250 Years of Independence: Connecting Washingtonians to Their Roots

The year 2026 marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and with it, nationwide efforts to thoughtfully reflect on our past, present, and future. 

In Washington, we are striving to plan a commemoration that will help all Washingtonians feel more connected to their history and to gain a better understanding of the foundational principles, structure, and purpose of our democratic system. This commemoration will also recognize the sovereignty of Tribal Nations as well as their presence and impact, since time immemorial, on the land that is now Washington. 

We look forward to this once-in-a-generation opportunity to focus on the importance of history, foster new partnerships in our communities, and invest in resources for local history organizations to build capacity into the future.