
2025-07-02 11:00 - 13:00 (America/Denver) | Office of Student Life, University Center, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, United States
“Redistricting of the people, by the people, and for the people”
Stop by the Student Life & Leadership Office at UCCS to explore how a pizza can be gerrymandered. Will you get to pick what toppings are on your pizza? Or do you have to submit to what the people in charge want to group on your slice?
* Learn about population distribution in Colorado
* Discuss the redistricting criteria for US House and State Legislative districts
* Consider how to divide a pizza – how do you define fairness?
Start the celebration of the Sesquisemiquincentennial (is that really a word – what does it mean?) in Colorado by thinking about with whom you are voting and how you are represented at the local, state, and national levels.
Thanks to Slice of History for supplying the pizza – come get a piece until it runs out.
Wednesday, 2 July 2025, 11 am to 1 pm

Researching the Revolution: A Portal to Philadelphia's Past
2025-07-02 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, United States
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania invites you to drop in on Tuesday, July 2, for Researching the Revolution: A Portal to Philadelphia’s Past.
Explore the Revolutionary City portal, a digital resource that showcases diverse stories of the American Revolution through the eyes of Philadelphia’s early residents. Stop by our archive throughout the day to attend live presentations of the portal by the American Philosophical Society. Plus, create Revolutionary-inspired art and take a behind-the-scenes vault tour of historical documents.
Head to 13th and Locust for a hands-on way to discover Philadelphia’s revolutionary roots and find your place in the story.
This free event is part of Red, White, & Blue To-Do.

Virtual Taste of History: Drink Through Teddy Roosevelt’s Life with Historical Cocktails and Mocktails
2025-07-01 19:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
We invite you to celebrate three big events in Theodore Roosevelt’s life that shaped his personal journey and growth by joining us for a virtual Taste of History evening event. While anyone can attend, we are especially highlighting events during TR’s younger years to encourage our Gen Z friends to join.
We don’t want to spill the beans (or the alcohol!) so you’ll have to tune in live to figure out what events and cocktails and mocktails we’re highlighting, but we do promise to send recipe cards ahead of time to all registered guests so you can make them live during the event.
We encourage you to invite your friends for this fun, social event drinking cocktails or mocktails and learning more about TR, his life, and even his own drinking habits—as well as reflecting on big events in your lives and the beverages you turn to today.

Civil Rights Talk: Mexican American Teachers and Educational Achievement
2025-07-01 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Chicago)
Join us for a virtual discussion about Mexican American teachers and Mexican American educational achievement between the 1920s and 1940s. What were the learning conditions for Mexican American teachers and students? How did they contest inequity in education? This virtual talk will feature education historians Gonzalo Guzmán, Philis M. Barragán Goetz, and Laura K. Muñoz.
This virtual talk will stream live on Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, at 6 PM CT on Facebook at https://bit.ly/FB-MACRI and YouTube at https://bit.ly/YT-MACRI.
RSVP at https://www.somosmacri.org/event-details/macri-talk-mexican-american-teachers-and-educational-achievement to receive a reminder for the talk!

Slice of History at Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives
2025-07-01 16:30 - 18:30 (Pacific/Honolulu) | Hawaii Mission Houses Historic Site & Archives, 553 S King St, Honolulu, HI, 96813, United States
What if I told you history could be served with a FREE slice of pizza?
Get ready for A Slice of History, where we bring together food, friends, and the stories that didn’t make it into your textbooks!
Civic Season unites our oldest federal holiday, July 4th, with our newest: June 19th. It’s a time for millions of Americans nationwide to meet up and remember the ideals that each generation has worked to bring to life: freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity. Join us and learn about our past in order to better shape out future!
At Hawaiian Mission Houses we’re celebrating by:
Highlighting the history of the upcoming unofficially holiday of July 31st, Sovereignty Restoration Day (Lā Hoʻihoʻi Ea)
Offering a free tour focusing on the role of missionaries in the government of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi
A hands on activity that shows you what it’s like to be a historian doing archival research!
Having some PIZZA, of course!

Fabric for the Future: The Art of Voting
2025-07-01 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House, 17 Madison Street, Rochester, NY, 14608, United States
Fabric for the Future: The Art of Voting celebrates Susan B. Anthony’s commitment to civic engagement and voting rights. The Monroe County Board of Elections will demo the new voting machines and will partner with the Anthony Museum for a voter registration pop-up. The Anthony Museum will also display a specially curated selection of quilt squares from its 2020 Quilt Project, which was a collaborative public art project to honor women’s history and celebrate the Centennial Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Over 325 quilt squares were submitted by people from people all over the United States and Canada. Each block represents a theme significant to the artist, with a focus on the people, places, and events related to the woman’s suffrage movement or the unfinished business of securing equal rights for all. We hope to see you there!

How Women Won the Right to Vote
2025-07-01 11:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York) | U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC, 20510, United States
Join us for a free two-part program:
First, watch a documentary clip about the hard-won battle to ratify the 19th Amendment. We will discuss the process of amending the Constitution and how citizens play an active role in maintaining and expanding American democracy.
Then, take a guided tour of the U.S. Capitol, featuring the stories of women who set the stage for equality, fought for the right to vote, and advocated for future generations.

Democracy Happy Hour
2025-06-30 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | The Market at 7th St., 224 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC, 28202, United States
Join us for an informative social hour learning about the latest efforts to promote democracy, both locally and nationally:
Civic Participation: How can our historical experiences shape our civic engagement today?
We the People: Why is the concept of “the people” essential to constitutional democracy?
Government and Constitution: What are different types of rights, such as natural rights, human rights, and civil rights?
Engage with fellow attendees in meaningful conversations guided by discussion prompts at each table, which will encourage thoughtful dialogue about efforts, challenges, and potential solutions.
Wine from Assorted Table and food from Orrman’s Cheese Shop will be available for purchase. Admission is free!

Navigating Mis- and Disinformation 101
2025-06-29 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | DC Public Library, 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20003, United States
Join MediaWise specialists in this class to help you build skills to tell fact from fiction in media.
In this interactive session, you’ll get a crash course in media literacy basics and proven techniques for spotting mis- and disinformation. Then, put your skills to the test with real-world examples — and walk away with practical tips for navigating tough conversations with loved ones who’ve fallen for false claims.
