Georgia Commemorates America at 250
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, public trust in fundamental American institutions—our government, the law and the courts, and the media—has eroded dangerously, putting the republic at risk at a key moment in our national experience. We believe that a greater understanding of our shared history can strengthen the pillars of democracy and help to restore that trust.
As part of the public commemoration of this milestone national anniversary, the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) has created Restoring Trust in American Institutions: History and the Foundations of American Democracy. Through a series of public programs, published material, and educational resources, GHS explores our shared history in order to educate students and the general public about the vital role that democratic institutions play in sustaining a republican form of government.
Specifically, GHS will emphasize the role that a press free from governmental control has historically played in informing the American people, as a marketplace for ideas, and in holding government and our leaders accountable; the role of an independent judiciary in maintaining the separation of power and the rule of law; and especially how our historic fidelity to the U.S. Constitution and the system of government enshrined therein has maintained the world’s oldest republic and promoted freedom across the globe.
Read on to learn more about the work of GHS and other statewide partners to recognize the semiquincentennial of the United States.
An Anniversary Like No Other:
America at 250 and the Challenges of Democracy
By W. Todd Groce, PhD
This year, the State of Georgia and the Georgia Historical Society kick off their observance of the 250th anniversary of the United States. On July 4, 2026, the document written by Mr. Jefferson in which he declared “all men are created equal,” as well as the nation that the Declaration of Independence created, will be two- and one-half centuries old.
To mark the anniversary, last fall Governor Brian Kemp signed an executive order creating the Georgia US250 Commission. Over the next three years the Georgia Historical Society, along with our official partners—the Office of the Governor, the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and the Georgia Humanities Council—will lead the State of Georgia’s participation in this significant national commemoration.
Across the country, it will be a time of grand celebrations, as it should be. The United States is now the longest-surviving republic with a written constitution in the history of the world. The Revolution launched with the Declaration of 1776 set the world on fire and spread the flames of liberty far beyond the shores of North America. The immortal phrase “All men are created equal” has been a terror to tyrants and an inspiration for oppressed people everywhere...
Georgia at the US250
In commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the Georgia Historical Society is pleased to share a new publication, a history of Georgia using more than 50 objects and documents from its collection as a window into our shared past. This is just a sampling of the materials we have collected since our founding in 1839 that tell us who we are as Georgians and that help us to gain the knowledge and context for creating a better future.
Exploring the Pillars of American Democracy
View GHS resources relating to the theme of Restoring Trust in American Institutions: History and the Foundations of American Democracy.
“History has the power to remind us of who we are as Americans. The essence of what it means to be an American is contained in the story of our nation’s journey through time.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact Mary McCartin Wearn, President of Georgia Humanities
(404.725.7181 or mwearn@georgiahumanities.org).
Information on funding opportunities will be available on the Georgia’s 250 Commission website.
Submit your events to the Georgia US250 Commission. Events should take place in Georgia and relate to the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Upon approval, the event will be posted to the Georgia US250 website and statewide public events calendar.
Additionally, organizations can join the Georgia Historical Society’s Affiliate Chapter Program to publicize events in the bi-monthly enewsletter, Highlights.