Historians William Hitchcock and Elizabeth Varon speak with the Georgia Historical Society's Stan Deaton about past national commemorations. Photo by John McKinnon.
Savannah, GA, February 27, 2026 – The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) presented a public program on February 26, 2026, examining how the United States has marked major national anniversaries during periods of political and social division. The event, “A United States but a Divided America: How We Have Celebrated the Nation’s Birthday During Turbulent Times,” was held at Christ Church Episcopal in Savannah as part of GHS’s statewide commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary and was livestreamed to allow virtual participation.
The program featured a conversation with Dr. William Hitchcock and Dr. Elizabeth Varon, professors of history at the University of Virginia, moderated by GHS Senior Historian Dr. Stan Deaton. The discussion examined how Americans commemorated the Centennial following the Civil War and Reconstruction and the Bicentennial following the upheavals of the 1960s, Vietnam, Watergate, and the Cold War, and considered how earlier generations navigated deep political and social divisions while marking major national milestones.
“The United States is celebrating our 250th anniversary in what we can all agree are very partisan times,” said Deaton. “But we know that all eras have been deeply divided by politics. Elizabeth Varon and Will Hitchcock are two outstanding scholars who helped us understand how earlier generations navigated the Centennial and Bicentennial and what we can learn from those who walked this difficult ground before us.”
Photo by John McKinnon.
The free program concluded with an audience question-and-answer session and a book signing. It was livestreamed to allow participation from audiences beyond Savannah, and a recording of the program is available by clicking here.
Dr. William Hitchcock is the James Madison professor of history at the University of Virginia and a New York Times bestselling author of The Bitter Road to Freedom, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, and The Age of Eisenhower. Dr. Elizabeth Varon is professor of history and Associate Director of the Nau Center for Civil War History at the University of Virginia and author of Longstreet: The Confederate General Who Defied the South, which received the Georgia Historical Society’s Malcolm Bell, Jr. and Muriel Barrow Bell Award.
As part of the 2025-2026 Georgia History Festival, the program was held in partnership with the UVA Club of Savannah and made possible through the generous support of The Coca-Cola Company.
The Georgia Historical Society is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States through statewide public programs, educational initiatives, exhibitions, and publications, including Georgia at the US250. These efforts are part of Georgia’s participation in the national US250 initiative. Learn more at www.georgiahistory.com/georgia-commemorates-america-at-250.
For additional details, please visit www.georgiahistoryfestival.org or contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or by email at kstrigaro@georgiahistory.com.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.