As the United States marks its 250th anniversary in 2026, Johnson County Library invites you to recognize America’s past, present and future through free programs, local history resources and museum experiences.
The nationwide America250 commemoration coincides with the FIFA World Cup 2026™, bringing renewed attention to the nation’s history and culture. At the Library, the celebration focuses on helping residents explore the stories that shaped the country and their own communities.
The Past is Prologue speaker series examines pivotal moments in American and Kansas history, beginning July 9 with “Kansas 1776: A Dynamic Landscape,” an online presentation by Kansas State Historical Society historian Adam Hodge exploring Indigenous history and the environmental forces that shaped the region long before the nation’s founding. Another program on August 18, “We, the People of Kansas …,” examines the state’s founding documents and their lasting impact.
Families can celebrate through hands-on activities, including Tin Punch Lanterns – LED Edition on July 15 at Lenexa City Center Library, where children will build lanterns inspired by early American craftsmanship using simple circuitry and design.
The Library offers year-round resources for anyone interested in discovering America’s story. Patrons can explore books, Library collections and the JoCoHistory Collection, featuring historical photographs, newspapers, maps and materials documenting local history.
Digital resources also provide access to the Associated Press Collections Online, with news stories and images spanning the post-World War II era through the early 2000s, and Gale Primary Sources, which includes digitized manuscripts, newspapers and rare documents covering topics such as Indigenous peoples of North America, religion, slavery and abolition, women’s history and the development of modern law.
The State Library of Kansas is celebrating with a Kansas 250 Bookshelf that highlights the literary achievements and history of the Sunflower State. There you can find suggested booklists, programming ideas, virtual author talks and helpful resources for each month this year.
History enthusiasts can also visit local museums through Free Museum Day passes available with a Johnson County Library card, including the Johnson County Museum and Shawnee Town 1929. Visitors to the Johnson County Museum can also experience its new Everyday Democracy: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in Johnson County exhibition, exploring civic engagement and the evolution of democracy in the United States. Outside of Museum Days, a limited number of free passes to the Johnson County Museum are available to Library cardholders at all 14 locations.
For those inspired to preserve their own history, the Library will offer Creating Digital Albums on July 21 at Central Resource Library. The free class teaches participants how to transform family photographs and memories into digital heritage books, ensuring today’s stories can be shared with future generations.
Explore centuries-old documents, attend a history lecture or preserve family memories – Johnson County Library offers countless ways for the community to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and discover the stories that connect us all.
